Michael Weiß (politician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Weiß was a Transylvania
n Saxon
politician and historian. He is mostly known for being the mayor of Kronstadt
(modern-day Braşov, Romania).
) as the son of mayor Johannes Weiß and his wife, Gertrude Wolf (whom would both die of the plague in 1586). He went to the local elementary school, then, in 1583, aged 14, attended the courses of the Jesuit school of Klausenburg
. During the two years spent there, he learned Hungarian
, and progressed enough as to be able to write poems in this language.
Shortly, he began his political career, as secretary of Count Ferdinand von Hardek, and then by working for the Hungarian chancellor office in Prague
. He was noticed by Emperor Rudolf II
, who ennobled him in 1589, at the age of only 20.
In 1590, he returned to Transylvania. He was chosen in the Assembly of the one hundred in 1591, then in 1594, as representative of Kronstadt in the Transylvanian Diet (the political and constitutional organ of the principality) and in the Senate, in 1600. As representative and senator of Kronstadt, the voivodes István Bocskay, Sigismund Rákóczi
and those of the Báthory family
sent Weiß in several diplomatic missions, including to domnitor
Radu Şerban of Wallachia
.
Michael Weiss described Şerban as being "wealthy, cunning, and very skilled in the craft of war". In 1606, the wallachian prince invited him to take part in several hunting and fishing trips, for two weeks. During this time, it appears they have discussed political issues of common interest, the results of which will be seen five years later.
On the list of historical monuments created by the Ministry of Culture, at number 976, code LMI 2004 BV-IV-m-A-11919, is The Monument of Saxon Students fallen in Battle in 1612. Built between 1912–1913, it commemorates the 39 young students that died near Marienburg.
After 1989, DFDR Braşov
has reinstated the tradition of commemorating and honouring predecessors through a celebration at the forementioned monument.
It is also worth mentioning that all the documents of the Weiß family have been donated to the patrimony of Johannes Honterus high-school of Kronstadt.
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
n Saxon
Transylvanian Saxons
The Transylvanian Saxons are a people of German ethnicity who settled in Transylvania from the 12th century onwards.The colonization of Transylvania by Germans was begun by King Géza II of Hungary . For decades, the main task of the German settlers was to defend the southeastern border of the...
politician and historian. He is mostly known for being the mayor of Kronstadt
Brasov
Brașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
(modern-day Braşov, Romania).
Early life and political ascent
He was born in Mediasch (current-day Mediaş, RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
) as the son of mayor Johannes Weiß and his wife, Gertrude Wolf (whom would both die of the plague in 1586). He went to the local elementary school, then, in 1583, aged 14, attended the courses of the Jesuit school of Klausenburg
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
. During the two years spent there, he learned Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
, and progressed enough as to be able to write poems in this language.
Shortly, he began his political career, as secretary of Count Ferdinand von Hardek, and then by working for the Hungarian chancellor office in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
. He was noticed by Emperor Rudolf II
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
, who ennobled him in 1589, at the age of only 20.
In 1590, he returned to Transylvania. He was chosen in the Assembly of the one hundred in 1591, then in 1594, as representative of Kronstadt in the Transylvanian Diet (the political and constitutional organ of the principality) and in the Senate, in 1600. As representative and senator of Kronstadt, the voivodes István Bocskay, Sigismund Rákóczi
Sigismund Rákóczi
Sigismund Rákóczi was born into the noble Hungarian Rákóczi family. He briefly reigned as Prince of Transylvania from 1607 to 1608.Rákóczi was born into the lower nobility but, by various means - including a profitable marriage - managed to rise into the ranks of the aristocracy.When Stephen...
and those of the Báthory family
Báthory
The Báthory were a Hungarian noble family of the Gutkeled clan. The family rose to significant influence in Central Europe during the late Middle Ages, holding high military, administrative and ecclesiastical positions in the Kingdom of Hungary...
sent Weiß in several diplomatic missions, including to domnitor
Domnitor
Domnitor was the official title of the ruler of the United Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia between 1859 and 1866....
Radu Şerban of Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
.
Michael Weiss described Şerban as being "wealthy, cunning, and very skilled in the craft of war". In 1606, the wallachian prince invited him to take part in several hunting and fishing trips, for two weeks. During this time, it appears they have discussed political issues of common interest, the results of which will be seen five years later.
In memoriam
In 1887, Nonnengasse (Nun Alley) was named after its former mayor.On the list of historical monuments created by the Ministry of Culture, at number 976, code LMI 2004 BV-IV-m-A-11919, is The Monument of Saxon Students fallen in Battle in 1612. Built between 1912–1913, it commemorates the 39 young students that died near Marienburg.
After 1989, DFDR Braşov
Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania
The Democratic Forum of Germans in Romania is a centrist political party representing the German minority in Romania. It was founded at the end of 1989. Despite originally being a German minority party, the party is popular also with many ethnic Romanians, notably in parts of Transylvania...
has reinstated the tradition of commemorating and honouring predecessors through a celebration at the forementioned monument.
Literary works
Besides the poems written in his youth, Michael Weiß has left behind a few writings of importance with regard to his contemporary Kronstadt and Transylvania.- Liber annalium raptim scriptus per Mich. Weyss Mediensem, senatorem Republicae Coronensis, translatable as "The book of haste chronicles by Michael Weiß of Mediasch, Senator of the Republic of Kronstadt", a journal later published by Eugen von TrauschenfelsEugen von TrauschenfelsJohann Karl Eugen Trausch von Trauschenfels was a Transylvanian publicist of The House of Trausch von Trauschenfels.He was born in 1833, in Kronstadt and died in 1903, in the same city....
, with a preface signed by A. Kurz. - Brevis consignatio tumultum bellicorum ab anno Chr. 1610, usque completum annum 1613 ambitione et inquietudine Gabrielis Báthori Principis motorum, translatable as "Brief writings of the tumultuous war of 1610, then added in 1613 by ambition and restlessness of Prince Gabriel Báthori", with an anonymous addition to the events of 1613.
It is also worth mentioning that all the documents of the Weiß family have been donated to the patrimony of Johannes Honterus high-school of Kronstadt.
Further reading
- Adolf Meschendörfer: Michael Weiß, Stadtrichter von Kronstadt (Stück) ("Michael Weiß, mayor of Brasov" - theatre play), Brașov, Kerschner Publishing, 1921;
- Michael Königes: Michael Weiß, historical drama;
- Maja Philippi: Michael Weiss - sein Leben und Wirken in Wort und Bild (Michael Weiss - life and work, in pictures and words), Kriterion Publishing, 1982;
- Georgeta Filitti: Mileniul românesc.1000 de ani de istorie in imagini, Litera Publishing, 2006;