Eberhard von Danckelmann
Eberhard Christoph Balthasar Freiherr von Danckelman (* November 23, 1643 in Lingen (Ems ), † March 31, 1722 in Berlin, also Danckelmann written ) was tutor to the first Prussian king, Brandenburg Minister, Prussian Oberpräsident ( = prime ) and baron.
Life
Childhood, education and first tasks
Eberhard Danckelman was the fourth of seven sons of a country judge and grew up in the county of Lingen. After his studies in Utrecht, he was only 21 years tutor to the ( second-born ) Brandenburg Elector, later King Frederick I of Prussia. Danckelmann went his own strict Calvinist upbringing accordingly, very rugged with the delicate prince in order; he is said to have the eight-year Friedrich forced to write sentences like: " Fritz will remain a donkey ."
Appointment to government posts
Frederick I named him after his accession as Elector Friedrich III. of Brandenburg in 1688 for Secret State and Council of War, 1692 to the President of the Government of the Duchy of Cleves in 1695 and finally to the Premier and the President of all the country's colleges. Danckelman worked as planned at the centralization of state administration, promoted the emergence of factories and strengthened the importance and influence of the bourgeoisie.
In Danckelmans responsibility the foundation of the University of Halle in 1694 and the Academy of Arts in Berlin in 1696 falls.
With him and his six brothers grew stronger, so that you spoke of Danckelmanschen Pleiades. From Emperor Leopold I, he was raised together with his brothers in the kingdom baron.
Danckelmans success and power aroused the envy of other nobles, and the establishment of his six brothers in influential positions reinforced the aversion to the Pleiades. He increased the hatred against him ansammelden by his ruthless severity against all subordinates.
Fall arrest and
Danckelman made in influential circles by enemies, that he opposed the Guelph politics. On November 27, 1697, he was overthrown and arrested at the instigation of his enemies Fuchs, Barfus and Dohna.
The charges against him included 290 charges, most of which proved to be unfounded. The method nevertheless went on for years. Without judgment Danckelman finally I was sentenced to life imprisonment by a cabinet order of Frederick. His property was confiscated, including his site next to its City Hall Friedrichswerder splendid palace, which was henceforth used as a princely house to house state guests. Danckelmann also lost his pension and his hereditary promised dignities. The most important cause of his downfall is his personal relationship with his former students to seek Frederick I, who avoided to face his former teacher again. Danckelman was imprisoned from 1698 to 1707 in the fortress Peitz.
Release, rehabilitation and posthumous honor
Frederick I in 1707 granted amnesty to him and allowed him to live in Cottbus. Also Danckelman were approved in 2000 dollars annually from the confiscated assets. To a reconciliation with Frederick I, however, it never came. Frederick William I appointed him after his accession to the throne in 1713 on an honorable way to the back yard and asked him for his advice. A revision of his trial and a return of his property but did not take place.
On April 14, 1885, a newly created street in today's Berlin -Charlottenburg was named in Danckelmannstraße. Also in Neustadt ( Dosse), a street was named in honor Danckelmans.
Bust in the Siegesallee
For the former Berlin Victory Avenue of the sculptor Gustav Eberlein designed a marble bust Danckelmans as side figure of the monument group 26 to the central statue for King Frederick I, unveiled on May 3, 1900. Danckelman holds in his hand a certificate and comes with full-bottomed wig and a serious look presents a far-sighted, resolute statesman. The bust is obtained with slight damage and is kept in the Spandau Citadel since May 2009.