Officials on the Scaffold: Lutheran Martyrdom in Andreas Gryphius’ Catharina von Georgien

In a reading of Gryphius’ Catharina von Georgien within its political and confessional context Silesia at the end Thirty Years’ War, this article analyzes transformation Christian martyr cult early modern German tragedy. It argues that Gryphius used hagiographic type royal as moral example figure governmental order. He depicted pious Georgian Queen her devout officials an inspiring community civic virtue to be imitated by his fellow Silesians. This patriotic injunction tragedy resonates with legal concepts public law put forward mentor, Georg Schönborner others. The finds must read aesthetic contribution some movements decisive for state formation around 1650.