Julius von Tarent

work by Leisewitz

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June 29, 2026

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Julius von Tarent is a tragedy written by Johann Anton Leisewitz in 1776. It is considered a precursor to Friedrich Schiller's famous Sturm und Drang masterpiece, Die Räuber. The play explores the theme of fratricide, a common subject in the Sturm und Drang movement, and presents a conflict between the state and the individual. Leisewitz's work is noted for its calculated restraint and well-developed characters. The Sturm und Drang movement itself emphasized nature, emotion, and individualism, challenging the Enlightenment's focus on reason.12

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Johann Anton Leisewitz
…dramatist whose most important work, Julius von Tarent (1776), was the forerunner of Friedrich Schiller’s famous Sturm und Drang masterpiece Die Räuber (1781; The Robbers).
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…dramatist whose most important work, Julius von Tarent (1776), was the forerunner of Friedrich Schiller’s famous Sturm und Drang masterpiece Die Räuber (1781; The Robbers).
Read More