The Fruitbearing Society (German Die Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft, lat. ''societas fructifera'') was a German literary society founded in 1617 in

Weimar Weimar is a city in the state of Thuringia, Germany. It is located in Central Germany between Erfurt in the west and Jena in the east, approximately southwest of Leipzig, north of Nuremberg and west of Dresden. Together with the neighbouri ...

by German scholars and nobility. Its aim was to standardize vernacular

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

and promote it as both a scholarly and literary language, after the pattern of the

Accademia della Crusca The Accademia della Crusca (; "Academy of the Bran"), generally abbreviated as La Crusca, is a Florence-based society of scholars of Italian linguistics and philology. It is one of the most important research institutions of the Italian language ...

Florence Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...

and similar groups already thriving in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

, followed in later years also in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

(1635) and Britain. It was also known as the Palmenorden ("Palm Order") because its emblem was the then-exotic ''fruitbearing''

coconut palm The coconut tree (''Cocos nucifera'') is a member of the palm tree family (Arecaceae) and the only living species of the genus ''Cocos''. The term "coconut" (or the archaic "cocoanut") can refer to the whole coconut palm, the seed, or the f ...

. (1576–1629),

Hofmarschall The ''Hofmarschall'' (plural: Hofmarschälle) was the administrative official in charge of a princely German court, supervising all its economic affairs. Historically, every civil service was regarded as court service (e.g. the Russian nobility is ...

at the court in Weimar, was the founding father of the society. As a young man he had travelled Italy and got inspired by the Italian language academies.''Teutleben, Caspar von''
at deutsche-biographie.de (in German) During the funeral celebrations of Duchess Dorothea Maria in August 1617 which were attended by several princes he took the opportunity to propose the founding of a society following the example of the Italian ''Accademia della Crusca''. Particularly Prince Ludwig von Anhalt-Köthen who already had joined the ''Accademia della Crusca'' in 1600 took hold of the idea and became the first president of the Palm Order. The society counted a king (

Charles X Gustav of Sweden Charles X Gustav, also Carl Gustav ( sv, Karl X Gustav; 8 November 1622 – 13 February 1660), was King of Sweden from 1654 until his death. He was the son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catherine of Sweden. Afte ...

), 153 Germanic princes, and over 60 barons, nobles, and distinguished scholars among its members. It disbanded in 1668. The first book about the Palm Order, ''Der Teutsche Palmbaum'', was written by Carl Gustav von Hille and published in Nuremberg in 1647.

Members

The society had 890 members. Of these, the below list only includes those that have articles on the English Wikipedia. For a complete list, including their fruitbearing names, see this German article. * Matthias Abele von und zu Lilienberg *

Johann Valentin Andreae Johannes Valentinus Andreae (17 August 1586 – 27 June 1654), a.k.a. Johannes Valentinus Andreä or Johann Valentin Andreae, was a German theologian, who claimed to be the author of an ancient text known as the ''Chymische Hochzeit Christiani Ro ...

* Christian I of Anhalt-Bernburg * Christian II of Anhalt-Bernburg * Viktor Amadeus of Anhalt-Bernburg * Georg Aribert of Anhalt-Dessau * Johann Georg I of Anhalt-Dessau * Johann Georg II of Anhalt-Dessau * Johann Kasimir of Anhalt-Dessau * Friedrich of Anhalt-Harzgerode * Emanuel of Anhalt-Köthen * Leberecht of Anhalt-Köthen * Ludwig I of Anhalt-Köthen * Ludwig der Jüngere of Anhalt-Köthen * Wilhelm Ludwig of Anhalt-Köthen * August of Anhalt-Plötzkau * Johann of Anhalt-Zerbst * Karl Wilhelm of Anhalt-Zerbst * Rudolf of Anhalt-Zerbst *

Hans Georg von Arnim Johann or Hans Georg von Arnim-Boitzenburg (1583 in Boitzenburger Land – 28 April 1641, in Dresden) was a Electorate of Saxony, German Field Marshal. At different times during the Thirty Years' War, he was a Field Marshal for the Holy Roman E ...

Frederick V, Margrave of Baden-Durlach Frederick V, Margrave of Baden-Durlach (6 July 1594, Sulzburg, Hochschwarzwald – 8 September 1659, Durlach) was a German nobleman, who ruled as margrave of Baden-Durlach from 1622 to his death. He was succeeded by his son Frederick VI, Ma ...

Johan Banér Johan Banér (23 June 1596 – 10 May 1641) was a Swedish field marshal in the Thirty Years' War. Early life Johan Banér was born at Djursholm Castle in Uppland. As a four-year-old he was forced to witness how his father, the Privy Councillou ...

