Hebbel, Friedrich |
| PLAYWRIGHT (GERMANY) |
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BORN 18 Mar 1813, Wesselburen, Schleswig-Holstein - DIED 13 Dec 1863, Wien BIRTH NAME Hebbel, Christian Friedrich CAUSE OF DEATH rheumatism GRAVE LOCATION Wien: Evangelischer Friedhof Matzleinsdorf, 10. Triesterstraße 1 (Gruft 38) |
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Friedrich Hebbel was the son of the mason Claus Friedrich Hebbel. His mother was Antje Margaretha, born Schubart. In 1815 his younger brother Johann (d. 16/11/1888, Wesselburen) was born. Financial difficulties forced the family to sell their house in 1819 and he grew up in poverty. In 1829 his poem "Sehnsucht" was published in the Ditmarser und Eiderstedter Boten. On 9 august 1832 he sent a letter to the poet Ludwig Uhland in which he asked him to mediate a position in Stuttgart for him. Uhland refused politely. He had also sent his work to the journalist Amalie Schoppe (1791-1858) and he received a letter from her on 18 August 1832. She published his poems and stories in her magazines "Neue Pariser Modeblätter" and "Iduna". With her help he was able to move to Hamburg on 14 February 1835. Im Hamburg he entered the University and on 23 March 1835 he started his diary. He would continue it until seven weeks before his death. In Hamburg he started a relationship with the seamstress Elise Lensing (1804-1854), the stepdaughter of his landlord. He moved on to Heidelberg where he arrived o 3 April 1836 to study law and in September 1836 to study philosophy and literature. Between 11 March 1839 and 30 March 1839 he returned to Hamburg on foot. There he became seriously ill. Elise, who had helped him as well during his time in Munich, nursed him and in 1840 they had a son, Max. His first tragedy "Judith" was published in 1841 and after is was performed in 1842 in Hamburg and Berlin his name was made. In 1843 Max died and in 1844 he and Elise had another son, Ernst. His "Mary Magdalene" (1843) added to his fame. Elise wanted marriage, but after quarreling he broke with her and moved to Vienna, where the noble Polish Zerboni supported him. In 1846 he married the rich and pretty actress Christine Enghaus and his financial problems were over. Christine appeared in his plays. In 1846 a son was born, but he died after three months. 1847 his son Ernst died as well and a devastated Elise was invited by Christine to visit them in Vienna. With Christine he also had a daughter, Christine, called Titi. In 1857 he visited Schopenhauer in Frankfurt am Main and Mörike in Stuttgart. In 1858 he met Caroline von Sayn-Wittgenstein in Weimar. By that time he was regarded as one of the greatest living dramatists and he was writing his most important work, "Die Nibelungen". He finished this trilogy in 1862 and in contributed to his fame. But his health was detoriating and he suffered from severe pain of the limbs. A cure in Baden offered no relief and he died in 1863 in Vienna. By that time "Die Niebelungen" had been staged in Mannheim, Coburg, Prague, Klagenfurt and Hannover and other cities would follow soon. Family • Daughter: Kaizl-Hebbel, Christine • Wife: Enghaus, Christine (1846-1863, Wien) Related persons • was published by Campe, Julius • knew Carolina, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein • knew Cornelius, Peter • is grandparent of Hebbel, Christine • is grandparent of Hebbel, Therese • met Heyse, Paul • was drawn by Kriehuber, Josef • visited Mörike, Eduard • visited Rettich, Julie • visited Schopenhauer, Arthur • corresponded with Uhland, Ludwig • had work translated by Wagner, Cosima Events |
| 28/1/1840 | Friedrich Hebbel completes "Judith". He had started writing in on 2 October 1839. |
| 13/3/1840 | Friedrich Hebbel starts writing his tragedy "Genoveva" |
| 6/7/1840 | Premiere of Friedrich Hebbel's "Judith" at the Hoftheater in Berlin |
| 1/12/1840 | Friedrich Hebbel's "Judtih" is performed at the Stadttheater in Hamburg |
| 2/2/1841 | Friedrich Hebbel completes his short story "Mattao" |
| 29/11/1841 | Friedrich Hebbel completes his play "Der Diamant". It was meant for a competition in Berlin but he did not win a prize. |
| 12/12/1842 | Audience of Friedrich Hebbel with Christian VIII of Denmark. He was looking for a professorship in Kiel, but he was not qualified and there was no vacant position. |
| 16/1/1843 | Friedrich Hebbel meets Bertel Thorvaldsen |
| 23/1/1843 | Second audience of Friedrich Hebbel with Christian VIII of Denmark. This time Hebbel was aiming for a travel grant instead of a professorship. It was granted by the King on 31 March 1843. |
| 27/8/1848 | Elise Lensing leaves Friedrich and Christine Hebbel in Vienna. She was the former lover of Friedrich Hebbel and his wife Christine had invited her to stay with them after the death of her son Max. She had lived with the Hebbels since May 1847. Christine had a son from a previous relationship, Carl. She entrusted him to Elise to be raised in Hamburg. [Enghaus, Christine] |
| Images | ||
 The grave of Christian Friedrich Hebbel and Christine Enghaus at the Evangelischer Friedhof Matzleinsdorf. Picture by Androom (26 Aug 2002) |
 The grave of Friedrich Hebbel and Christine Enghaus at the Evangelischer Friedhof Matzleinsdorf, Vienna. Picture by Androom (11 Aug 2018) |
 The grave of Friedrich Hebbel and Christine Hebbel at the Evangelischer Friedhof Matzleinsdorf in Vienna. Picture by Androom (02 Sep 2022) |
Sources • Budig, Robert S. et al, Ehrengräber am Wiener Zentralfriedhof, Compress Verlag Wien, Wien • Friedrich Hebbel - Wikipedia (EN) • https://friedrich-hebbel.de/wp-content/uploads/lebenschronik.pdf • Christine Enghaus, verh. Hebbel |
