Karl Christian Ernst von Bentzel-Sternau (1767–1849,) known by the pseudonym Horatio Cocles, was a German statesman, editor, and writer, recognized for his contributions to political reform, literature, and Jewish emancipation. He held influential positions in Mainz, Baden, and Frankfurt, shaping early 19th-century governance.
Born in Mainz, Bentzel-Sternau studied law, becoming a government counselor in Erfurt (1791) under Karl Theodor von Dalberg. He later served as State Councillor in Regensburg (1803) and Minister of State and Finance in the Grand Duchy of Frankfurt (1811,) advocating Jewish civil rights.
After the Grand Duchy’s dissolution (1813,) he retired to Switzerland, focusing on writing and editorial work. He founded the magazine Jason and the short-lived newspaper Der Verfassungsfreund (1831,) supporting constitutional reform. Bentzel-Sternau converted from Catholicism to Protestantism (1827) and backed the Hambach Festival (1832,) a key event in German democratic movements.
Notable works include Anti-Israel-Rede (1818,) a satirical critique of anti-Semitic rhetoric, and Das goldene Kalb (1820s,) a novel on social injustices. His Baiernbriefe (1831) analyzed Bavarian parliamentary debates, reflecting his liberal political stance.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Karl Christian Ernst von Bentzel-Sternau
Candor is the seal of a noble mind, the ornament and pride of man, the sweetest charm of women, the scorn of rascals, and the rarest virtue of sociability.
—Karl Christian Ernst von Bentzel-Sternau
Topics: Candor
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