Simon Rottmanner

Simon Rottmanner, pseudonyms: Theobald Cheerful, John T. to Schollberg and Reutha and Theophilus Neumann ( born February 2, 1740 the Rottmann farm near Erding, † September 6, 1813 in branch) was a German camera List, agricultural reformer, lawyer, landowner and author.

Career

Simon was the oldest son of Georg Lex (1713-1750), called Rottmanner, the owner of a farm in Hörlkofen free at book. His mother was Mary Kohedl from Taufkirchen / Vils.

Simon Lex, who later, following a house tradition, takes on the farm names Rottmanner, visited the Lyceum in Freising. After finishing school he is in Freising first lectures in philosophy and theology. He is able to answer Oberdorffer on the highly specialized theological writings of his professor Celestine. But he soon changed to the State University of Ingolstadt, where just versatile, the new faces of teachers like Peter Ickstatt and Johann Georg encountered by Lori. Simon, who had already used the name Rottmanner now writes for a Kameralwissenschaften (a compound of Business and Economics and Public Administration ) and law.

He attended public and private colleges that cover the entire political science, from the story of Roman and churches - up to the process right. The Enlightenment leaves a lasting mark on the students. Much of what previously seemed self-evident, it is considered to be encrusted. The government Max III. Joseph (since 1745) is covered by the new intellectual currents and introduces new features.

1763 acquires Rottmanner the academic degree of licentiate of rights. The subsequent three-year internship, he graduated from the native land court in Erding district judge Joseph Anton Cajetan Zwickh. After the second legal test to be received under the Electoral Councilor lawyer in Munich.

The young legal adviser falls on Max V. Earl of Preysing ( 1736-1827 ). The main one of the most important Bavarian noble families, recruits from Rottmanner to entrust to him the management of his estates scattered with numerous subordinate peasants. As a " personal secretary ", by today's standards as a director, he accompanied Preysing and stands him on the Hauptgut Hohenaschau as legal advisors.

Now is Rottmanner his academic knowledge into practice. He achieves this with great success. Even at the university he was interested in new farming methods that will be used in England and France. His versatility is also required in the forestry, hunting, brewing and mining sector. The service routes to the far-flung lands of the Preysing, eg a great trip along the Rhine, to deepen his knowledge and provide it with new perspectives. In Hohenaschau the atmosphere is casual, the farmer's son classically educated to be met with on the high nobility floor without reservations and from some of these encounters occur several durable contacts.

1775 married Barbara Rottmanner Paur, who comes from a brewing family from Isareck. The assets, which she brings to the connection, enabled him to acquire a precious seat. The estate is quite run down by years of neglect. This Rottmanner itself is landlord of a manor house and some peasants to property, of various sizes. The lower courts remains for some time in Preysing in Kronwinkl where Rottmanner is lord of the manor, later he will exert himself. Even after the step into self-employment, he remained the house Preysing friendly and lawyers connected.

Critical social and economic policy writer

Simon Rottmanner written books on socio-political, historical, agricultural, and economic contexts that always clearly formulated, fundamental political demands due to their sound analytical gaze on the whole social situation. It is characteristic of his thinking that he was interested in the popular mentality deeply rooted causes of social ills He examined the historical origins of the lack of freedom for farmers to uncover the reasons for the results from their tax burden. In addition to the duties set out ( for the lord and the church ) they had been saddled with additional non- legally defined services. In " Beytrag the history of Frohne or band works in Bavaria, " he explains, drudgery had been in the days of jungle law in return the farmers for granted by the armed needle protection, with the increased certainty of modern times they have lost their justification.

On the subject of self-enrichment resulted in a 3 -volume Satire: "Teaching an old officer to young officials, candidates and trainees'. As seigniorial judges of the house Preysing had Rottmanner insight into the machinations of private officials of the great houses. In this ironic instructions for fraud to the farmers, he describes the greedy, corrupt, cynical, saliva leaking Hofmarksbeamten, intimidates the dependent peasants, discord between master and servant sows, defame inspectors and perversion of justice, fraud and forgery masters like a deck of cards.

