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Johannes von Müller (3 January 1752 – 29 May 1809) was a
Swiss Swiss most commonly refers to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Swiss may also refer to: Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina * Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses * Swiss Café, an old café located ...
historian A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human species; as well as the ...
.


Biography

He was born in
Schaffhausen Schaffhausen (; ; ; ; ), historically known in English as Shaffhouse, is a list of towns in Switzerland, town with historic roots, a municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in northern Switzerland, and the capital of the canton of Schaffh ...
, where his father was a clergyman and rector of the gymnasium. In his youth, his maternal grandfather, Johannes Schoop (1696–1757), roused in him an interest in the history of his country. At the age of eight he is said to have written history of Schaffhausen, and at eleven he knew the names and dates of all the kings of the four great monarchies. His ardour for historical studies was further stimulated by Schlözer, when Müller went (1769–1771) to the
University of Göttingen The University of Göttingen, officially the Georg August University of Göttingen (, commonly referred to as Georgia Augusta), is a Public university, public research university in the city of Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1734 ...
, nominally to study theology. In July 1771 he undertook a sketch of Swiss history for a publisher of Halle, but his theological studies and the preparation of a Latin dissertation on the ''Bellum cimbricum'' (publ. in 1772) prevented much progress. In April 1772 he passed his theological examination, and soon after became a professor of
Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...
at the Collegium Humanitatis in Schaffhausen. He then began to devote his leisure hours to the investigation of Swiss chronicles and documents. Early in 1774, on the advice of his friend Charles Victor de Bonstetten, he gave up this post and became tutor in the Tronchin family at Geneva. However, in 1775 he also resigned this position, and passed his time with various friends, such as Francis Kinloch from
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
, in
Geneva Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...
and
Vaud Vaud ( ; , ), more formally Canton of Vaud, is one of the Cantons of Switzerland, 26 cantons forming the Switzerland, Swiss Confederation. It is composed of Subdivisions of the canton of Vaud, ten districts; its capital city is Lausanne. Its coat ...
; all that while engaged in carrying his historical scheme into effect. Having accumulated much material, he began the actual composition of his work in the spring of 1776, and the printing in the summer of 1777. But difficulties arose with the censor, and matters came to a standstill. In 1778–1779 Müller delivered a set of lectures on
universal history Universal history may refer to: * Universal history (genre), a literary genre **''Jami' al-tawarikh'', 14th-century work of literature and history, produced by the Mongol Ilkhanate in Persia ** Universal History (Sale et al), ''Universal History'' ...
(revised between 1782 and 1784), which were published as ''Vierundzwanzig Bücher allgemeiner Geschichte'' in 1811, and often republished. In 1780 the first volume (extending to 1388) of his ''Geschichten der Schweizer'' appeared, nominally at Boston (to avoid the censor), though really at
Bern Bern (), or Berne (), ; ; ; . is the ''de facto'' Capital city, capital of Switzerland, referred to as the "federal city".; ; ; . According to the Swiss constitution, the Swiss Confederation intentionally has no "capital", but Bern has gov ...
; and it was well received. In 1781 he published at Berlin, in French, his ''Essais historiques''. During his visit to Berlin, he had an interview with
Frederick the Great Frederick II (; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was the monarch of Prussia from 1740 until his death in 1786. He was the last Hohenzollern monarch titled ''King in Prussia'', declaring himself ''King of Prussia'' after annexing Royal Prussia ...
from whom he had hoped to obtain an office, but he did not receive it. He was on his way back to Switzerland when the landgrave of
Hesse-Kassel The Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel (), spelled Hesse-Cassel during its entire existence, also known as the Hessian Palatinate (), was a state of the Holy Roman Empire. The state was created in 1567 when the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided upon t ...
(or Hesse-Cassel) named him professor of history at the Collegium Carolinum. He stayed at
Kassel Kassel (; in Germany, spelled Cassel until 1926) is a city on the Fulda River in North Hesse, northern Hesse, in Central Germany (geography), central Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Regierungsbezirk Kassel (region), Kassel and the d ...
until 1783, publishing in 1782 his ''Reisen der Päpste'', a book wherein certain leanings towards
Romanism ''Romanism'' is a derogatory term for Roman Catholic Church, Roman Catholicism used when anti-Catholicism was more common in the United States. The term was frequently used in late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century Republican Party (United ...
are visible, as well as his distrust of emperor Joseph II's hegemonic politics. On his return to
Geneva Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...
(1783), he accepted the post of reader to the brother of his old patron, Tronchin, and occupied himself with remodeling his published work of 1780. In order to improve his financial position, he accepted early in 1786 the post of librarian to Friedrich Karl Joseph von Erthal, the
prince-elector The prince-electors ( pl. , , ) were the members of the Electoral College of the Holy Roman Empire, which elected the Holy Roman Emperor. Usually, half of the electors were archbishops. From the 13th century onwards, a small group of prince- ...
and of
archbishop of Mainz The Elector of Mainz was one of the seven Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire. As both the Archbishop of Mainz and the ruling prince of the Electorate of Mainz, the Elector of Mainz held a powerful position during the Middle Ages. The Archb ...
, who bestowed many important offices upon him and obtained his elevation to nobility from the emperor Leopold II. in 1791. In June 1786 he issued volume I (reaching to 1412) and two years later volume II (to 1436) of the definitive form of his Swiss history, which was received with great praise. In 1787 he issued an important political tract, ''Zur Darstellung des Fürstenbundes'', and also ''Briefe zweier Domherren''. Then, in October 1792, Mainz was taken by the French, so Müller had to seek for another post. In February 1793 he entered the service of Emperor Francis II as an imperial Aulic Councilor. At
Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
he spent many years, becoming chief librarian of the imperial library in 1800, and in 1795 he issued volume III (to 1443) of his Swiss history. In 1804 he became historiographer, war councillor, and member of the
Academy An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...
at Berlin. In 1805, volume IV (to 1475) of his Swiss history appeared. He edited the works of
Herder A herder is a pastoralism, pastoral worker responsible for the care and management of a herd or flock of domestic animals, usually on extensive management, open pasture. It is particularly associated with nomadic pastoralism, nomadic or transhuma ...
, and wrote various treatises for the Academy, including ''Über die Geschichte Friedrich's II'' (On the history of Frederick II). In 1802/03 a protégé, Fritz von Hartenberg, cheated Müller out of his entire fortune in a homosexual scandal. The young man faked love letters from a Hungarian Count Batthyány and declared his love for Müller. The scandal and political intrigue, during which Müller narrowly avoided a morality suit, became known as the Hartenberg Affair. Müller's love letters to the supposed Batthyány are an important window on same-sex desire in Goethe's time.Müller, Johannes von - André Weibel (Hg.) 'Einen Spiegel hast gefunden, der in allem Dich reflectirt: Briefe an Graf Louis Batthyany Szent-Ivanyi 1802 - 1803.', 2014 In 1806 he became strongly inclined towards
Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...
, by whom he was received in audience after the
Battle of Jena A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
(November 1806), and from whom he accepted (end of 1807) the office of secretary of state for the
Kingdom of Westphalia The Kingdom of Westphalia was a client state of First French Empire, France in present-day Germany that existed from 1807 to 1813. While formally independent, it was ruled by Napoleon's brother Jérôme Bonaparte. It was named after Westphalia, ...
, exchanging this position early in 1808 for the posts of privy councillor and general director of public instruction. At the end of 1808 he published volume V (to 1489) of his great work. He died at Kassel on 29 May 1809.