* Steno Bielke *

Sigmund von Birken Sigmund von Birken (25 April 1626 – 12 June 1681) was a German poet of the Baroque. He was born in Wildstein, near Eger, and died in Nuremberg, aged 55. His pupil, Sibylle Ursula von Braunschweig-Lüneburg wrote part of a novel, ''Die Durchlau ...

* Wilhelm of Birkenfeld *

Frederick William of Brandenburg Frederick William (german: Friedrich Wilhelm; 16 February 1620 – 29 April 1688) was Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia, thus ruler of Brandenburg-Prussia, from 1640 until his death in 1688. A member of the House of Hohenzollern, he is ...

George William of Brandenburg George William (german: Georg Wilhelm; 13 November 1595 – 1 December 1640), of the Hohenzollern dynasty, was Margrave and Elector of Brandenburg and Duke of Prussia from 1619 until his death. His reign was marked by ineffective governance during ...

John of Brandenburg John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

Christian of Brandenburg-Bayreuth Christian, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (30 January 1581 in Cölln – 30 May 1655 in Bayreuth) was a member of the House of Hohenzollern and Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (later renamed ''Brandenburg-Bayreuth''). He was the eldest ...

* George of Brunswick-Lüneburg * Christian Louis of Brunswick-Lüneburg * Anthony Ulrich of Brunswick-Lüneburg * Augustus the Younger of Brunswick-Lüneburg * Ferdinand Albert I of Brunswick-Lüneburg * Friedrich Ulrich von Braunschweig und Lüneburg-Wolfenbüttel * Rudolf von Bünau * Rudolf von Bünau *

Johann Cothmann Johann Cothmann (1588 in Lemgo - 1661, Güstrow) was a German jurist and diplomat. He was also a member of the Fruitbearing Society The Fruitbearing Society (German Die Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft, lat. ''societas fructifera'') was a German lit ...

Christoph von Dohna Burgrave Christopher von Dohna (German: ''Burggraf Christoph von Dohna''; 27 June 1583 – 1 July 1637) was a German politician and scholar during the time of the Thirty Years' War. He came from the Prussian family of the Burgraves of Dohna. ...

* Robert Douglas * Ernst von Freyberg *

Andreas Gryphius Andreas Gryphius (german: Andreas Greif; 2 October 161616 July 1664) was a German poet and playwright. With his eloquent sonnets, which contains "The Suffering, Frailty of Life and the World", he is considered one of the most important Baroque ...

* Christian Gueintz * Friedrich Kasimir von Hanau * Philipp Moritz von Hanau-Münzenberg *

Georg Philipp Harsdörffer Georg Philipp Harsdörffer (1 November 1607 – 17 September 1658) was a Jurist, Baroque-period German poet and translator. Born in Nuremberg, he studied law at Altdorf and Strassburg. He studied at the University of Strassburg under professo ...

* David Elias Heidenreich * Wilhelm Christoph von Hesse-Bingenheim und Hesse-Homburg *

Johann von Hessen-Braubach John of Hesse-Braubach (17 June 1609, Darmstadt - 1 April 1651, Ems) was a German nobleman and general. He was born into the House of Hesse-Darmstadt and later became Landgrave of Hesse-Braubach. Early life Johann was born as the seventh chil ...

* Ludwig VI of Hesse-Darmstadt * Ludwig VII of Hesse-Darmstadt * Friedrich of Hesse-Eschwege * Friedrich II of Hesse-Homburg * Georg Christian of Hesse-Homburg * Moritz of Hesse-Kassel * Wilhelm V of Hesse-Kassel * Wilhelm VI of Hesse-Kassel * Hermann IV of Hesse-Rotenburg *

Georg Friedrich of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein-Weikersheim Count Georg Friedrich von Hohenlohe-Neuenstein-Weikersheim (September 5, 1569 – July 7, 1645) was an officer and an amateur poet. Biography Born in Neuenstein, Georg Friedrich was the son of Wolfgang, Count of Hohenlohe-Weikersheim and his ...

Hans Christoff von Königsmarck Count Hans Christoff von Königsmarck, of Tjust (4 March 1600 – 8 March 1663), son of Conrad von Königsmarck and Beatrix von Blumenthal, was a German soldier who commanded Sweden's legendary flying column, a force which played a key role i ...

Otto Wilhelm von Königsmarck Otto is a masculine German given name and a Otto (surname), surname. It originates as an Old High German short form (variants ''Audo'', ''Odo'', ''Udo'') of Germanic names beginning in ''aud-'', an element meaning "wealth, prosperity". The name ...

