Cultural history live: Court calendar lecture in Friedenstein Castle!

Cultural history live: Court calendar lecture in Friedenstein Castle!

Next week there will be an exciting lecture as part of the ongoing exhibition “ADEL MACHT STATE. The Gotha court calendar from 1763 to 1944”. On Wednesday, October 15th, at 6:15 p.m., the Hall of Mirrors at Friedenstein Castle will become the stage for Dr. des. Kristina Kandler. Your presentation is dedicated to an early chapter of the Gotha Court Calendar, which represents an important piece of German almanac culture. Admission to the event is free, but registration is required, which should be done by October 13th.

The Gotha Court Calendar, first published in 1763 by Carl Wilhelm Ettinger, provided much important information about the European monarchies and the higher aristocracy. This made it an indispensable source for classifying dynasties, princely and ducal families, and genealogical details of the aristocracy. The work is often considered the “twin brother” of the Göttingen pocket calendar. This was also published by Ettinger and was considered a continuation of his Gotha court calendar, with the two calendars being closely linked.

A piece of history

The Gothaischer Hofkalender has been published annually since 1785 by the Justus Perthes publishing house in Gotha and experienced remarkable development until the last edition in 1944. The 1814 edition, considered the 181st, set a standard for the accuracy and breadth of information contained in subsequent editions. This included not only genealogical data, but also statistical information about different countries.

The Almanach de Gotha's relevance as a source of authority continued to flourish until publications ceased after World War II in 1945, after Gotha became part of the communist zone. But Justus Perthes' family reactivated the work in 1992, and in 1998 the 182nd edition was published by John Kennedy in London, now in English instead of French or German.

Versatility and accuracy

The historical upheavals and political changes in Europe have always influenced the calendar. Over the decades he adapted to these changes and provided insight into the fates of royal houses and aristocracy. A notable innovation is the appearance of a Gotha calendar in Italian, which has been published by the Italian publisher Ettore Gallelli since 2022. The work has earned a reputation for standing out compared to other almanacs due to its precise and extensive range of information.

Anyone who is interested in the in-depth details of the Gotha court calendar and its connections to other almanacs should take the opportunity to attend the lecture by Dr. Kandler participate. Further information about the exhibition and the accompanying program can be found in the exhibition flyer, which is available in the downloads. Registrations are possible by calling 0361/737-5530 or by email to veranstaltungen.fb@uni-erfurt.de.