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Home Facts Famous personalities - The most famous alchemists The most famous alchemists.
Alchemy is understood as a whole system of transformation of metals and the human spirit that exists in various systems.
I must say that alchemy was able to give an impetus to the development of many modern sciences, mainly chemistry.
Many scientists of the past were persistent researchers who searched for hidden possibilities, including the spirit in every inorganic particle of matter.
Alchemy contained not only the banal search for gold, this science was fed by the ideas of gnosticism, which was formally forgotten until the beginning of the Renaissance.
Carl Jung suggested that the alchemical philosophy was actually a protopsychology aimed at achieving the individual's individuation.
So the most famous alchemists were outstanding people of their time, intelligent and multifaceted.
These personalities will be discussed below.
Albert the Great (1193-1280).
The master was born in the rich family of Count von Bolshtedt.
Legends say that in childhood, Albert's academic success was quite modest.
No one thought that in the future he would become one of the most prominent scientists.
The miracle that happened to the young man explains this transformation.
Albert, who joined the Dominican order, saw the Virgin Mary, from whom he begged for a clear mind and success in philosophy.
In that era of endless wars, monasteries were a quiet place where you could engage in culture.
Although Master Albert belonged to the Dominicans, he received significant concessions in compliance with the charter.
In order for the scientist to be able to do research, he was even allowed to use his personal capital.
After spending several years in Cologne, Albert moved to Paris.
There, in order to obtain a master's degree, he begins to give lectures, which are wildly successful.
Albert was not only a philosopher, he is distinguished by his versatility.
Albert studied plants, minerals, and animals.
He left his work on inorganic chemistry, which was far ahead of its time.
Five alchemical treatises that have come down to our time are signed with his name.
The most famous one is called "About Alchemy".
The favorite disciple of Albert the Great since 1244 has been Thomas Aquinas, who is present at the experiments on obtaining gold.
Many miracles are attributed to the alchemist, fairy tales were composed about him.
At the end of his life, the scientist lost his memory and locked himself in a monastic cell.
When Albert died, the whole of Cologne wore mourning clothes.
In 1931, the scientist, philosopher, alchemist and sorcerer was officially canonized by Rome.
Arnoldo de Villanova (1240-1311).
The great scientist received an excellent education.
He studied classical sciences in Aix en Provence, in Montpellier - medicine, then there was the Sorbonne.
Among Arnoldo's close acquaintances were the English monk Roger Bacon, the author of The Mirror of Alchemy, and Albert the Great.
I must say that de Villanova envied his Dominican colleague, who had much more opportunities for experiments.
After completing his training, Arnoldo traveled all over Europe, becoming a popular and expensive doctor.
However, unusual methods and free conversations led to persecution by the church authorities.
Strange potions, amulets, hypnosis all this indicated a connection with evil spirits.
In medicine, the scientist used gold as a universal medicine, not disdaining to also use the achievements of alchemy (mercury, salts, sulfur compounds).
De Villanova's life was different from religious alchemists like Albert the Great, Roger Bacon or Thomas Aquinas.
While teaching at the University of Paris, Arnoldo makes such bold speeches that the Inquisition was alarmed.
Speaking of alchemy, it is worth noting that the scientist is considered one of those who really managed to create the Philosopher's stone.
This is indicated in his treatise "The Great Rosary", however, there is no historical confirmation.
Arnoldo claimed that he was able to convert lead into gold.
After the scientist's death, the church decided to condemn him.
Most of de Villanova's writings were burned, and his friendship with the pontiff did not help either.
It is not clear today which of the works that have come down to us actually belong to the master.
Raymond Lullius (1235-1314).
In addition to the official history of alchemy, there is also a more reliable, oral, transmitted through generations of adepts.
Raymond Lulli is considered one of the greatest alchemists of all time.
The official history disputes this.
The fact is that shortly before his death, in 1311, the scientist released something like an autobiography, where he indicated a list of all his works.
There were no alchemical treatises there.
But for reasons of a religious nature, Lullius preferred not to advertise this side of his activities.
The scientist was born in a rich family and devoted his entire youth to love affairs.
However, another of his passion, showing his disease eaten body, called for the service of Christ, who can give an eternal reward.
This, as well as mystical visions of a religious nature, so shocked Lullius that he promised to devote his life to the service of the Lord.
In 1289, Arnoldo de Villanova introduced the theologian to alchemy.
Legends say that in London, at the request of King Edward, an alchemist transmuted metals, creating gold worth six million pounds.
The Franciscan monk traveled a lot, he learned Arabic, wrote works on physics and astrology.
In addition to the activities of an alchemist, Lullius did a lot for the spread of Christianity, founded many educational institutions.
