View source for Hans Erasmus Aßmann

{{about|German statesman in the 17th century|the alleged KGB spy|Hans Assmann}}

'''Hans Erasmus Aßmann, Freiherr von Abschatz''' (4 February 1646 &ndash; 22 April 1699) was a [[politician|statesman]] and [[poet]] from the second [[Silesia]]n school. He lived in Bohemia.

==Life==
[[Image:POL COA Awstacz.svg|thumb|140px|Family von Abschatz Coat of Arms]]
Abschatz was born at Würbitz ([[Wierzbnica, Lubusz Voivodeship|Wierzbnica]]) in [[Lower Silesia]] in the [[Duchies of Silesia|Bohemian crown lands]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. Even though his parents died early, Abschatz attended college in [[Liegnitz]] and then studied law at the universities of [[University of Strasbourg|Strasbourg]] and [[University of Leyden|Leyden]]. This was followed by a three-year travel to [[Belgium]], [[France]], and [[Italy]]. Returning to Silesia at the age of 23, he assumed the administration of his estate and married [[Anna von Hund]] in 1669. His financial condition was favourable and his private life fortunate, only disturbed by the death of few close relatives.

With the death of the last [[Silesian Piast]] (Duke [[George William, Duke of Liegnitz|George William]]) and the annexation of Silesia to [[Austrian Monarchy|Austria]], the talent he showed in the administration of his manors led Abschatz to enter political life. He was twice a representative to the imperial court at Vienna: the first time as a syndic for the [[Duchy of Liegnitz]], the second time as a representative for all Silesian lands. Emperor [[Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor|Leopold I]] made him a baron (''[[Freiherr]]''). In 1679, Abschatz was elected to be a permanent deputy of Legnica to the [[Diet (assembly)|diet]] of the Silesian sovereigns (the so-called ''Fürstentage'' in [[Breslau]]).

Through his public service, he gained the respect of his fellow countrymen and acquired what he once claimed to be the highest tribute to a life's work — an inscription on his tombstone saying ''he was an honest man in his fatherland''.

== Poet ==
Abschatz is considered to be a member of the school of poetry called ''second Silesian school'' (''Zweite Schlesische Schule''), together with writers such as [[Daniel Casper von Lohenstein]], [[Andreas Gryphius]], [[Gottfried Benjamin Hancke]] and [[Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau]].  He was a close friend of Lohenstein.  Abschatz was also an accurate translator, translating ''[[Il pastor fido]]''.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/newinternational01gilm#page/42/mode/1up The new international encyclopaedia - Internet Archive]</ref>

Today, Abschatz is notable by the very fact that he — a nobleman — was interested in poetry at all. At that time, it was seen as a sign of change in the attitude towards literature and signaled that [[Germany]] could keep pace with the literary development of [[France]] and [[England]]. He also alluded to his hopes in this direction. He is quoted that:
{{quote|Nobility without personal merit is nothing but an empty house on foreign grounds. And while it is at first assigned with the governmental and military affairs, it is only the blossom of his mind which can grant to it the highest fame.}}

==Notes==
{{German title Freiherr}}

==Citations==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* ''Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie'' - [[s:de:ADB:Abschatz, Hans Aßmann Freiherr von|online version]] at [[Wikisource]]

==External links==
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Hans Erasmus Aßmann}}
* {{Librivox author |id=8643}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abschatz, Hans Erasmus Assmann Freiherr von}}
[[Category:1646 births]]
[[Category:1699 deaths]]
[[Category:17th-century poets from Bohemia]]
[[Category:17th-century poets]]
[[Category:People from Nowa Sól County]]