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Mihai Eminescu
(1850 - 1889)
"The God of genius absorbed me from the
people as the sun absorbes a golden cloud
from the pain sea". (1869)
National and universal poet The total writer
of the Romanian literature Peerless poet
Tutelary genius of the Romanian culture
Creator of the literary language Luminary
of the Romanian culture
E unul care cânta mai dulce decât
mine? Cu-atât mai bine tarii, si lui
cu-atât mai bine. Apuce înainte
s-ajunga cât mai sus, La rasaritu-i
falnic se-nchina-al meu apus. (V. Alecsandri
- Unor critici)
| 1850,
January 15 |
Is born in Botosani,
the seventh of the eleven children of
Gheorghe and Raluca Eminovici. Is baptised
in Uspenia church, near his home, in
the city center. The house, today disapeared,
was from his mother dowry. His father
Gheorghe had the rank of collector of
duties on spirits and worked as bailiff
on an estate from Dumbraveni (on the
way to Suceava). |
| 1850-1856
|
Mihai spends his
childhood in Botosani and, of course,
travels with his parents in a carriage
to Durnesti estate, on the way to Prut
river, taken on lease, to Agafton, Bucecea,
Catamaresti, Cucorani etc. |
| 1856-1858
|
Charming childhood
in Ipotesti,
together with his many brothers and
sisters. Eminovici family, buy the estate
with 4000 ducats, demolish the old house
and build a new manor. Mihai was surrounded
by his 4 brothers: Serban, Niculae,
Iorgu and Ilie (he was
his friend in funny games). His sisters
Ruxandra and Maria
had died as children. But other 4 children
are born after Mihai: Aglae, Harieta,
Matei and Vasile, the
last will die very young. |
| 1858-1860
|
After learning
to classes at home, his father takes
him abroad, in Bucovina, than in Austro-hungarian
empire, to Cernauti. In the passport
is written that Mihai has 8 years, "black
hair, black eyes, suited nose and darkesh
face". In the III and IV class
he is in "National-Hauptschule"
(a Greek-oriental primary school). He
lives at Aron Pumnul (teacher and revolutionist
from Transylvania), friend of his father.
The other brothers are in gymnasium.
Mihai learns well enough, but the military
program and home sick determines him
to run away, on foot, till Ipostesti.
Wipped by his father is obliged to go
back to Cernauti. |
| 1860,
in September |
The father brings
his boys to Cernauti again. Mihai is
at "K.K. ober-Gymnasium".
|
| 1860-1863
|
Goes to gymnasium.
Good results in the first class ("excellent"
at Romanian language, "very good"
at history), but in the second class
he goes like a crawfish, neglecting
mathematics and Latin language, repeats
the class. Runs away again to Ipotesti,
is wipped again by his father, who takes
him tied up to Cernauti. Repeats the
second class but after Easter (1863)
he is no longer in the class register.
|
| 1864
|
Attired by the
theater, Mihai joins the troop Fanny
Tardini-Vladicescu which arrives at
Hotel Moldavie in Cernauti. He is the
prompter of the troop and goes with
it on tour to Brasov. Mihai has been
fascinated by the beauty of the actress
Fanny Tardini. In the autumn is copyist
in Botosani county administration till
March 1865. |
| 1865-1866
|
Mihai has another
chance to continue his highschool studies
in Cernauti, privately. He takes care
of Aron Pumnul's library. But in January,
at only 16 years, is devastated by the
death, just near him, of the teacher.
Cries heavily, knowing that spiritualy
is the adoptive son of Aron Pumnul.
In the evening he reads to his collegue
Stefanelii the poem La moartea lui
Aron Pumnul (At Aron Pumnul's death),
composed in the same day. Is his first
creation, published in boocklet of homage
dedicated to this occasion: Lacramioarele
învataceilor gimnazisti din Cernauti
la moartea preaiubitului lor profesor
Aron Pumnul (Lilies-of-the-valley
of the pupil from Cernauti gymnasium
at the death of their beloved teacher
Aron Pumnul). He signs M. Eminoviciu,
privatist. In Ipotesti he has his
first love. Casandra Elena is the daughter
of lui Gheorghe Alupului older than
Mihai. She is like a white flower of
sweet cherry tree. They are walking
by the waterside, by the forest, to
the enchanted lake. Later, Mihai finds
out that the 19 years old girl was taken
by the flying spirit, dieing of dropsy.
Sad, he evokes her in: De-as avea,
Din strainatate, Mortua est (in
the begining titled Elena),
Aveam o muza or Floare
albastra. Sends the poem De-as
avea to the review Familia,
of Iosif Vulcan, who publishes it imediately
(March 1866), changing his name from
Eminovici to Eminescu.
He travels a lot on foot to Blaj ("litlle
Rome", about which Aron Pumnul
had spoked to him). With his boots torn
and a perse on his back (with some books
and copy book in which he have gathered
some folklore), Mihai goes down the
Hula hill to Blaj ("abode of the
Romanian spirit"), he tries to
take him exams, but do not succed, not
having learning conditions. Earns money,
sleeps in an attic, eats plums with
black bread and washes himself in Tarnava
river (he is a good swimmer). Reads
avidely the books from the gymnasium,
write lirics in parks. His money from
Ipotesti dot not come in time, and he
goes to Sibiu, in the search of his
brother Neculai, but he was gone to
Timisoara. Is autumn and he is in misery
with bare feet. A theologist buys him
some shoes. His passport has expired,
helped by Popa Bratu from Rasinari (the
grandfather of O. Goga poet) crosses
the Austro-hungarian border clandestinely
to his country Romania, through the
mountains. Crosses Oltenia and Muntenia
attired by Bucharest. |
| 1867-1869
|
Is in Giurgiu -
water-side worker. Become prompter in
Iorgu Caragiale's itinerant troop who's
nephew, Ion Luca Caragiale, he will
meet later. Together with the troop
of Mihai Pascaly he makes a tour to
Lugoj, Sibiu, Arad, Oravita, Buzias.