They say that the gold coins created by him still exist, they are called Raymundini.
Legends say that the alchemist was even able to get the elixir of immortality, but refused to take it.
Vasily Valentin.
It is believed that this pseudonym belonged to a certain monk from the Benedictine monastery in Erfurt, Germany.
Valentine, without a doubt, is one of the most famous alchemists.
However, it is rumored that his texts actually belong to a whole group of authors.
Nevertheless, his treatises are most often translated and republished.
Valentine's authority as a scientist is also high.
His name is mentioned in connection with many chemical discoveries.
The alchemist is also a rather mysterious person.
During his lifetime, Valentine's works were not published.
According to legend, in the middle of the XV century, a few decades after the death of the scientist, one of the columns in the Erfurt Cathedral suddenly split.
There they found alchemical treatises that belonged to the Benedictine, including the famous "Twelve Keys to Philosophy".
Nevertheless, the monk scientist really existed.
From his works, you can even find out some facts of Valentine's biography.
In his youth, he visited England and Belgium, contemporaries remembered him as a great scientist in the field of medicine and natural sciences.
Vasily Valentin was able to discover antimony and clearly identify the third alchemical element salt.
It was written that the monk outlined the soul of metal much more clearly than others, which he called sulfur, the substance salt and the spirit mercury.
The famous maxim of the alchemist says: "Penetrate properly into the bowels of the earth, and you will find a hidden stone, a true medicine."
The first letters of this saying in Latin make up the word "vitriol".
This is the name Valentine gave to the secret salt and solvent used in his magisterium.
Many of the principles of the alchemist were borrowed later by Paracelsus.
Paracelsus (1493-1541).
This famous doctor is no less famous as an alchemist.
He was one of the first doctors who began to consider the processes occurring in the human body from the point of view of chemistry.
Although many deny the role of Paracelsus as an alchemist, the scientist still used some alchemical methods to obtain medicines.
Paracelsus was born in 1493 in Switzerland, his pseudonym consists of two parts.
The Greek word "para" means almost, and Celsus was a Roman doctor of the V century, who, according to the scientist, was inferior to him in skill.
Having been educated at several universities, the doctor traveled around Europe, healing mainly at the expense of natural remedies.
In 1527, Paracelsus received the title of doctor and professor of medicine in Basel.
There he pointedly burned the books of such authorities as Aristotle and Galen, whose ideas he found outdated.
Paracelsus boldly went against the traditions, developing his own methods.
He was helped by experience and mysticism.
The scientist believed that magic can give a doctor more than all books.
Paracelsus spent a lot of time searching for the Philosopher's stone, but he believed that it could not turn metals into gold.
The alchemist needed it to give the elixir of immortality and prepare miraculous medicines.
I must say that this point of view has become a turning point from alchemy to chemistry.
Paracelsus ' alchemy is the chemistry of life, a science accessible to everyone.
You just need to be able to use it.
A person endowed with reason can create something that nature would take many years to create.
Paracelsus also predicted modern homeopathy.
The current medicine in general owes a lot to this scientist.
He openly ridiculed the theory that showed epileptics possessed by the devil.
The scientist himself claimed that he was able to create a philosopher's stone and will live forever.
But Paracelsus died at the age of 48, having fallen from a height.
Nicolas Flamel (1330-1418).
France has always been famous for its alchemists, but this particular adept became the most famous.
Flamel was born in a poor family, at a young age he went to Paris to become a clerk.
After marrying an elderly woman, Nikola received capital and opened two workshops.
This marriage allowed Flamel to enter the ranks of the petty bourgeoisie.
He decided to start selling books.
While copying them, the Frenchman became interested in alchemical works.
The beginning of his career was a dream in which an angel appeared to the scribe and showed him a book in which there are still unsolved secrets hidden.
Flamel himself, in his work "The Interpretation of hieroglyphic Signs", told how an ancient large book came to him.
Nikola did not understand much then about the primary matter, nor about the method of obtaining the Philosopher's stone.
Flamel was filled with the conviction that he was going to realize his prophetic dream.
Nikola began to study texts and figures, he even attracted his wife to his secret occupation.
Flamel received the secret of the primordial matter either through a pilgrimage, or through the initiation and help of another alchemist.
Three years later, according to the scientist, he was able to get the Philosopher's stone in his basement, thanks to him, mercury was turned into silver.
Soon the alchemist transmutes the gold.
Since 1382, Flamel has been getting fabulously rich.
He buys houses and land plots, builds chapels and hospitals.
The alchemist gives away money and is engaged in charity.
Even King Charles VI found out about Flamel's unexpected wealth, but with the help of bribes, the alchemist managed to convince everyone of his poverty.
In 1418, the death of a rich artisan was recorded.