Johann Kasimir Kolbe von Wartenberg Johann Kasimir Kolbe, ''Graf'' von Wartenberg (6 February 1643, in Wetterau – 4 July 1712, in Frankfurt am Main) was the first ever Minister-President (effectively Prime Minister) of the kingdom of Prussia, and the head of the "Cabinet of Thr ...

* Christoph Christian zu Altleiningen * Johann Anton von Leiningen * Philipp II von Leiningen Westerburg *

Friedrich von Logau Friedrich von Logau (January 1605 – 24 July 1655) was a German poet and epigrammatist of the Baroque era. Life He was born the son of Georg von Logau, estate owner in Brockut near Nimptsch in Silesia (present-day Niemcza, Poland). His fathe ...

* Adolf Friedrich I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin *

Franz von Mercy Franz Freiherr von Mercy (or Merci), Lord of Mandre and Collenburg (c. 1597 – 3 August 1645), was a German field marshal in the Thirty Years' War who fought for the Imperial side and was commander-in-chief of the Bavarian army from 1643 to 164 ...

Bernhard Meyer Bernhard Meyer (24 August 1767 – 1 January 1836) was a German physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medic ...

Johann Michael Moscherosch Johann Michael Moscherosch (7 March 1601 – 4 April 1669), German statesman, satirist, and educator, was born at Willstätt, on the Upper Rhine near Strassburg. His bitterly brilliant but partisan writings graphically describe life in a G ...

Johann Ludwig of Nassau-Hadamar John Louis of Nassau-Hadamar, (Dillenburg, 6 August 1590 – Hadamar, 10 March 1653) and also known in German as Johann Ludwig, was a German nobleman and member of the House of Nassau who is best known for his role as an aide to the head of the i ...

* Georg Neumark *

Adam Olearius Adam Olearius (born Adam Ölschläger or Oehlschlaeger, 24 September 159922 February 1671) was a German scholar, mathematician, geographer and librarian. He became secretary to the ambassador sent by Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, to ...

Martin Opitz Martin Opitz von Boberfeld (23 December 1597 – 20 August 1639) was a German poet, regarded as the greatest of that nation during his lifetime. Biography Opitz was born in Bunzlau (Bolesławiec) in Lower Silesia, in the Principality of ...

Axel Oxenstierna Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna af Södermöre (; 1583–1654), Count of Södermöre, was a Swedish statesman. He became a member of the Swedish Privy Council in 1609 and served as Lord High Chancellor of Sweden from 1612 until his death. He was a c ...

Christian Franz Paullini Christian Franz Paullini (25 February 1643 – 10 June 1712) was a German physician and theologian. Biography Paullini was born in Eisenach to a family of merchants and scholars. His parents wanted him to become a priest and his initial educatio ...

Ottavio Piccolomini Ottavio Piccolomini, 1st Duke of Amalfi (11 November 1599 – 11 August 1656) was an Italian nobleman whose military career included service as a Spanish general and then as a field marshal of the Holy Roman Empire. Early life Ottavio was born ...

Jost Andreas von Randow Jost Andreas von Randow (* Loburg, 3. April 1580; † ?) was courtier at the Anhaltian court at Dessau and an early member of the Fruitbearing Society. Life ''Jost Andreas von Randow'' (sometimes also ''von Randau'') descended from an old no ...

Wilhelm von Rath Wilhelm von Rath (1585 – 27 April 1641) was a German scholar and a military officer. His name, in the dative case (after "von"), may be rendered as "Rathen". Biography Rath was born in Klein-Wülknitz, Anhalt, and came from an old noble family ...

Johann Rist Johann Rist (8 March 1607 – 31 August 1667) was a German poet and dramatist best known for his hymns, which inspired musical settings and have remained in hymnals. Life Rist was born at Ottensen in Holstein-Pinneberg (today Hamburg) on 8 Marc ...

John George II of Saxony Johann George II (31 May 1613 – 22 August 1680) was the Elector of Saxony from 1656 to 1680. He belonged to the Albertine line of the House of Wettin. Biography He was the third (fourth in order of birth) but eldest surviving son of the Elector ...

* Johann Philipp of Saxe-Altenburg * Adolf Wilhelm of Saxe-Eisenach * Albrecht of Saxe-Eisenach * Johann Georg I of Saxe-Eisenach *

Ernst I of Saxe-Gotha Ernest I, called "Ernest the Pious" (25 December 1601 – 26 March 1675), was a duke of Saxe-Gotha and Saxe-Altenburg. The duchies were later merged into Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. He was the ninth but sixth surviving son of Johann II, Duke of Saxe- ...

