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- Title
Gott, König, Vaterland – und die Wahlen. Die preußische Städteordnung von 1808 im Spiegel der protestantischen Predigt.
- Authors
Sterkhov, Dmitrii
- Abstract
The study is focused on the role of the Prussian Protestant clergy in the popularization of the Municipal Ordinance of 1808 which introduced the municipal self-government in Prussia. The Prussian citizens showed little interest in self-government and did their best to avoid municipal elections which is why the Prussian government tried to win over the population to the new reform. In every Prussian town the elections of the city council assemblies as well as the oath taking of the municipal councillors were accompanied by a church service. In their sermons the local Protestant clergymen had to explain the importance of the self-government and to encourage the eligible voters to take part in the municipal elections. Quite successfully combining the Christian values and liberal ideas, the Prussian Protestant preachers tried to demonstrate that active participation in the municipal self-government equates with the religious duty of every citizen. The reform itself was interpreted in the sermons as a divine gift, God was thus directly involved in the earthly politics. Additionally, the new image of the Prussian King elaborated by the clergy appeared conducive to the popularization of the municipal reform. Frederick William III. was portrayed as a "Citizen King" respecting the rights of his subjects. Following the Holy Scripture in the eyes of the Prussian Protestant clergy the introduction of the municipal self-government also meant the evolution of the Prussian people from the state of childhood and servitude to adulthood and independence. Through their political preaching the Protestant clergy actively supported the liberal reforms "from above" and contributed to the modernization of the Prussian state in the early 19th century. In Prussia, modernization did not mean secularization, but went hand in hand with the intensification of religiousness.
- Subjects
PRUSSIA (Germany); MUNICIPAL ordinances; CITY council elections; PROTESTANTS; LITERATURE popularization; LOCAL elections; CLERGY; ADULTS; SERMON (Literary form); BIBLE; RELIGIOUSNESS; VOTER turnout; CHURCH renewal
- Publication
Historische Zeitschrift, 2022, Vol 315, Issue 2, p319
- ISSN
0018-2613
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1515/hzhz-2022-0026