Works

Müller's works were published under the care of his brother Johann Georg Müller (1759–1819), pupil of
Johann Gottfried Herder Johann Gottfried von Herder ( ; ; 25 August 174418 December 1803) was a Prussian philosopher, theologian, pastor, poet, and literary critic. Herder is associated with the Age of Enlightenment, ''Sturm und Drang'', and Weimar Classicism. He wa ...
at
Tübingen Tübingen (; ) is a traditional college town, university city in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated south of the state capital, Stuttgart, and developed on both sides of the Neckar and Ammer (Neckar), Ammer rivers. about one in ...
, in 27 volumes (1810–1819), and re-issued, in 40 volumes, at
Stuttgart Stuttgart (; ; Swabian German, Swabian: ; Alemannic German, Alemannic: ; Italian language, Italian: ; ) is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, largest city of the States of Germany, German state of ...
(1831–1835). Vols. 1-3 contain a revised, but unfinished, German version of Müller's ''Universal History''. The ''Swiss History'' was re-issued at Leipzig and Zurich, in 15 volumes (1824–1853), with continuations by Robert Glutz-Blotzheim (to 1517), J. J. Hottinger (to 1531), Louis Vulliemin (to 1712), and Charles Monnard (to 1815). A French translation of the German edition (as above) appeared, in 18 volumes, at Paris and Geneva (1837–1851). Important minor works are ''Essais historiques'', published in French under the auspices of
Frederick the Great Frederick II (; 24 January 171217 August 1786) was the monarch of Prussia from 1740 until his death in 1786. He was the last Hohenzollern monarch titled ''King in Prussia'', declaring himself ''King of Prussia'' after annexing Royal Prussia ...
(Berlin, 1780); ''Reisen der Päpste'' (new ed., Aix-la-Chapelle, 1831; French translation, 1859), written against the anti-papal reforms of Joseph II (although he was a Protestant); and ''Vierundzwanzig Bücher allgemeiner Geschichten'', lectures delivered in Switzerland (3 volumes, Tübingen, 1811; often republished). Müller's letters to Füsslin (1771–1807) were issued at Zürich (1812), and those to Charles Bonnet, etc., at Stuttgart (1835). Many letters addressed to him by various friends were published by Maurer-Constant, in 6 volumes (Schaffhausen, 1839–1840); and those written to him by his brother (1770–1809), Johann Georg Müller, appeared, under the editorship of Eduard Haug and André Weibel, at Frauenfeld (2 volumes, 1893) and Göttingen (6 volumes 2009-2011).


References

* * * Attribution: * This work in turn cites the biographies by Heeren (1809), Döring (1835) and Monnard (1839); and biographies in G. v. Wyss's ''Geschichte der Historiographie in der Schweiz'' (Zürich, 1895), pp. 305–311, and in the ''Festschrift der Stadt Schaffhausen'' (Schaffhausen, 1891), pt. v. pp. 83–99. It also notes that F. Schwarz's pamphlet, ''J. von Müller und seine Schweizergeschichte'' (Bâle, 1884), traces the genesis of the ''Swiss History''. * Biographies by Karl Henking (1909–28) (to 1804), Karl Schib (1967) and Matthias Pape (1989) (1793–1807) * Gordon A. Craig, “Johannes von Müller: The Historian in Search of a Hero,” in: ''The American Historical Review'' 74 (1969), pp. 1487–1502.


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Muller, Johannes von 1752 births 1809 deaths People from Schaffhausen 18th-century Swiss historians Swiss male writers German untitled nobility Members of the Prussian Academy of Sciences University of Göttingen alumni Swiss LGBTQ writers 19th-century Swiss historians