The fight against these abuses Rottmanners runs like a red thread through his other journalistic work. The book was heavily criticized. The author defended himself in a characteristic argument for him: " It is nonsense to assert that the nation would bajerische, dishonor by disclosure of the practices that commit some officials in the country. Because the officials are the nation? If one has denied that it does not give too righteous officials in Bajern? "

Criticism of the government exercised Rottmanner 1778 for the first time. The occasion is a regulation ( " mandate " ), anti-poaching and on issues of forest law. He shows inconsistencies with the applicable state law, and denounces the corruption of Obrist Jägermeister, and also the enrichment at the expense of the peasants. The fact that lawyers and publicists to help make the complaints of the peasants, are threatened with punishment, enraged him. Although the censor confiscated his pamphlet, the regulation was withdrawn. A refutation of the opposite party, he responded in 1780 with a profound forstwissenschaftichen 660 - page book with textbook character. The " necessaries knowledge of Forestry and Game Management " (1780 ) had published anonymously, as all his writings. The book was viewed as a rebellion against the sovereign hunting and forestry regalia and immediately banned the intervention of the nobility. A major requirement was the sustainability of timber harvesting in which only so much is being cut, as the same may regrow. Even the still customary agricultural use should be taken from the forest. Rottmanner describes and calls for the regular management of forests. He justified the need for a separation of forestry and hunting, a thorough training of foresters, surveying the forests and clear legal rules with numerous case studies. The Colonel Jägermeister was convicted and discharged during the discussion because of an embezzlement.

Finally, Rottmanner turned to the brewing industry. He criticized the abolition of home-brewed "House Trunks" and a new beer tax, which should propel his opinion, the ordinary people in the taverns. In addition, this measure was kindled by fierce competition between the nobility, monasteries and civil brewers. It calls to repeal the state's ban on home Trunks.

Rottmanners style of reasoning was sent argumentative and didactic. It detects the position of the counterpart to part, before their own - often in the form of questions - the opposite, as it is now taught in argumentation and communication training. " Freylich the truth is offensive to those who do not want to hear, should they be silent about it? " He always appealed to this logic and insight of the reader, he always has concrete suggestions for improvement ready. When it comes to dress an argument in a pleasing external form, the early influence makes by Virgil and Horace still evident in his expression even in old age. Irritated and directly respond but at the hypocrisy and injustice.

Sympathy for the farmers

The relationship with his peasants and Taglöhnerfamilien was excellent. Not only in his written remarks came his benevolence to the downtrodden peasantry against the expression. In an anonymously published work he asked in 1797, mutatis mutandis: Can a farmer in the many compulsory labor, the many grain taxes to the landlords, of which it can be hunted at will from the estate, with its poor huts and stables and without money, with so many problems that he can not eliminate on their own, yet be open to new methods? "Farmers " so his experience, " only the suffering members of the body politic, whose voice is never heard. You dare hardly their oppressions to cry, because even her sighs are punished. "

The improvement of rural living conditions was him in the daily handling concerns and commitment. Thus, for example also be used for access for all to a better education and to build a school house in tree branch. He also spoke out against the raised mainly by the Church "Little tithe " on fruit, herb, hops, and flax. Since these are expensive in cultivation, they would hardly be cultivated as a result of taxation, what is harmful from a macroeconomic perspective. Also, this control is legally not permitted.

Proponents of the Enlightenment

Under the new government, Max IV Joseph and Count Montgelas (from 1799), saw Rottmanner the possibility of real change after the long years of disuse. He played a pioneering role when it came to oppose superstition, such as with the introduction of the lightning rod. He condemned the flogging and felt it was arrogance that Landrichter this punishment anwandten farmers against.

Rottmanners critical journalism required courage. Only means of camouflage and the help of influential friends - he maintained close contacts with the progressive noble families in Bavaria - he could bring his books past the censors, not always succeeded. Nevertheless, he prepares with his writings the ground for critical agricultural and economic reforms of the 19th century. Most had used for Rottmanner themselves were politically realized in his lifetime. The conservative spiritual and secular nobility and its officers in relation to it was critical because arbitrariness and enrichment were widely used against the people. He wanted to see the other hand, the role of the state government strengthened. At the end of his life he could include the formal abolition of serfdom, nor experience. 1802 awarded him the Faculty of Law, State University honorary doctorate in recognition of his life's work.