He is employed, with Mihai Pascaly's
help, as prompter and copyist at the
National Theatre from Bucharest. Goes
on a new tour with the troop Pascaly,
to Galati, Iasi, Cernauti and Botosani,
where is retained by his father and
sent in autumn to study abroad. In September
with his brother Serban goes to Praga,
to the Carolina University. On October
2 is in Wien. |
| 1869-1872
|
In the capital
of the habsburgic empire is student
at the University. Because he does not
have the diploma from finishing highschool
he is and "extraordinary student"
not an ordinary one. He takes courses
of philosopy, law, economy, Romanic
languages, anathomy etc. He write a
lot. |
| 1870
|
Colaborates at
the review Convorbiri literare
from Iasi with the poem Venere si
Madona. In the summer I. Negruzzi
finds him in Wien, inviting him to Iasi.
He meets (March 1872) the beautiful
Veronica Micle, on treatement in Wien.
|
| 1871,
August 15 |
Participates at
the 400 anniversary of the Putna monastery,
being one of the organisers. |
| 1872-1874
|
Leaves Wien and
come, throught Botosani, to Iasi. On
September 1 reads at Junimea
society the poem Egipetul and
the short story Sarmanul Dionis.
Impressed, the members of the society
decide to support his studies in Berlin.
Titu Maiorescu wanted him to be "doctor
in philosophy" and his successor
at the Iasi University. Eminescu studies
at Humbolt University in Berlin several
sources. Maiorescu sends him 100 ducats
for his doctorate, but suddently Eminescu
leaves Berlin, renouncing to take the
exams. Goes to Königsberg, the
town of the philosopher Kant, searching
documents about Romanians history. In
the summer of 1874 he arrives in Iasi
without taking his doctor title. Maiorescu
names him director of the Central Library,
he is sworning in before Stefan Micle,
the rector and husband of Veronica.
He is invited to the literary evenings
of Veronica Micle. Teaches German at
the academical Institute. |
| 1875
|
Named by Maiorescu
school reviser for Iasi and Vaslui counties,
visits many schools and makes detailed
reports. Starts the friendship with
Ion Creanga. His love for Veronica is
growing. |
| 1876,
August 15 |
Dies his beloved
mother Raluca, burries at Ipotesti.
Returned to Iasi is, till 1877, journalist
at Curierul de Iasi (100 lei
per month). |
| 1876
|
Leaves the newspaper
after a conflict with other member from
the staff. Leaves Iasi where he has
created the pearls from the veronian
cycle: Fat-Frumos din tei, Calin,
Lacul, Dorinta, Peste vârfuri
s.o. |
| 1877-1883
|
Journalist at the
conservatory newspaper Timpul. His exhausted
work at the articles and poems, his
disorderly life, his bohemian nature,
all contribute to his physical crush.
His illness begin, he has head aches.
|
| 1875-1883
|
Time of his masterpieces:
Luceafarul, Scrisorile (5),
Doina s.o. |
| 1883
|
In the summer,
comes to Maiorescu, and declares that
he wants to learn Albanian language
and to turn monk. Another time, he goes
to Capsa coffe house, takes out a revolver
and cries out that the king must be
shut because is on the liberals side.
He blocks himself in a public bath for
8 hours and lets the water to flow all
over. The guards break the door and
put him in a strait jacket. He is interned
in the health house of dr. Sutu and
Bucharest will know that "Mr Eminescu
is gone mad". He has 33 years,
and till his death, he will live in
a prolonged agony, in hospitals and
madhouses, without writing something
important. He lives from public charity,
and after from a life annuity (250 lei
per month) On November 2 1883 he arrives
in Wien, accompanied by his friend Chibici-Râvneanu,
being interned at Ober-Döbling
Sanatorium. Is published the first edition
of Eminescu's poems, looked after by
Maiorescu. |
| 1884-1885
|
Lives in Iasi.
Travels in Italy (with Chibici). Takes
baths at Liman, near Odessa. |
| 1886
|
Is interned in
the madhouse from the Neamt monastery,
where is visited by Creanga. |
| 1886-1888
|
Lives in Botosani,
and his paralytic sister Harieta takes
care of him. In the summer of 1887,
is taken to bath in Hall, near Insbruck.
|
| 1888,
April |
Leaves Botosani
for Bucharest, where Veronica Micle
will take him for medical care. |
| 1889,
February |
Is interned again
in Sutu sanatorium. The stones look
to him like diamants, the leaves money.
He thinks himself Matei Basarab Voievode.
|
| 1889,
June 15 |
The Poenaru Petrea
pacient hits him in the head with a
stone from a sling. But his death will
come from an old endocarditis. His brain
has 1495 grams, almost like the brain
of German poet Schiller. Is burried
in Bellu with national honours. |
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Copyright © Consulate General of Romania 2004
