- Friedrich Engels confessed on his deathbed in 1895 to Marx’s daughter Eleanor, that Karl Marx was the father of Frederick Demuth
Trusting a man to philosophize on economics, economic theory and work … who essentially was unemployed or didn’t earn income … his thoughts carry no legit weight.
And common … Karl Marx had an affair with the family housemaid, Helene Demuth… birthing an illegitimate son (Frederick Demuth).
Zero respect for anyone who cheats on their wife … especially common ..the HOUSEMAID of all people?
Kind of the same as Arnold S with his affair and illegitimate son with his own house maid nanny!
What happen to son
The story of Frederick Demuth, the illegitimate son of Karl Marx and Helene Demuth, and the subtle hints in historical documents about his existence are intriguing aspects of historical research on Marx’s life.
What Happened to Frederick Demuth
- Raised by Foster Parents: Frederick was raised by foster parents, following the common practice of the time for handling illegitimate children, especially in cases involving prominent individuals.
- Engels’ Claim of Paternity: Friedrich Engels, a close friend of Marx, claimed paternity of Frederick. This action was likely taken to protect Marx’s reputation and shield his family from scandal.
- Life as a Working-Class Individual: Unlike the Marx family, Frederick Demuth lived a working-class life. He became a skilled factory worker and was involved in the labor movement, but he did not achieve significant prominence.
- Limited Interaction with Marx Family: There is little evidence to suggest that Frederick had any substantial relationship with Karl Marx or his legitimate children. The secrecy surrounding his birth likely limited any potential interactions.
- Death and Recognition: Frederick Demuth lived until 1929. The full recognition of his parentage only came to light well after the deaths of both Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
Subtle Hints in Historical Documents
- Timing and Circumstances: The birth of Frederick Demuth closely followed the period when Helene Demuth was in service at the Marx household. This timing was a significant hint for historians.
- Engels’ Confession: Engels’ deathbed confession to Eleanor Marx was a pivotal revelation. Although not a written document, it played a critical role in subsequent historical investigations.
- Letters and Correspondences: Letters between Marx, Engels, and others sometimes contained veiled references or peculiar phrases that hinted at a secret being kept. These were often ambiguous but, when pieced together with other evidence, helped form a clearer picture.
- Absence of Explicit References: The lack of explicit references to the affair or the child in Marx’s known writings itself became a hint. Given the expected practices of discretion in the Victorian era, the absence of direct mention was consistent with keeping a significant secret.
- Behavioral Evidence: Accounts of the behavior and actions of those involved, including the Marx family’s continued employment and support of Helene Demuth, were also considered. These behavioral aspects, while not direct evidence, contributed to the overall understanding of the situation.
The investigation into Frederick Demuth’s life and his connection to Marx is a testament to the meticulous and often interpretive nature of historical research, where piecing together the past requires both evidence and inference.
How find out
The truth about Karl Marx’s affair with Helene Demuth and the existence of their illegitimate son, Frederick Demuth, emerged gradually and was fully acknowledged long after the deaths of both Marx and Engels.
- Initial Secrecy: The affair and the existence of the child were kept secret during Marx’s lifetime. Friedrich Engels, Marx’s close friend and collaborator, claimed paternity of Frederick Demuth to protect Marx’s reputation.
- Posthumous Revelations: After the deaths of Marx and Engels, information about the affair and the child began to surface. Engels, on his deathbed in 1895, confessed to Marx’s daughter, Eleanor, that Karl Marx, not he, was Frederick Demuth’s father.
- Research and Documentation: Historians and biographers over time have pieced together the story using letters, personal documents, and the accounts of those close to the Marx family. The story was initially known only to a small circle of Marx’s associates and family members but later became public knowledge through historical research and biographies.
- Scholarly Analysis: The confirmation of Marx’s paternity of Frederick Demuth has come from the analysis of letters and documents by Marx scholars. This has included examining correspondences between Marx, Engels, and others in their circle, which hinted at the true nature of Frederick’s parentage.
- Public Interest and Biographies: The interest in Karl Marx’s personal life, particularly in the context of his significant influence on political thought, has led to detailed biographies and studies that explore these aspects of his life. These works have shed light on the complexities and contradictions of his personal relationships.
The revelation of Marx’s affair and his illegitimate child has added a more human dimension to the understanding of Marx as a historical figure, showing a personal life marked by secrecy, complexity, and moral contradictions. This aspect of his biography is often examined to understand better the man behind the influential theories.
Karl Marx Affair
Karl Marx’s affair with Helene Demuth, the housemaid of the Marx family, is a notable aspect of his personal life, although it was kept largely secret during his lifetime. Here are some key details:
- Helene Demuth’s Role in the Marx Household: Helene Demuth, often called Lenchen, joined the Marx household in 1845. She was a devoted and long-serving member of the household, and over time, she became a close and trusted confidante of the Marx family.
- The Affair and the Child: The affair between Karl Marx and Helene Demuth resulted in the birth of an illegitimate son, Frederick Demuth, in 1851. The affair and the existence of the child were kept secret from the public and even from many close to the Marx family.
- Jenny Marx’s Awareness: Jenny Marx, Karl’s wife, was reportedly aware of the affair and the child. How she dealt with this situation is not entirely clear, but it is believed that she accepted the child’s presence in their lives to some extent.
- Friedrich Engels’ Role: Friedrich Engels, a close friend and collaborator of Marx, claimed paternity of the child to protect Marx’s reputation. Frederick Demuth was raised by foster parents, and Engels’ acknowledgment of paternity ensured that the child’s link to Marx remained hidden during Marx’s lifetime.
- Impact on Marx’s Legacy: The affair and the existence of Frederick Demuth were not widely known until after the deaths of Marx and Engels. This revelation has led to some reevaluation of Marx’s character, especially in terms of his personal life and his commitment to the ideals he espoused in his work.
- Historical Context: The way Marx handled this affair and the secret child reflects the complex social and moral standards of the 19th century. It also highlights the personal struggles and contradictions that can exist in the lives of influential historical figures.
The affair and its consequences provide a more nuanced understanding of Marx as a person, beyond his role as a philosopher and economist. It illustrates the often complex and imperfect nature of personal lives, even among those who are celebrated for their intellectual contributions.