Farmer and agrarian reformers

The building of the estate had to be thoroughly renovated in the beginning. Rottmanner began to transform his residence to the model farm. Other than his predecessors, he had no " Baumann " as administrator, but led even the economy. He had Create orchards, pastures and fence led to their own property, the stall-feeding a, which was not common at the time. He succeeded by rational fertilization and irrigation to increase yields of hay, fruits and grains remarkable. In 1805 he sold a fifteen- hundredweight of animal, his oxen were so large and heavy, advised that he had to buy smaller for daily work. His horses and sheep has been widely praised as exemplary. Contemporaries described his farming even as " the ne plus ultra in the economy ."

He was often asked for advice. Then he shared his wealth of experience, as some get proves remaining letter, like with others and not saved with recommendations and practical hints. Simon Rottmanner was known as agrarian reformers on the borders of Bavaria. He is also considered the founders of modern forestry science and was a founding member of the agriculturist Tific association in Bavaria. As a close observer, he turned against the schematic application of methods in agriculture; they should rather be adapted to the landscape and climatic microclimate. Diversity instead of uniformity, even think instead assume that was his motto.

Squire

On September 7, 1776 were Rottmanners "subjects" taken with hand vows in the duty. Freedom he believed to be one of the highest goods and so negotiated and he reached it, he could be good in 1891 and six rural estate of ( ecclesiastical ) tithe ransom. In a kind of land consolidation, he Rounded his own land, while never letting the needs of farmers in mind. He practiced flat hierarchies towards his servants what his natural authority still increased. He gave them more free time than usual. 1796 was by far Rottmanner payments and negotiations, limit the consequences of the war between the Austrians and the French for his village on the tolerable level. All this contributed to the fact that he was soon known only as "Father Rottmanner " throughout the area.

His library contained 3300 volumes. Your ranged from rare manuscripts, including the right book for the Bavarian Oberland of 1364, over looking prints of the 15th century to the then newly printed non-fiction, for everyday use. From ancient times up to a closed chain of international constitutional and economic literature went through his bookshelves. Their compilation shows that there was no national or denominational barriers in his way of thinking.

Family

He and his wife had four daughters and two sons. Son, Max, was a soldier in Napoleon's Russian campaign and fell in 1812 on the Berezina. The eldest, Charles Rottmanner already made ​​a name for himself in his early years as a writer and philosopher. He was more of a theorist and a member of the Bavarian Landtag. Already at the age of 41 he died. A son, Karl Edler von Heller Berg, professor of law, later to senior government officials, Simon Rottmanner introduced the problem of peasant oppression and led him even to write theses on the subject. The other two daughters married enlightened academics ( district court physician Anton Hazzi and Wilhelm Anton v. Vogt, owner of Hofmark vague, magistrates and judges to Valley). Simon Rottmanner, had accompanied the health problems since the fifth decade of life, died on September 6, 1813 in Branch, where he is buried.

" The hallways owe him their blessing, the oppressed their right, the unfortunates their salvation " was the inscription on Simon Rottmanners grave, which no longer exists today. She is now re-reading at the church in Branch, where, in 2006 descendants of a plaque for him was appropriate.

Works

And numerous articles in the Bavarian provincial deputies, weekly, Intelligenzblatt etc.

Swell

The text is largely based on Dietmar Schmitz: " Simon Rottmanner " in "1200 years Wörth " of 1996.

In addition:

• Wendelin Hartmann, Simon Rottmanner. A champion of the emancipation of the serfs, in: Erdinger Land 4 (1980 ), 40-49
• Heinz Haushofer, Rottmanner and its library. A contribution to the knowledge of the formation of the South German intelligence sources, in: Journal of Agricultural History and Rural Sociology 1 (1953 )
• Simon Rottmanner, necessaries knowledge and explanations of Forestry and Game Management in Bavaria, Munich in 1780.
• Joseph Socher, main features of the life of Simon Rottmanner. Genuine patriots to commemorate and remember, Landshut 1815.
• Claudius stone, state church, reform Catholicism and Orthodoxy in the Electorate of Bavaria, the late Enlightenment. The Erdinger Country Judge Joseph of Widnmann and its environment. Munich 2007.

• The Bavarian State Library in Munich, manuscript collection, Autogr. Rottmanner from February 15, 1785