# Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau

_Silesian poet, imperial counselor, council members of Breslau (1618-1679)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/christian-hoffmann-von-hoffmannswaldau
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau (baptised 25 December 1616 – 4 April 1679) was a German poet of the Baroque era.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 25 December 1616 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64278#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Wrocław ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64278#P19))
- **Died:** 18 April 1679 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64278#P570))
- **Place of death:** Wrocław ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64278#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Germany ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64278#P27))
- **Occupation:** poet; writer; politician; translator; jurist; poet lawyer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64278#P106))
- **Education:** Leiden University; Elisabeth-Gymnasium; Academic Gymnasium Danzig ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64278#P69))
- **Positions held:** mayor (1677–1679) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64278#P39))

## About

He was born and died in Breslau (Wrocław) in Silesia. During his education in Danzig (Gdańsk) and Leiden, he befriended Martin Opitz and Andreas Gryphius, both leading figures in 17th-century German poetry. In his later years, Hofmannswaldau involved himself in the city politics of Breslau, rising to the position of Bürgermeister.

During his lifetime, Hofmannswaldau's poems circulated mostly in manuscript. It was the posthumous publication of Deutsche Übersetzungen und Gedichte in 1679 that assured his reputation as the most influential poet of his era, followed by Benjamin Neukirch's even more extensive collection, Herrn von Hoffmannswaldau und anderer Deutschen auserlesener und bißher ungedruckter Gedichte, the first volume of which appeared in 1695. Hofmannswaldau's style of poetry came to be known as galant poetry and is marked by extravagant metaphors, skillful use of rhetoric and unashamed eroticism. It shows the influence of the Italian poet Giambattista Marino. Hofmannswaldau's verse enjoyed great popularity until it was attacked for bad taste by Johann Christoph Gottsched in the mid-18th century.

## Questions

**When was Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau born?**  
Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau was born on 25 December 1616 in Wrocław.

**What positions has Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau held?**  
Positions held by Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau include: mayor (1677–1679).

**Where did Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau study?**  
Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau was educated at Leiden University, Elisabeth-Gymnasium, Academic Gymnasium Danzig.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Hoffmann_von_Hoffmannswaldau) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q64278](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q64278) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Hoffmann-von-Hoffmannswaldau.jpg by Unknown author Unknown author (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hoffmann-von-Hoffmannswaldau.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Hoffmann-von-Hoffmannswaldau.jpg — Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/christian-hoffmann-von-hoffmannswaldau. Retrieved 7 November 2026.