Friedrich von Schlegel

Karl Wilhelm Friedrich von Schlegel (1772–1829) was a prominent German literary critic, philosopher, and Indologist, and a central figure of the Jena Romanticism movement alongside his brother August Wilhelm Schlegel. Born in Hanover, he initially studied law but shifted to literary pursuits. He was instrumental in founding journals like *Athenaeum* and publishing aphorisms and essays that articulated the core principles of Romanticism. Schlegel's early life was marked by a rejection of religion in favor of atheism and individualism. His novel *Lucinde* (1799) caused a scandal due to its exploration of individual freedom in relationships. He later converted to Christianity and joined the Catholic Church with his wife Dorothea, a conversion that led to a shift in his philosophical and political outlook towards conservatism. He served as a diplomat and journalist in Austria under Klemens von Metternich. Schlegel made significant contributions to linguistics, being one of the first to notice connections that would later be known as Grimm's law and pioneering Indo-European studies. His works influenced later thinkers and artists, with some being set to music by composers like Schubert and Mendelssohn.