Political figure and philosopher Tomasz Masaryk: biography, features of activity and interesting facts

Tomáš Masaryk is a real hero for the Czech Republic. He was the leader of the movement, which aimed to achieve independence for Czechoslovakia. Having created the state, he became his first president and ruled the formation from 1918 to 1935.

To achieve all this legendary man was able due to his outstanding qualities. From the article you can learn more about his family, school, wife, social activities and political views. Czech sociologist and philosopher in many ways changed the life of his people, for which he was nicknamed "father."

Family philosopher

Tomas Masaryk was born on 07.03.1850 in Moravia (at that time the Austrian Empire). His family was a simple worker. His father's name was Josef (years of life 1823-1907). By nationality he was a Slovak from Hungary. Mother's name is Teresa (years of life 1813-1887). In girlhood she wore the surname of Kropachkov, and by nationality was a German native of Moravia.

Josef Masaryk had no land or even his own house. In his younger years, he was employed to work in large farms, and after the birth of Tomasz became a coachman. The family lived in a service house. Josef did not go to school, so he read with difficulty. At the same time he was a very proud person with a strong character, he was not afraid to contradict his employers. Therefore, he had to constantly change jobs, moving from one domain to another.

Tomasz himself recalled that his father was a capable, but simple man, so the main thing in the house was his mother. In her youth, Teresa worked as a cook in rich houses, a maid in Vienna. Since her native village was completely Germanized, she spoke and wrote only in German. Much later, when all her sons became public figures, she tried to talk with him in Slovak, but it turned out badly for her.

The family was spoken in German, but my father often switched to Slovak, just like Tomash in the courtyard, playing with his peers.

Study period

At the age of six, Tomasz Masaryk went to study at a rural school. He showed good progress in studies, so the teacher advised parents to send him to high school. They did so. The boy finished it in 1863 and returned home. Here he began to help the teacher, learn music, read. The teacher's seminary was accepted only at the age of sixteen, and Tomas was only fourteen, so the mother decided to send him to Vienna to arrange a locksmith as an apprentice.

In the master's house the boy carried out errands for the household. One day one of the students stole and sold his books. This was the last straw, and the young Masaryk fled home. Parents decided to give it to the pupils of the blacksmith. So another year passed.

The role of the rural priest in the life of Tomasz

In the life of every great person there are moments that determine his future path. Tomas Masaryk did not escape this. Interesting facts about his life would be incomplete without mentioning the village priest. It was Franz Satora who gave the boy to read his books, taught him Latin and persuaded his parents that they would allow their son to study further. The priest helped the young man with the exams, and he was able to enter the second class of the German grammar school. So, at the age of fifteen he moved to the city of Brno.

Parents did not send the young man money, so he was forced to become a tutor, and later a home teacher for the son of the police chief. In the gymnasium, the young man was trained free of charge and enjoyed great prestige among other gymnasium students. At the same time, ideas about the revival of the Czech nation were rooted in him. Because of the conflict with the director, Tomáš never completed this gymnasium.

How did Masaryk get a middle name

The police chief, whose son Masarik had taught, went to the promotion and moved to Vienna. He helped the young man enter the capital's gymnasium. Her boyfriend graduated in 1872 at the age of twenty-two. Further, he was able to graduate from the university in Vienna, studying simultaneously at the philological and philosophical faculties. In a few more years he will become an assistant professor at the Vienna University for Philosophy.

During his studies in graduate school, the young man met with American Charlotte Garrigue. She was the daughter of a New York banker. The father was against their relationship and gave his permission for marriage only after Masaryk refused the dowry. Young people lived modestly, using the income of Tomasz. So the name Tomash Garrig Masaryk appeared. He took himself a second name in honor of his wife. Charlotte gave birth to four children and learned Czech.

The wife did not provide his chosen one with money, but in all he helped. Even once she stayed for several months in an Austrian prison for her husband's political activities . And the Charlotte family still did not leave her daughter with anything. When a couple of Masaryks lived in the US, Tomasch worked with his father-in-law, communicated with businessmen and politicians, including one of the US Presidents Woodrow Wilson.

The Czech question

Because of his political views, Tomas Masaryk could not hope for the position of professor in Vienna. For him it became a salvation, when in 1882 the imperial administration allowed to open a university in the Czech Republic. He moved to the Czech Republic and engaged in educational activities, including the publication of the magazine "Atenium."

In the Czech Republic at that time, there were two main parties - the Young Peasants and the Old Ladies. Representatives of both organizations took the philosopher's activities and thoughts. He did not want to take him for a long time, but over time Tomas was able to prove the truth of his point of view and achieved such prestige in the society that both parties would like to put his name on their lists. Thus, they hoped to collect as many votes as possible in the elections to the imperial parliament.

Masaryk also sought to raise the public the question of creating a Czech state with its own language and culture. At the same time, he was never against German culture, believing that enrichment with different cultures would make the Czechs an even more developed and multifaceted nation.

Since 1891, the politician has been elected to the parliament many times (Czech and imperial). He headed the Party of Realists, and then the People's Czech Party.

Confrontation

At the beginning of the First World War, politics was condemned and sentenced to death, accusing him of high treason. In the Czech Republic, his activities ceased for the time being. Tomasz Masaryk was forced to leave his native places.

He was against the Austrian policy of war. Masaryk saw and understood how hard it was for the Czechs to fight against the Slavs. That's why he created the anti-Austrian underground.

At the same time, Tomáš Garik Masaryk was ambivalent about Russia. He did not see in her a real ally in the creation of the Czech state, although he had visited many times there, communicated with Maxim Gorky, Leo Tolstoy.

The politician saw allies in Britain, France, the United States. It was these powers that recognized the creation of the Czechoslovak National Council, which was headed by Masaryk.

In 1917, he lived in Kiev, where his Council was located. The politician often went to Moscow and Petrograd, he happened to be a witness of how the Bolsheviks came to power in all three mentioned cities.

As head of state

Tomasz Masaryk and the formation of Czechoslovakia are inextricably linked. During his lifetime, his name began to grow into a cult of personality - he was considered the spiritual leader of free Czechoslovakia.

The politician was a fan of Anglo-American culture. He wanted to create a liberal multi-party democracy. The presidency of Masaryk was of a humanistic nature. He allowed the introduction of national minorities into politics.

The politician headed the state until 01.04.1934 until he was struck by a stroke. A year later, at the age of eighty-five, he transferred the government to his disciple and follower E. Benes. On September 14, 1937 his biography ended: Tomas Masaryk died, and a year later the state created by him ceased to exist.

Memory of politics

As already mentioned, during his lifetime Tomas Masaryk had a nickname - he was called "father". In memory of him, coins were issued, many streets were named, in Hodonin there is a museum dedicated to this great man, and in Israel the city and square in Tel Aviv bears his name.

In modern independent Czech Republic there is even an order, which was established in memory of the great public and political figure of the state.