Moritz Gottlieb Saphir
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Moritz Gottlieb Saphir, born Moses Saphir (8 February 1795 in
Lovasberény Lovasberény is a village in Fejér county, Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to t ...
near
Székesfehérvár Székesfehérvár (; ; ; ; Serbian language, Serbian: ''Стони Београд''; ), known colloquially as Fehérvár (), is a city in central Hungary, and the country's ninth-largest city. It is the Regions of Hungary, regional capital of C ...
– 5 September 1858 in
Baden bei Wien Baden (Central Bavarian: ''Bodn''), unofficially distinguished from Baden (disambiguation), other Badens as Baden bei Wien (Baden near Vienna), is a spa town in Austria. It serves as the capital of Baden (district of Austria), Baden District in t ...
) was an
Austrian-Jewish The history of the Jews in Austria starts after the exodus of Jews from Judea under Roman occupation. There have been Jews in Austria since the 3rd century CE. Over the course of many centuries, the political status of the community rose and ...
satirical writer and journalist.


Life

Saphir was the son of the merchant Gottlieb (Israel) Saphir and his wife Charlotte Brüll. During the reign of
Joseph II Joseph II (13 March 1741 – 20 February 1790) was Holy Roman Emperor from 18 August 1765 and sole ruler of the Habsburg monarchy from 29 November 1780 until his death. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Emperor F ...
, all
Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
subjects had been required to take a family name, and Israel Saphir was the first in the family to use that surname. Moses was sent to the
yeshiva A yeshiva (; ; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy are studied in parallel. The stu ...
in
Bratislava Bratislava (German: ''Pressburg'', Hungarian: ''Pozsony'') is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the Slovakia, Slovak Republic and the fourth largest of all List of cities and towns on the river Danube, cities on the river Danube. ...
to become a
rabbi A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as ''semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of t ...
. At the age of eleven, he fell out with his family and made a risky journey to
Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...
to attend that city's yeshiva instead. Shortly afterwards he encountered mainstream European literature and began to study English, German, and the Romance languages. In 1814, his family removed all financial support and he was forced to return home. Nevertheless he was allowed some time later to travel to
Pest, Hungary Pest () is the part of Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, that lies on the eastern bank of the Danube. Pest was administratively unified with Buda and Óbuda in 1873; prior to this, it was an independent city. In colloquial Hungarian langua ...
in order to study Latin and Greek. It was in Pest that he embarked on a literary career. His first book, ''Poetische Erstlinge'' (1821), was received with enthusiasm. He was invited to
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. ...
by the publisher
Adolf Bäuerle Adolf Bäuerle (real name Johann Andreas Bäuerle (9 or 10 April 1786 – 20 September 1859) was an Austrian writer, publisher and main representative of the . Life Born in Vienna, 1802 Bäuerle made his debut with the novel ''Sigmund der Stä ...
to write for the ''
Wiener Theaterzeitung ''Wiener Theater Zeitung'' (also Bäuerles Theaterzeitung, Wiener allgemeine Theaterzeitung) was an Austrian journal founded by Adolf Bäuerle. It was published from 1806 to 1860 in Vienna. The first issue appeared on 1 July 1806. It covered arts ...
''. However, Saphir's merciless reviews and essays were so unpopular that in 1825 he was sacked, whereupon he left for
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
, where he edited the arts pages of the ''Berliner Schnellpost für Literatur, Theater und Geselligkeit'', also contributing to the ''Berliner Courier'' and ''Berliner Theateralmanachs auf das Jahr 1828''. On 3 December 1827, he founded the ''
Tunnel über der Spree ''Tunnel über der Spree'' was a German literary society based in Berlin, founded on 3 December 1827 by Moritz Gottlieb Saphir. Most active between 1840 and 1860, it acquired 214 members and influenced literary life in Berlin for more than seventy y ...
'' literary society, as a kind of "personal bodyguard" according to
Theodor Fontane Theodor Fontane (; 30 December 1819 – 20 September 1898) was a German novelist and poet, regarded by many as the most important 19th-century German-language Literary realism, realist author. He published the first of his novels, for which he i ...
. However, as an eloquent satirist he made more enemies in Berlin, and his prominent associates in the society could not (or eventually, would not) always help him out of scrapes. The playwright Kurt Schall challenged him to a duel, and a satirical poem about
Henriette Sontag Henriette Sontag, born Gertrude Walpurgis Sontag, and, after her marriage, entitled Henriette, Countess Rossi (3 January 1806 – 17 June 1854), was a German operatic soprano of great international renown. She possessed a sweet-toned, lyrical voi ...
in the '' Spenerschen Zeitung'' even led to a short term of imprisonment. In 1829, he went to
Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...
where he helped found ''Der Bazar'' (1830) and ''Der deutsche Horizont'' (1831). Once again his satires (in this case an attack on the Bavarian royalty) resulted in imprisonment and deportation. Fleeing to Paris, he quickly achieved fame through a series of lectures, and he received an invitation from
Louis Philippe I Louis Philippe I (6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850), nicknamed the Citizen King, was King of the French from 1830 to 1848, the penultimate monarch of France, and the last French monarch to bear the title "King". He abdicated from his throne ...
, but he returned to Bavaria in 1831 and took over the editorship of the '' Bayerische Beobachter''. The following year he converted to
Protestantism Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
. His apologetic manner and newfound restraint resulted in official forgiveness, and even an appointment as a functionary in the Royal Bavarian Court Theatre. In 1834, he returned to Vienna, which was to remain his main residence for the rest of his life. He was forbidden to start his own newspaper, and worked instead for the ''Theaterzeitung''. On 1 January 1837, the ban was lifted and on the same day he founded ''
Der Humorist ''Der Humorist'' was a journal published from 1837 to 1926 with the title "eine Zeitschrift für Scherz und Ernst, Kunst, Theater, Geselligkeit und Sitte" (a journal for jokes and seriousness, art, theatre, sociability and custom). In the years ...
'' (1837-1862), a daily satirical publication which he edited until his death in 1858. During the
Revolution of 1848 The revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the springtime of the peoples or the springtime of nations, were a series of revolutions throughout Europe over the course of more than one year, from 1848 to 1849. It remains the most widespre ...
he became the first head of a Revolutionary Writers' Association, but with the continuation of unrest he resigned and retreated to
Baden Baden (; ) is a historical territory in southern Germany. In earlier times it was considered to be on both sides of the Upper Rhine, but since the Napoleonic Wars, it has been considered only East of the Rhine. History The margraves of Ba ...
until the situation had resolved. The restraint displayed in his later work meant that a new generation of writers began to see him as "reactionary". His enmity towards
Johann Nestroy Johann Nepomuk Eduard Ambrosius Nestroy (; 7 December 1801 – 25 May 1862) was a singer, actor and playwright in the popular Austrian tradition of the Biedermeier period and its immediate aftermath. He participated in the 1848 revolutions and ...
and friendship with
Ignaz Franz Castelli Ignaz Franz Castelli (6 March 1781 – 5 February 1862) was an Austrian dramatist born in Vienna. He studied law at university, and then entered government service. During the Napoleonic invasions his patriotism inspired him to write stirri ...
are well-known. He also made lecture tours throughout Germany, France and Austria. After returning from one such trip he separated from his wife. In the summer of 1858 he travelled to
Baden Baden (; ) is a historical territory in southern Germany. In earlier times it was considered to be on both sides of the Upper Rhine, but since the Napoleonic Wars, it has been considered only East of the Rhine. History The margraves of Ba ...
, where he died on 5 September at the age of 63. His last words were "Now all is over, I have to go." The executor of his will was
Friedrich Hebbel Christian Friedrich Hebbel (18 March 1813 – 13 December 1863) was a German poet and dramatist. Biography Hebbel was born at Wesselburen in Dithmarschen, Holstein, the son of a bricklayer. He was educated at the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneum ...
. He was buried in the
Matzleinsdorf Protestant Cemetery Matzleinsdorf Protestant Cemetery () is a historic church-owned and operated Protestant cemetery located in the Favoriten district of Vienna, the capital city of Austria. History and details Throughout the centuries, the Vienna Protestants did ...
(1/168) in Vienna.


