KONIG, Heinrich Joseph, German au thor and politician : b. Fulda, 19 March 1790; d. Wiesbaden, 23 Sept. 1869. He studied in the Fulda Gymnasium and Lyceum, and was given an official position in the city government at Frankfort. He was appointed secretary of finance at Fulda (1817), and was sent officially to Hanau (1819) and sent back to Fulda (1840). His treatises 'Rosenkranz eines Katholiken> (Frankfort 1829) brought him into conflict with the clergy which caused him to more clearly express his religious views in 'Der Christbaum des Lehens> (ib. 1831). He was, in consequence, excommunicated by the bishop and joined the reform community. He wrote 'Liebwacht und Verfassungswacht, oder fiber die Bedeutung der Burgergarden> (Hanau 1831) in his fight for political freedom. As member of the Landtag (1832-33) he was in direct 'opposition to the Ministry of Hassen pflug and was forbidden to act as representative in the next Landtag. He retired to Hanau
(1847) and then Wiesbaden (1860). His tragedy 'Die Bussfahrt> (Leipzig 1836) stands prominent as a dramatic work, but he wrote, for the most part, historical romances and short, sketchy stories. Of such works we might mention 'Die hohe Braut> (Leipzig 1833) ; 'Die Waldenscr> (ib. 1836) ; 'Williams Dichtcn und Trachten> (ib. 1839) ; Shakespeare> (ib. 1850) ; 'Veronika' (ib. 1844) ;