Michel de Swaen

Michel de Swaen (in Dutch: Michiel de Swaen ), born the January 20th 1654 with Dunkirk, dead the May 3rd 1707 with the same place, one of the most prestigious poets and Flemish playwrights Des. It will have been with Edmond de Coussemaker and Maria Petyt one of the largest representatives of the culture Dutchwoman in France.

Biography

Dutch-speaking author

The historical events which proceed with the Netherlands at the 17th century have an significant impact on the life of Michel de Swaen, born in 1654 of Pieter de Swaen and Catharina Sint Légier.

In 1654 and 1655 appear two of the philosopher's stones of the Dutch golden age, Lucifer of Joost van den Vondel and Alle of wercken of Jacob Cats. The 17th century constitutes one of the major turnings of the history of the Netherlands. The strong immigration of Protesting S fleeing the Spanish Netherlands (Flanders) subjected to Catholicism sounds the decline of the old Dutch-speaking metropolis of Antwerp to the profit of the Randstad (Amsterdam - $the Hague - Rotterdam - Utrecht).

In 1662, the Dutch-speaking city of Dunkirk is repurchased with the the United Kingdom by Louis XIV. The French influence spends a certain time definitively to mark the area and the majority of the inhabitants continues to speak the Flemish until the end about the 19th century. All works of Michiel de Swaen are thus written in Dutch Flemish/. It is besides mainly for this reason that it is still indexed today in many encyclopedias Dutchwomen like playwright and writer south-Dutch . Rightly, one regards it as the gift of good-bye of the French Flanders with the literature Dutchwoman. Its work is with the program of the teaching of the Littérature Dutchwoman in Belgium and in the Netherlands, but it is unknown majority of the Dunkirk one.

Michel de Swaen already went to the Netherlands, more precisely with Rotterdam, where his/her son exiled himself. It there appreciates freedom in this part of the Netherlands, while that from where it is originating is devastated by the French and the Spaniards, and expresses it in particular in its poem Aan de Heer van Heel .

Wat claegt gy, heer van Heel, wat doet gy Hollant treuren,

Omdat een wilde Swaen syn kust verlaten heeft?

De Swaen, puts een meerder recht, early rouwe sigh begeeft,

Nu een soo soet verblyf niet meer hm magh gebeuren.

O Hollant! vreedsaem lant, waerin of vryheyt leeft,

Wat socht ik die vergeefs by uwe nagebueren,

Waer Frans in Castiliaen of rust in vrede schueren,

Waar' T hooft DER borgery voor vreemde heeren beeft…

Of: Of zedighe doot van Carel den Vijfen; AEN den heer Van Heel, my onbekent, over syne clacht, COp myn vertrek, uyt Hollant , Michiel de Swaen

Rederijker

Surgeon and quincailler of profession, Michel de Swaen is also member of the magistrature and the room of the rhetoricians of Dunkirk ( Rederijkerskammer ), i.e. the corporation of Carsouwe (of Flemish kersouw , daisy).

The word Rederijker ( rhetorician ) nominates any person endowed for art with the word. The Rederijkers are the members of the " rooms of rhétorique" Dutchwomen and are comparable with Meistersingers German (" Main singer ").

The movement of the Rederijkers is born with. The majority of the Rederijkers of the 17th century are especially originating in Flanders and the the Brabant and are partly influenced by other movements like the Humanisme and the Counter-Reformation. The Rederijkerskammer formed in general only and last Dutch-speaking cultural institution of the Netherlands of the South, after the French replaced the native tongue in public space.

Michel de Swaen sees himself allotting in 1687 the title of Prince of the rhetoric of Dunkirk . Accompanied by the members of the room of the rhetoricians of Dunkirk, Michel de Swaen is in 1688 the host of the room of the rhetoricians of Furnes ( Veurne , Flanders-Western, Belgium) Kruys-Broeders . Moreover Michel de Swaen maintains many friendships in Flanders with rhetoricians of Dixmude, Ypres and the surroundings.

Work

History

Although solicited many times by his friends rhetoricians, Michel de Swaen refuses that the majority of its works are printed. Only its translation of Andronicus of Campistron will be printed with its assent in 1700. However its translation of the Cid of Corneille was printed without its authorization in Dunkirk in 1694. The majority of its works were printed after its death with Bruges or Ghent. Number of them will be preserved later at the abbey of Saint Winoc with Bergues until the latter is destroyed at the time of the Révolution. It is deplored that only a negligible part of works was saved flames.