Works

* ''Poetische Erstlinge'' (1821) * ''Konditorei des Jokus'' (1828) * ''Dumme Briefe'' (1834) * ''Pariser Briefe über Leben, Kunst, Gesellschaft und Industrie zur Zeit der Weltausstellung im Jahre 1855'' (1856) * ''Deklamatorische Soirée'' (1858)


Newspapers founded

* ''Mitternachtsblatt für den Sternenhimmel der Laune und des Humors'' (1830) * ''Der deutsche Horizont. Ein humoristisches Blatt für Zeit, Geist und Sitte'' (Jaquet, München, 1.1831-4.1834) * ''Der Humorist. Eine Zeitschrift für Scherz und Ernst, Kunst, Theater, Geselligkeit und Sitte'' (Bolte, Wien, 1.1837-25.1862), sometimes accompanied by a ''Humoristisch-satyrischer Volkskalender'' (1.1851-8.1858)
Information
an
facsimiles provided by ANNO


Bibliography

*
''Saphir, Moritz Gottlieb.''
In:
Constantin von Wurzbach Constantin Wurzbach Ritter von Tannenberg (11 April 1818 – 17 August 1893) was an Austrian biographer, lexicographer and author. Biography He was born in Laibach, Carniola (present-day Ljubljana, Slovenia).He later went on to complete a cou ...
: ''
Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich ''Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich'' (English, ''Biographical Encyclopedia of the Austrian Empire'') (abbreviated ''Wurzbach'' from the author's surname) is a 60-volume work, edited and published by Constantin von Wurzbach, cont ...
''. 28. Band. Wien 1874. * Jacob Toury: ''M. G. Saphir und K. Beck''. In: Walter Grab u.a. (Hrsg.): ''Juden im Vormärz und in der Revolution 1848''. Burgverlag, Stuttgart 1983, * Peter Sprengel: ''Moritz Gottlieb Saphir in Berlin. Journalismus und Biedermeierkultur''. In: Günter Blamberger, Manfred Engel und Monika Ritzer (eds.): ''Studien zur Literatur des Frührealismus. Ulrich Fülleborn zur Emeritierung''. Lang Verlag, Frankfurt a. M. 1991, S. 243–275. * Wulf Wülfing: ''Folgenreiche Witze. Moritz Gottlieb Saphir''. In: Joachim Dyck u.a. (Hrsg.): ''Rhetorik. Ein internationales Jahrbuch.'' Band 12: ''Rhetorik im 19. Jahrhundert''. Niemeyer Verlag, Tübingen 1993, , S. 73–83.


External links

*''Jewish Encyclopedia''
"Saphir, Moritz Gottlieb"
by Isidore Singer & Ludwig Venetianer (1906).
Moritz Gottlieb Saphir beim eLibrary Austria Projekt (eLib Volltexte)


on the website of the new ''Der Humorist'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Saphir, Moritz Gottlieb 1795 births 1858 deaths Austrian Protestants Austrian journalists Austrian satirists Austrian Jews Converts to Protestantism from Judaism Austrian magazine founders Austrian lecturers Austrian magazine editors