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. Carl
Ludvig Runge
Carl
Ludvig Runge was probably born around Berlin in 1749.
He was appointed a sexton in 1780 at the Zion Church in
Tranquebar, as he was the only one who could sing! In 1781, he married
Anne Elizabeth von Tannen. Their first child, Sophia Magdalena was born
in 1785, their second, Charlotte Amalia in 1787, their third, a son,
Heindrich George, in 1789. Their fourth issue, Carl Ludvig, died soon
after birth in 1790. According to the Tranquebar census of 1790, the
Runge family had a house on Nygade and lived well. However, Runge had a
terrible temperement and probably also had psychological problems. One Madam
Martini apparently owed him some money, and as he could not get her to
pay the sum, he went and complained to the Missionary Johan Frederik
König. The Missionary was not positively inclined to support Runge, and
Runge issued a public threat that he will shoot König in the Church at
the Sacristy when König said amen! Runge had affirmed the threat to
several people in the town. König promptly sent a complaint to the
Governor, Peter Anker. Peter Anker was also ill disposed with the
Missionaries, and he immediately suspended Runge from work and put him
in jail in the Dansborg fort. A consistorial court, consisting of
members of the government and the clergy was convened to examine this
case. Peter Anker decided that Runge should be 'exiled' to Denmark, and
not be in the vicinity of the Missionary König as long as he was alive.
While he was still in prison, Runge's wife died. Initially his children
were to follow him to Denmark, but they were left back in Tranquebar
with Runge's friends. Runge was sent to live in the town of Roskilde,
and his mental conditions got worse. From 1792 when he came to Roskilde
till he died in 1819 at the age of 70, he wrote many rambling letters
to the King and the Government, asking for permission to come back to
Tranquebar and see his children. This was denied him. |