Michael Friedrich Maschek von Maasburg

(*1838, + 1918)

 

   Quam bene vivas refert, non quam diu

 The important thing isn't how long you live, but how well you live

Michael Friedrich MvM is the great-grandson of Anton Joseph Maschek von Maasburg, the 2nd cousin 4 times removed of Bohumir Robert MvM, the 2nd cousin  5 times removed of Martin and Libor MvM

 

Michael Friedrich´s ancestry

F - Friedrich August MvM * 1803 (Veronica von Dörfel *1810, + 1882)

GF - Wenzel MvM *1748, + 1807 (Anna Jonak von Freyewald * 1769, + 1834)

GGF - Anton Joseph MvM *1706, + 1785 (Elisabeth Popovsky von Scharfenbach)

 

Salus populi suprema lex esto

The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law

 

Michael F. MvM was a civil servant, lawmaker, Law and order administrator, expert in a history of legal acts…he was appointed on the highest post of justice - Capitalis Justiciarius Totius in Imperio (Imperium Justiciarius) - The Empires Chief Justice and up to this day he is stated by German, Austrian and Hungarian lexicons as a prominent Czech personality. (See “Biographisches Lexicon Zur Geschichte der Bömischen Länder  Band II. I M Herausgegeben im Auftrag des Collegium Carolinum from Heribert Sturm, last published by R. Oldenbourg, München 1984).

 

   Legis virtus haec est: imperare, vetare, permittere, punier

The force of law is either to command, to prohibit, to allow or to punish 

Michael F. MvM was born 20.October 1838 in Žampach, Czech republic - in his time also known by the German name, Zambach district of Senftenberg, Bohemia (The German language was the principal language in the Bohemian kingdom up to the end of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and establishment of the new republic for Czechs and Slovaks, called Czechoslovakia – on 28.October 1918). MvM died 23.January 1918 in Vienna, Austria. He was almost 80.years of age.

 

Satius enim est impunitum relinqui facinus nocentis, quam innocentem damnar
It is better that a crime is left unpunished than that an innocent man is punished

 

MvM studied law at Charles University in Prague and graduated there as doctor of Law. In 1863 - he occupied the position of Royal legality administrator in King’s city of Prague, Bohemia. The law honour graduate with the highest possible marks, superior in seven languages, talented, hard working and dedicated man climed quickly the ladder of success. In 1872 he was promoted to the King’s bench – High Court in Prague as Capitalis justiciarius banci. The chief justice of the bench. His brilliant ideas presented to the board of “King’s Bench” in 1873 were highly prized and recognised. MvM was entrusted and become the main law architect. The law-visionary, who designed principles of land revision, as the first necessary step towards the introduction of new land rights in the Bohemian kingdom. 5. December 1874 MvM helped to establish new law regulations and Land Register for the Bohemian Kingdom. His achievements have been immediately recognised by the Emperor and from following year – 1775 was MvM appointed as a Capitalis justiciarius banci by highest Court of Justice and Cassation in Vienna.                                         

In - 1877  MvM appointed as a Capitalis Justiciarius Totius in Imperio (Imperium Justiciarius) - The Empires Chief Justice..  

From 1896 – Honorary board member of State Society of Right Historians 

From 1899–1903 General Adviser to the Supreme Court.

From 1903-1905 Legal adviser.

From 1905 - MvM retired with contributory pension.

 

   Inde datae leges, ne firmior omnia posset

 Laws are made to prevent the stronger from having the power to do everything  

 

Dr. Michael Friedrich Maschek von Maasburg was many times honoured and  decorated. Among others - in 1880 by gold medal for Science and Arts.

In 1887 – The honourable associate member of Bohemian Royal Society for Science. In 1892 -  The fellow of Emperor Franz Joseph’s Academy for Science, representing Bohemian Royal Society for Science, Literature and Arts.

In 1901 – Honorary   Philanthropic Foundation member for blind adults in Bohemia – The foundation providing help and employment for blind people in Bohemia.

 

 

   Que rerum natura prohibentur, nulla lege confirmata sun   

Those  thinks which are prohibited in the nature are never confirmed by any law

 

 MvM´s pivotal writing:

“History of Judiciary in Vienna” (1749 – 1848) Geschichte der obersten Justizstelle in Wien (I.Edition 1879, II. Edition 1891 Prague) It is not only work of art, cream of Maasburg’s crop or piece de resistance. It is cultural legacy. It is inheritance of great value especially today, in time “of rebirth” of new, more sophisticated and powerful “monarchy-lake society” called European Union. MvM documents shaping of legal regulations in rule of law society.   

   Nulla lex satis commoda omnibus est 

There is no law that suits everyone

Publikations:

·        „Die Entwicklung des Instituses der öffentlichen Bücher in Böhmen“, (Prague, 1877);

·        „Geschichte der Obersten Justizstelle in Wien“ 1749-1848, Prague 1879, 2. Prague  1892);

·        „Zur Entstehungsgeschichte der Teresian. Halsgerichtsordnung“ (Prague 1880);

·        „Gutachtliche Außerungen des österr. Staatsrats über den von der Kompilationskomm, im Entwurfe vorgelekten Codex Theresianus Civilis“, 1881;

·        „Die Organisierung der böhm. Halsgerichte im Jahre 1765, 1884“;

·        „Die Galeerenstrafe in den dt. und böhm. Erbländern“, 1885;

·        „Die Strafe des Schiffziehens in Österreich“, (1783-1790), 1890.

·        „Die Process-Ordnung für Böhmen vom 23.1.1753“, (Vienna 1886).

·        „Mein Leben und Wirken“, Selbstbiographie des Joseph Frh. v. Löschner (1897).

 

   Sibi primum auxilium eripere est leges tollere 
To destroy the laws is to rob oneself of one's first support

 

About M.F.MvM in literature

-         Jurist. Bill., Jg. 8, 1879, S. 377, Jg. 9, 1880, S. 565;

-         Právník 57, 1918;

-         Český časopis historický (1918) 362 f.;

-         M. Navrátil, Almanach československých právníků. (Almanach tschechoslowak. Juristen), 1930;

-         Ott, E.: Bedřich Maschek z Maasburgu (1920).

-          ÖBL 6.   –  MSN4.   –  OSN 16.

-         Wer ist´s? 1906-14; - Masaryk; – Otto 16. Erg. Bd. III/2; -Allg. Verw. Archiv, Wien.

-         “Biographisches Lexicon Zur Geschichte der Bömischen Länder  Band II. I M Herausgegeben im Auftrag des Collegium Carolinum from Heribert Sturm, last published by R. Oldenbourg, München 1984).

-         Österreichisches Biographisches Lexikon , Verlad der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Wien 1975

Státní Ústřední Archiv v Praze, „Strom života Maaschek von Maasburg“ genealogický odkaz Dobřenského z Dobřenic.