Maximilian Kronberger

Who was Maximilian Kronberger?

Maximilian Kronberger, known familiarly as Maximin, was a German poet and a significant figure in the literary circle of Stefan George.

Maximin came to the attention of Stefan George in Munich in 1903; he died unexpectedly of meningitis the following year, on the day after his 16th birthday. He was "idealized [by George] to the point of proclaiming him a god, following his death... the cult of 'Maximin' became an integral part of the George circle’s practice…" The Maximin-Erlebnis certainly provided George with inspiration for his work in subsequent years.

Thirty-three of Kronberger’s poems are included in the posthumously published collective volume, Maximin: Ein Gedenkbuch.