Paul Fleming
Paul Fleming was a notable German poet of the seventeenth century, recognized for his contributions to the Silesian school of poetry, which played a significant role in shaping German national identity following the Thirty Years War. Born in Hartenstein, Saxony, Fleming was the son of a pastor and began his education in Leipzig at the young age of fourteen, where he pursued medicine while simultaneously developing his poetic talent. He gained prominence in the literary world, being appointed as an imperial poet laureate in 1632, and his work is often characterized by its deep emotional resonance and strong expressions of Evangelical faith.
Fleming's stature among his contemporaries is highlighted by his close admiration for Martin Opitz, a leading figure in the Silesian school. His poetry drew inspiration from various experiences, including a diplomatic journey to Moscow and Isfahan, which enriched his writing with vivid descriptions of the natural world. Fleming's literary legacy continued to influence music, as many of his poems were set to music by renowned composers like Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, and Felix Mendelssohn. Unfortunately, his promising career was cut short when he fell ill and passed away in 1640, shortly after publishing a dissertation on venereal disease.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Paul Fleming
Poet
- Born: October 5, 1609
- Birthplace: Saxony, Germany
- Died: April 2, 1640
- Place of death: Hamburg, Germany
Biography
Paul Fleming, a seventeenth century German poet, is known as a member of the Silesian school, a group of poets whose work was instrumental in the formation of German national consciousness in the wake of the Thirty Years War. The son of a pastor, Fleming was born in Hartenstein, Saxony, shortly after the turn of the seventeenth century. At age fourteen, he was sent to study at Leipzig, where he chose medicine as his field. He began to write poetry while he was a student, and he was named an imperial poet laureate in 1632.
His stature among the poets of the Silesian school is second only to that of Martin Opitz, whom Fleming highly regarded. Fleming’s poetry is notable for its depth of feeling and fervent expressions of Evangelical faith. In 1634 he joined a diplomatic mission that traveled to Moscow and then on to Isfahan, Persia (now in Iran). Descriptions of natural wonders encountered on this voyage figure prominently in his verse. Upon his return to Germany in 1639, Fleming intended to resume his career in medicine. He published a dissertation on venereal disease in 1640, but he succumbed to a sudden illness in April of that year. Many of Fleming’s texts were set to music by eminent composers, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Johannes Brahms, and Felix Mendelssohn.