Marie Christiane Eleonore Prochaska (11 March 1785, in Potsdam – 5 October 1813, in Dannenberg) was a German female soldier who fought in the Prussian army against Napoleon during the War of the Sixth Coalition.
Prochaska's father was a noncommissioned officer in the Prussian guards, serving on a low income. She grew up poor and was sent by her father to the military orphanage in Potsdam when her mother died. There she later found work as a domestic servant, though she was also interested in the war against Napoleon from an early age.
During these wars Prochaska disguised herself as a man and registered for 1 Jägerbataillon of the Lützow Free Corps under the name August Renz in 1813, serving first as a drummer, then later in the infantry.[1] She was severely wounded at the Battle of the Göhrde and field surgeons, rushing to treat her wounds, discovered she was a woman and took her to Dannenberg, where she succumbed to her wounds three weeks later.[2]
Legacyedit
In retrospect, Prochaska was strongly idealized as a chaste heroine and honoured as "Potsdam's Joan of Arc" ("die Potsdamer Jeanne d'Arc"). Various plays and poems were written on her life (including those by Friedrich Rückert and Emil Taubert[3]), whilst Ludwig van Beethoven began a "Bühnenmusik" (WoO 96) on her, with a libretto written by Friedrich Duncker.
In 1863, a commemorative marker was erected over Prochaska's grave at St.-Annen-Friedhof in Danneburg and in 1889 her home town of Potsdam created a monument to her memory ("Der Heldenjungfrau zum Gedächtnis", or "In memory of the maiden-heroine"), which still survives in the almost completely cleared Alten Friedhof (old cemetery).
In music and literatureedit
Ludwig van Beethoven composed incidental music for a play by Johann Friedrich Duncker about Prochaska, titled Leonore Prohaska. Duncker was Cabinet Secretary for the King of Prussia whom he accompanied to the Congress of Vienna. Despite Duncker's hopes, Leonore Prohaska was not performed in Vienna, which may have been due to the fact that the material had already been treated in Piwald's Das Mädchen von Potsdam which did have a performance in 1814.[4]
Contextedit
Prochaska was one of many German women who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. Friederike Krüger (1789–1848), thanks to the protection of her brigade commander, became a female corporal in the Prussian army. Finally she served in 2nd Garde-Regiment zu Fuß. Her request to retire was accepted in 1816 and she returned to civilian life.
Johanna Stegen (1793–1842), from Lüneburg, fought as a civilian for the rifle battalion of the 1st Pommerian Infantry Regiment in a battle at Lüneburg, where she provided troops with ammunition.
Anna Lühring (1796–1866) joined the Lützower Jäger in 1814 under the name Eduard Kruse and survived the Napoleonic Wars, though her public fame faded quickly.
^Keubke, Klaus Ulrich; Poblenz, Uwe (2009). Die Freikorps Schill und Lützow im Kampf gegen Napoleon. Schriften zur Geschichte Mecklenburgs (in German). Vol. 24. Schwerin. p. 76.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^"Cantonnirungs-Quartier Dannenberg, den 7. Oktober". Berlinische Nachrichten von Staats- und gelehrten Sachen (in German). No. 126. 21 October 1813.
eleonore, prochaska, marie, christiane, march, 1785, potsdam, october, 1813, dannenberg, german, female, soldier, fought, prussian, army, against, napoleon, during, sixth, coalition, 19th, century, illustration, prochaskabirth, namemarie, christiane, other, na. Marie Christiane Eleonore Prochaska 11 March 1785 in Potsdam 5 October 1813 in Dannenberg was a German female soldier who fought in the Prussian army against Napoleon during the War of the Sixth Coalition Eleonore Prochaska19th century illustration of ProchaskaBirth nameMarie Christiane Eleonore ProchaskaOther name s August RenzBorn 1785 03 11 11 March 1785Died5 October 1813 1813 10 05 aged 28 Allegiance PrussiaService wbr branchArmyYears of service1813UnitLutzow Free CorpsBattles warsNapoleonic Wars Contents 1 Life 2 Legacy 2 1 In music and literature 3 Context 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksLife editProchaska s father was a noncommissioned officer in the Prussian guards serving on a low income She grew up poor and was sent by her father to the military orphanage in Potsdam when her mother died There she later found work as a domestic servant though she was also interested in the war against Napoleon from an early age During these wars Prochaska disguised herself as a man and registered for 1 Jagerbataillon of the Lutzow Free Corps under the name August Renz in 1813 serving first as a drummer then later in the infantry 1 She was severely wounded at the Battle of the Gohrde and field surgeons rushing to treat her wounds discovered she was a woman and took her to Dannenberg where she succumbed to her wounds three weeks later 2 Legacy editIn retrospect Prochaska was strongly idealized as a chaste heroine and honoured as Potsdam s Joan of Arc die Potsdamer Jeanne d Arc Various plays and poems were written on her life including those by Friedrich Ruckert and Emil Taubert 3 whilst Ludwig van Beethoven began a Buhnenmusik WoO 96 on her with a libretto written by Friedrich Duncker In 1863 a commemorative marker was erected over Prochaska s grave at St Annen Friedhof in Danneburg and in 1889 her home town of Potsdam created a monument to her memory Der Heldenjungfrau zum Gedachtnis or In memory of the maiden heroine which still survives in the almost completely cleared Alten Friedhof old cemetery In music and literature edit Ludwig van Beethoven composed incidental music for a play by Johann Friedrich Duncker about Prochaska titled Leonore Prohaska Duncker was Cabinet Secretary for the King of Prussia whom he accompanied to the Congress of Vienna Despite Duncker s hopes Leonore Prohaska was not performed in Vienna which may have been due to the fact that the material had already been treated in Piwald s Das Madchen von Potsdam which did have a performance in 1814 4 Context editProchaska was one of many German women who fought in the Napoleonic Wars Friederike Kruger 1789 1848 thanks to the protection of her brigade commander became a female corporal in the Prussian army Finally she served in 2nd Garde Regiment zu Fuss Her request to retire was accepted in 1816 and she returned to civilian life Johanna Stegen 1793 1842 from Luneburg fought as a civilian for the rifle battalion of the 1st Pommerian Infantry Regiment in a battle at Luneburg where she provided troops with ammunition Anna Luhring 1796 1866 joined the Lutzower Jager in 1814 under the name Eduard Kruse and survived the Napoleonic Wars though her public fame faded quickly See also editFranziska Scanagatta Marie Schellinck Nadezhda DurovaReferences edit Keubke Klaus Ulrich Poblenz Uwe 2009 Die Freikorps Schill und Lutzow im Kampf gegen Napoleon Schriften zur Geschichte Mecklenburgs in German Vol 24 Schwerin p 76 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Cantonnirungs Quartier Dannenberg den 7 Oktober Berlinische Nachrichten von Staats und gelehrten Sachen in German No 126 21 October 1813 Colvin Sarah Watanabe O Kelly Helen eds 2009 Women and Death 2 Warlike Women in the German Literary and Cultural Imagination Since 1500 Camden House Publishing p 34 ISBN 9781571134004 Clive H P 2001 Beethoven and His World A Biographical Dictionary Oxford University Press p 96 ISBN 9780198166726 External links editBiography of Eleonore Prochaska at EPOCHE NAPOLEON permanent dead link Kurzer Lebenslauf I permanent dead link Kurzer Lebenslauf II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eleonore Prochaska amp oldid 1218914764, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
