Knight academy
Encyclopedia
Knight academies were developed by the German
aristocracy
in the late seventeenth century to facilitate the ascent of Prussia
as a Europe
an power. They prepared aristocratic youth for state and military service. It added to the hitherto rudimentary education of the German aristocracy natural science
, statesmanship and languages. Later many converted to humanistic high schools.
.
At first sons of nobles from the went to French
academies during their Grand Tour
. The first German institution modeled on the French ones was the Collegium illustre of Tübingen
, founded in 1594. In 1598, another knight academy was founded in Kassel
. In the course of the 17th Century, many more facilities were founded, such as the Kriegs- und Ritterschule of Siegen
.
After the Thirty Years' War
, two new academies in Lüneburg
(1655) and Wolfenbüttel
(1687) were founded. Other foundations of this type emerged in many areas until the 18th century.
In the wake of the reforms of Joseph II
all aristocratic educational institutions were dissolved. After Joseph II death only the Theresian Military Academy
in Vienna
and the Innsbruck
Academy were re-opened. In the 19th century academies lost influence in the rise of Gymnasiums. With some exceptions, they were either closed or converted into secondary schools.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
in the late seventeenth century to facilitate the ascent of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
as a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an power. They prepared aristocratic youth for state and military service. It added to the hitherto rudimentary education of the German aristocracy natural science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
, statesmanship and languages. Later many converted to humanistic high schools.
History
Institutions exclusively for the education of nobles emerged only in the second half of the 16th Century. They had their origin in Southern and Western Europe and were then transferred in the Holy Roman EmpireHoly Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
.
At first sons of nobles from the went to French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
academies during their Grand Tour
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
. The first German institution modeled on the French ones was the Collegium illustre of Tübingen
Tübingen
Tübingen is a traditional university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, on a ridge between the Neckar and Ammer rivers.-Geography:...
, founded in 1594. In 1598, another knight academy was founded in Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
. In the course of the 17th Century, many more facilities were founded, such as the Kriegs- und Ritterschule of Siegen
Siegen
Siegen is a city in Germany, in the south Westphalian part of North Rhine-Westphalia.It is located in the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein in the Arnsberg region...
.
After the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
, two new academies in Lüneburg
Lüneburg
Lüneburg is a town in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is located about southeast of fellow Hanseatic city Hamburg. It is part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, and one of Hamburg's inner suburbs...
(1655) and Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, located on the Oker river about 13 kilometres south of Brunswick. It is the seat of the District of Wolfenbüttel and of the bishop of the Protestant Lutheran State Church of Brunswick...
(1687) were founded. Other foundations of this type emerged in many areas until the 18th century.
In the wake of the reforms of Joseph II
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
all aristocratic educational institutions were dissolved. After Joseph II death only the Theresian Military Academy
Theresian Military Academy
The Theresian Military Academy is an academy, where the Austrian Armed Forces train their officers. The Academy is located in the castle of Wiener Neustadt in Lower Austria.- History :...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and the Innsbruck
Innsbruck
- Main sights :- Buildings :*Golden Roof*Kaiserliche Hofburg *Hofkirche with the cenotaph of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor*Altes Landhaus...
Academy were re-opened. In the 19th century academies lost influence in the rise of Gymnasiums. With some exceptions, they were either closed or converted into secondary schools.
Knight academies
- Brandenburg
- LiegnitzLiegnitz Ritter-AkademieThe Liegnitz Ritter-Akademie or knight academy was a school for the schlesischen aristocracy established in the seventeenth century. It existed until 1945 and then became general High School.- History :...
- Attain
- Lüneburg
- Dresden
- WolfenbüttelWolfenbüttel Ritter-AkademieThe Wolfenbüttel Ritter-Akademie was a German knight academy founded in Salzdahlum by Anthony Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg in 1688, and from 1712 it housed the first independent library in Germany...