Michel de Swaen is interested in the European history and writes a historical drama zedighe doot van Carel den Vijfden . Its texts devoted to Charles Quint show his feeling of membership in the Netherlands like its religious convictions, Charles Quint there being represented a such Christian hero. Its principal work Of gecroondse leerse that it defines itself as being a clucht-spel (joke, satyric comedy) is based on an anecdote concerning Charles Quint. Of gecroondse leerse was a great success and is sometimes still represented nowadays.

If Michel de Swaen is first of all considered as Rederijker, it will have been very influenced by humanistic the Joost van den Vondel and Jacob Cats. Its work Catharina was largely influenced by Maegdhen of Joost van den Vondel. Michel de Swaen was called besides later the Vondel of Dunkirk by Guido Gezelle.

Well a long time before the creation of Taalunie, institution preaching a linguistic union of Dutch for the Netherlands, Belgium and the Suriname, Michel de Swaen endeavors to write in comprehensible Dutch of all and tries to avoid the use of local Flemish.

In spite of its strong attachment with the language and the culture Dutchwomen, Michiel de Swaen is also interested in French and Latin traditional texts. Thus it translates Cid Pierre Corneille (translation that it gives besides to the hands of Barentin, intendant of Louis XIV) and Andronicus of Campistron into Dutch. Moreover some of its works written in Dutch are slightly influenced by the Classicisme, like Of gecroonde leerse , cut out in five parts and written in Alexandrin S.

De Swaen also takes part in the competition of Rederijkers in Bruges. Frustrated to have gained only the second price, Michel de Swaen denies the requirements of this contest while trying to off work out the theory of a news Poetica Dutchwoman on the model of that of Aristote in his work Neder-duitsche digtkonde rym-konst .

Works

1688 : Of gecroonde leerse
1688: De Menschwording
1694: Cid
1694: Het leven in dood van Jesus Christus
1700: Andronicus
1702 : Catharina
1702 : Mauritius
towards 1702: Neder-duitsche digtkonde off rym-konst
towards 1704: Of zedighe doot van Carel den Vijfden

Principal works

Catharina

Catharina is a Christian tragedy putting in scene Sainte Catherine of Alexandria and having for main theme the conflict between Paganisme and Christianisme. The Martyr E Catherine of Alexandria will be carried out under the orders of the Roman Emperor Maxence. This work of Swaen occupies an interesting place in the literature Dutchwoman, the kind to which it belongs being practically absent in the north of the Netherlands dominated by the Protestantisme.

Of gecroonde leerse

One Jacquelijn day marries of the Teunis shoe-maker goes to the market where it buys a Chapon for the festival having to take place the evening even at its family. The Emperor Charles Quint, in withdrawal, observes all the scene. Attracted by the appetizing capon, it orders its servant to follow Jacquelijn, which indicates to him thereafter where she lives. Charles Quint then decides to only go there. In order to be invited the Emperor the wine for all offers. One day later the Teunis shoe-maker receives a convocation of the Emperor. Terrorized, poor Teunis goes to its court and recognizes the generous guest of the day before. Charles Quint appoints then it official shoe-maker of the imperial court. Of gecroonde leerse ( the crowned boot ) is only the joke of Swaen and one of works principal of the Flemish Littérature. She will be interpreted successfully in Flanders, in the Netherlands like in South Africa.

Representations of Of gecroonde leerse :

January 1942. Manager: Fried van Dijk. Place: Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam , Amsterdam, Netherlands.
August 1948. Manager: Antoon Uyterhoeven . Place: Beautiful Hoboken , Antwerp, Belgium.
1976. Place: Parike, Belgium.
March 1982. Manager: Vic Moeremans . Place: Zaal Kring , Alost, Belgium.
September 1982. Place: Cultureel Centrum Berchem , Antwerp, Belgium.

Note:: Of gecroonde leerse is available in its entirety on DBNL: Of gecroonde leerse.

Het leven in dood van onsen saligmaker Jesus Christus

Of zedighe doot van Carel den Vijfden

Note:: Of zedighe doot van Carel den Vijfden is it also available on DBNL: Of zedighe doot van Carel den Vijfden.

Others

The Circle Michel de Swaen bears his name.

In Dunkirk one finds:

the College Michel de Swaen
the street Michel de Swaen

With one Coudekerque-Connects finds the Public garden Michel de Swaen.

With Téteghem one finds the street Michel de Swaën and with Antwerp (Merksem District), Belgium the " Michiel De Swaenstraat". With Deventer (the Netherlands), there are also a school and street " Michiel de Swaen".

See too

List of Dutch authors
List of Flemish authors
List of poets of language Dutchwoman
Literature Dutchwoman
Netherlands of the south

External bonds

digital Library of the letters Dutchwomen
Literature and Place
Page of the university of Groningue
Internetboekhandel

Random links: