Karl Graf Zinzendorf - Band 1 - Einführung in seine Tagebücher

This volume is intended as introduction to the 4-volume edition of the diaries written in French by Count Karl von Zinzendorf (1739-1813) as governor of the free port of Trieste, 1776 to 1782. Selecting specific topics, it examines the possibilities of gaining new knowledge from the diaries which serve both as documentary account of contemporary politics, society and culture and as an evidence of his individual life. So far, they have never been systematically explored. Therefore, due attention is payed to Zinzendorf`s achievements for the modernisation of government, infrastructure and society of multi-ethnic Trieste which, until now, have been neglected. His governorship offers an opportunity to discuss political and economic interests and forces acting not from the top to the bottom, but from the local levels to the decision making institutions in Vienna. Hereby, new approaches are taken to study politics, economy, society, culture and religion in the age of enlightened absolutism. Aside from Trieste and neighbouring Venice, the scenarios are Vienna, then the greatest town of Central Europe, and, in contrast to it, the provinces of Carinthia, Carniola, Istria and the Croatian military border at the periphery of the European enlightenment. By his extensive reading and intensive oral communication the governor`s perception extends beyond Europe to Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. In the first part of the volume, the fate of the Zinzendorf papers and the scattered state of research since the late 19th century which includes such diverse fields as music, theatre, finances, land registry, travels and the emancipation of the jews in Trieste, are discussed. In the second part topics which emerge from studying the diaries are expounded. Firstly, the institutional background of Zinzendorf`s executive function is examined. It was Joseph II himself who created the monocratic office of the governor, thus anticipating his later administrative reforms. Futhermore, the maxims, methods and acceptancy of Zinzendorf`s model government are being scrutinised with a view of the factions existing within the central ministries of Vienna and of the governor`s respect of Maria Theresa and of his ambivalence towards Joseph II. Hitherto neglected functionaries in Vienna emerge as initiators of and collaborators in important reforms. In Trieste, Zinzendorf ushered in the era of economic and political liberalism by deregulating traffic, transport and the sale of consumer goods, and by infusing elements of corporate government into the self-administrating body of the stock exchange. He did so even before he became acquainted in 1778 with Adam Smith`s fundamental treatise of 1776. Equally, the governor was instrumental in abolishing the traditional restrictions imposed on the mining and trade of iron ore in Styria and Carinthia. For the Lutherans settling in Trieste since the early 1720ies he obtained the right of public worship in 1778. Aspects of cultural studies such as working habits, professional and social networks, reading, communication, entertainment and gender relations are highlighted in the chapters which study the daily pursuits of the governor in Trieste, during his visits to Vienna and during his travels. The bibliography lists about 1000 titles and pertains to all four volumes of the edition.