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Friedrich von Canitz | |
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.png) Friedrich von Canitz; byJohann Georg Wolfgang [de] | |
| Born | (1654-11-27)27 November 1654 |
| Died | 11 August 1699(1699-08-11) (aged 44) |
| Nationality | German |
| Occupation(s) | poet and diplomat |
Friedrich Rudolf Ludwig Freiherr von Canitz (27 November 1654 – 11 August 1699) was a Germanpoet anddiplomat. He was one of the few German poets of his era thatFrederick the Great enjoyed.[1]
Canitz was born inBerlin,Brandenburg. He was influenced by Boileau.[2] He attended the universities ofLeiden andLeipzig, travelled inEngland,France,Italy and theNetherlands, and on his return was appointed groom of the bedchamber (Kammerjunker) toFrederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, whom he accompanied on his campaigns inPomerania andSweden.[3]
In 1680 Canitz became councillor of legation, and he was employed on various embassies. In 1697 ElectorFrederick III made him aprivy councillor, and EmperorLeopold I created him abaron of the Empire. Having fallen ill on an embassy tothe Hague, he obtained his discharge and died at Berlin in 1699.[3]
He wrote verse in a restrained, sober style.[2] He was considered as one of the poets who “produced verse that was specifically aimed at entertaining and flattering princes and high courtiers.”[4] Although he liked making verse in many languages, he never published any of them.[5] Canitz's poems (Nebenstunden unterschiedener Gedichte), which did not appear until after his death (1700), are for the most part dry and stilted imitations ofFrench andLatin models, but they formed a healthy contrast to the coarseness and bombast of the laterSilesian poets.[6]
A complete edition of Canitz's poems was published by U. König in 1727; see also L. Fulda,Die Gegner der zweiten schlesischen Schule, ii. (1883).[7]
Regarding personal names:Freiherr is a former title (translated as'Baron'). In Germany since 1919, it forms part of family names. The feminine forms areFreifrau andFreiin.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Canitz, Friedrich Rudolf Ludwig".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 183–184.