(1850 - 1889)
|
| Mihai Eminescu in 1869
(1850 - 1889) |
|
| 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. |
| Last update: 2000, April 24 | |||||||||
| Return to: | 
Home Page | 
Romania Home | 
Culture Home | 
Literature Home | 
Romanian Language | 
Contact Info | |||