Andreas Joseph Hofmann (July 14, 1752 - September 6, 1849^[1]) was a German philosopher and revolutionary active in the Republic of Mainz. As Chairman of the Rhenish-German National Convention, the earliest parliament in Germany based on the principle of popular sovereignty, he proclaimed the first republican state in Germany, the Rhenish-German Free State, on March 18, 1793.^[1] A strong supporter of the French Revolution, he argued for an accession of all German territory west of the Rhine to France and served in the administration of the department Mont-Tonnerre under the French Directory and the French Consulate. July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ... 1752 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... September 6 is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years). ... 1849 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Republic of Mainz was the first democratic state on German territory. ... Poplar sovereignty is the doctrine that the state is created by and subject to the will of the people, who are the source of all political power. ... For other uses, see Republic (disambiguation). ... March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... 1793 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... i heart kate young The French Revolution was a period of major political and social change in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to... Loreley At 1,320 kilometres (820 miles) and an average discharge of more than 2,000 cubic meters per second, the Rhine (Dutch Rijn, French Rhin, German Rhein, Italian: Reno, Romansch: Rein, ) is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe. ... Mont-Tonnerre is the name of a département of the First French Empire in present Germany. ... Executive Directory (in French Directoire exécutif), commonly known as the Directory (or Directoire) held executive power in France from November 2, 1795 until November 10, 1799: following the Convention and preceding the Consulate. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Early life

Hofmann was born in Zell am Main near Würzburg as son of a surgeon^[2]. After the early death of his parents, he was educated by his uncle Franz Xaver Fahrmann, professor of moral theology at the University of Würzburg. After a year at a Jesuit seminary, Hofmann studied law at the University of Mainz and at the University of Würzburg.^[3] Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. ... A cardiothoracic surgeon performs a mitral valve replacement at the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. ... Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with right and wrong in human behaviour. ... [ recorded in this] The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. ... The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), commonly known as the Jesuits, is a Roman Catholic religious order. ... Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz (Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz) is a university in the city of Mainz, Germany. ...

Revolutionary in Mainz

The Deutschhaus building in Mainz, where Hofmann proclaimed the republic

After some years at the Reichshofrat in Vienna, Hofmann was forced to leave due to his critical publications and returned to Mainz in 1784, where he was hired at the University during the progressive reforms by Elector Friedrich Karl von Erthal. He taught History of Philosophy until 1791, when he became chair of natural justice. Hofmann was a liberal and progressive thinker (for instance, he supported the use of German instead of Latin in University lectures^[1] and in church^[4]). However, he became disillusioned with the pace of the reforms in Mainz^[5] and welcomed the French Revolution from the start. As he declared his support openly in his lectures, he was soon spied on by the Mainz authorities.^[6] However, before the investigation of his activities had progressed beyond the questioning of his students, the archbishop and his court fled from the advancing French troops under General Custine, who arrived in Mainz on October 21, 1792.^[7] The Deutschhaus in Mainz, view from the city The Deutschhaus or Deutschordenskommende (German for Commandry of the Teutonic Knights) is the seat of the Rhineland-Palatinate Landtag in Mainz, Germany. ... Mainz is a city in Germany and the capital of the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. ... Vienna (German: Wien ) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ... The history of philosophy is the study of philosophical ideas and concepts through time. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... i heart kate young The French Revolution was a period of major political and social change in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to... Adam Philippe, Comte de Custine (1740 - August 28, 1793), French general, began his military career in the Seven Years War. ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... 1792 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Two days later, Hofmann helped found the Mainz Jacobin club and became one of its most active members. A popular and powerful orator, he criticised both the old regime of the Elector and the French military government in his speeches, which were especially supported by the more radical students.^[8] Hofmann lectured in the rural areas of the French occupied territory,^[9] calling for support of the general elections in February and March 1793 which he helped organize.^[10] He was elected into the Rhenish-German National Convention as a representative of Mainz^[9] and became its president. On March 18, 1793, Hofmann declared the Rhenish-German Free State from the balcony of the Deutschhaus.^[1] It has been suggested that Jacobin/Sandbox be merged into this article or section. ... March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... 1793 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The Deutschhaus in Mainz, view from the city The Deutschhaus or Deutschordenskommende (German for Commandry of the Teutonic Knights) is the seat of the Rhineland-Palatinate Landtag in Mainz, Germany. ...

French government official

Map of the département Mont-Tonnerre

When the republic ended after the Siege of Mainz, Hofmann was able to leave the city with the retreating French troops and went into exile in Paris, where he headed a society of exiled Mainz republicans, the Societé des Refugiés Mayençais.^[11] After a short period in the military, he was sent to London on a military espionage mission. However, he was recognized and reported to the authorities by his former student Klemens Wenzel von Metternich.^[1] After his flight and subsequent return to Paris, he was made chief of the bureau des étrangers by the French Directory. In his 1795 essay Sur les nouvelles limites de la republique française, he argued for the Rhine as natural Eastern border of France.^[9] When the incorporation of areas west of the Rhine into France had become a reality with the Treaty of Campo Formio, Hofmann became part of the government of the new département Mont-Tonnerre and worked as its superior tax officer from 1797-1803.^[12] Mont-Tonnerre is the name of a département of the First French Empire in present Germany. ... Combatants First French Republic Kingdom of Prussia Austria (Habsburg) Electorate of Saxony Landgraviate of Hesse-Darmstadt Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel Electoral Palatinate Duchy of Saxe-Weimar Commanders General Ignace dOyré Alexandre de Beauharnais Field marshal von Kalckreuth Duke of Brunswick Strength 23,000 184 cannons 36,000 later 44... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ... Image:Metternich. ... City flag City coat of arms Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: Tossed by the waves, she does not sink) Paris Eiffel tower as seen from the esplanade du Trocadéro. ... Executive Directory (in French Directoire exécutif), commonly known as the Directory (or Directoire) held executive power in France from November 2, 1795 until November 10, 1799: following the Convention and preceding the Consulate. ... Loreley At 1,320 kilometres (820 miles) and an average discharge of more than 2,000 cubic meters per second, the Rhine (Dutch Rijn, French Rhin, German Rhein, Italian: Reno, Romansch: Rein, ) is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe. ... The Treaty of Campo Formio was signed on October 17, 1797 (26 Vendémiaire, Year VI of the French Republic) by Napoleon Bonaparte and Count Ludwig von Cobenzl as representatives of France and Austria. ... The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France, roughly analogous to British counties and are now grouped into 22 metropolitan and four overseas régions. ... Mont-Tonnerre is the name of a département of the First French Empire in present Germany. ...

After Napoleon's defeat and the return of Mainz to German control, Hofmann moved to his wife's estates in Winkel, where he spent the rest of his life until his death in September 1849.^[1] Oestrich-Winkel is a town in the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis district, in Hesse, Germany. ...

Works

• Der Aristokraten-Katechismus. Ein wunderschönes Büchlein, Mainz 1792

References