* Friedrich of Saxe-Gotha * Bernhard of Saxe-Jena * Augustus of Saxe-Lauenburg *

Francis Erdmann of Saxe-Lauenburg Francis Erdmann of Saxe-Lauenburg ( Theusing, 25 February 1629 – 30 July 1666, Schwarzenbek), was duke of Saxe-Lauenburg between 1665 and 1666. He was the eldest son of Duke Julius Henry and his second wife Elisabeth Sophia of Brandenburg, dau ...

Julius Henry of Saxe-Lauenburg Julius Henry (9 April 1586 – 20 November 1665) was duke of Saxe-Lauenburg between 1656 and 1665. Before ascending to the throne he served as Field Marshal in the imperial army. Life Before regency Born at Wolfenbüttel, he was a son of Duke ...

* Christian of Saxe-Merseburg *

Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar Bernard of Saxe-Weimar (german: Bernhard von Sachsen-Weimar; 16 August 160418 July 1639) was a German prince and general in the Thirty Years' War. Biography Born in Weimar within the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar, Bernard was the eleventh son of Joha ...

* Friedrich of Saxe-Weimar * Johann Ernst the Younger of Saxe-Weimar * Johann Ernst of Saxe-Weimar * Wilhelm IV of Saxe-Weimar * Albrecht of Saxe-Weißenfels * August of Saxe-Weißenfels * August the Younger of Saxe-Weißenfels * Heinrich of Saxe-Weißenfels * Johann Adolph of Saxe-Weißenfels * Moritz of Saxe-Zeitz *

Angelo Sala Angelo Sala (Latin: Angelus Sala) (21 March 1576, Vicenza – 2 October 1637, Bützow) was an Italian doctor and early iatrochemist. He promoted chemical remedies and, drawing on the relative merits of the conflicting chemical and Galenical syst ...

Joachim von Sandrart Joachim von Sandrart (12 May 1606 – 14 October 1688) was a German Baroque art-historian and painter, active in Amsterdam during the Dutch Golden Age. He is most significant for his collection of biographies of Dutch and German artists the ''Te ...

* Karl Günther of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt * Ludwig Günther of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt * Anton Günther of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen * Veit Ludwig von Seckendorf *

Torsten Stålhandske Torsten Stålhandske (Porvoo, Finland, 1 September 1593 – Haderslev, 21 April 1644) – Swedish for "Torsten Steelglove", sometimes written "Stålhansch" in the Swedish of the time and referred to in German literature as ''Torsten Staalhansch' ...

* Wolrad IV of Waldeck-Eisenberg * Christian of Waldeck-Wildungen * Matthäus von Wesenbeck *

Anton von Wietersheim Anton von Wietersheim (born 10 June 1951) is a Namibian politician. Wietersheim was a member of the Constituent Assembly of Namibia from 1989 to 1990 and was elected to the National Assembly as a SWAPO The South West Africa People's Organisa ...

* Karl Gustav Wrangel * Julius Siegmund von Württemberg-Oels-Juliusburg * Sylvius Friedrich von Württemberg-Oels-Juliusburg *

Philipp von Zesen Philipp von Zesen, also Filip Cösius or ''Caesius'' (originally Ph. Caesien, Filip Zesen, Filip von Zesen, in Latin Philippus Caesius à Fürstenau, Philippus Caesius à Zesen) (8 October 1619 O.S. – 13 November 1689 O.S.) was a German poet, ...

Heinrich Ziegler Heinrich Ziegler (31 August 1891 – 3 December 1918) was a German fencing, fencer. He competed in the individual foil (fencing), foil and team épée events at the 1912 Summer Olympics. He was killed in action during World War I. See also * ...

Notes

References

University of California, Berkeley, News article: ''Taking pride in their language, finding uses for everything''
February 11, 2004
''die-fruchtbringende-gesellschaft.de''
(List of members)

External links

Finding aid to the Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft Collection: Manuscript and Pictorial Material, 1592–1754
at

The Bancroft Library The Bancroft Library in the center of the campus of the University of California, Berkeley, is the university's primary special-collections library. It was acquired from its founder, Hubert Howe Bancroft, in 1905, with the proviso that it retai ...

Neue Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft zu Köthen/Anhalt
{{Authority control 1617 establishments in the Holy Roman Empire German writers' organisations History of Weimar Culture in Weimar Education in Weimar History of Anhalt 1668 disestablishments in Europe