But only his story did not end so easily.
The traveler Paul Luca, who lived in the XVII century, heard from a certain dervish that he knew Paul Flamel.
Allegedly, the alchemist, having learned the secret of the Philosopher's stone, also discovered the secret of immortality.
Having faked his death, he and his wife began to travel around the world, eventually moving to India.
Bernardo, the Good Man from Treviso (1406-1490).
This alchemist deserves a special mention among other adepts.
This count of a small Italian border state, subordinate to Venice, began his labors at the age of 14.
And the Philosopher's stone was found by him only at the age of 82.
Bernardo was introduced to the mysterious alchemy by his father, who gave him to study ancient writings.
Following the advice of his predecessors, the young count spent several years and a lot of money, but did not achieve success.
The first series of experiments took 15 years of life and most of the capital, but success never happened.
Following the advice of an official, Bernardo spent five years evaporating crystals of philosophical the stone.
The poor alchemist tried many ways, turned to various treatises, but everything was in vain.
By the age of 46, almost nothing remained of the count's former wealth.
For the next 8 years, he, together with the monk Geoffrey de Levrier, tried to isolate the primary matter from chicken eggs.
Having failed, Bernardo began to travel around Europe, trying to find a true adept.
The alchemist even visited Persia, Palestine and Egypt in search of the secret.
At the age of 62, Bernardo found himself in Greek Rhodes, without money and friends, but confident that the solution is close.
The alchemist even borrowed money to continue experiments with another scientist who knew the secret of the Philosopher's Stone.
According to legends, just before his death, the secret was revealed to Bernardo.
He also managed to solve the mystery of a serene life - you just had to be content with what you have.
Bernardo's works are full of allegories, they are understandable only to real practitioners of alchemists.
The good man from Treviso was able to study the theory of the magisterium perfectly, which was rewarded to him at the end of his life.
Denis Zacher (1510-1556).
The real name of this adept remains unknown.
He was born in Gieni in 1510 in a noble family.
After being educated at his parents ' castle, Zacher went to study philosophy in Bordeaux.
His mentor was a certain alchemist, who introduced a young curious person to this occupation.
Instead of academic disciplines at the university, Zacher was looking for recipes for transmutation.
Together with his mentor, he moved to the University of Bordeaux, ostensibly to study law.
In fact, the couple tried to test their recipes in practice.
The money from the future adept quickly ran out, literally flying into the pipe.
At the age of 25, Zacher returned home, but only to mortgage his property.
With unsuccessful experiments, money quickly melted away.
Having again mortgaged his property, Zacher went to Paris.
There, to his surprise, he found about a hundred practicing alchemists.
The scientist spent several years alone, studying the works of ancient philosophers.
Finally, in 1550, Zacher managed to get gold from mercury.
The alchemist thanked the Lord and vowed to use this gift exclusively for his glory.
Zasher sold his property and distributed his debts.
He moved to Switzerland, and then to Germany, where he intended to lead a quiet, peaceful life.
However, a relative of Zashera killed him in his sleep, running away with his young wife.
Edward Kelly (1555-1597).
The real name of this Englishman is Talbot.
His parents dreamed of seeing him as a notary, which is why they sent him to study law and Old English.
However, the young man became interested in deciphering ancient manuscripts.
Kelly learned to forge old letters by engaging in fraud.
However, he was quickly caught, sentenced to exile and having his ears cut off.
The disgraced Talbot decided to change his name.
In Wales, Kelly unexpectedly found an ancient manuscript that spoke about gold and the transmutation of metals.
The document was bought for a song, along with a mysterious powder that was in the box with the paper.
But Kelly, after studying the document, quickly realized that his insignificant knowledge of chemistry would not even allow him to understand the terms.
Returning secretly to London, Edward calls for the cooperation of his friend, John Dee, a well known occultist to this day.
After studying the powder, the friends discovered that it is able to turn lead into gold!
Dee and Kelly gained the trust of the Pole Laski, continuing their experiments at his home in Krakow.
There were no results, in 1585 the alchemists moved to Prague.
There, Kelly conducted a series of public transmutations that stunned the city.
He became the idols of the secular public, a welcome guest at receptions.
Even Emperor Maximilian II, who made Kelly a marshal, fell under the charm of the wonderful powder.
Only now Kelly himself did not become an adept, I use old stocks that I bought together with the manuscript.
Bragging brought the collapse closer.
The emperor ordered the alchemist to produce several pounds of magic powder, when Kelly could not do this, he was put in prison.
His faithful friend John Dee, an appeal to the Queen of England, did not help either.
While trying to escape from the fortress, Kelly fell and broke his legs and ribs.
These injuries were fatal for him.
Although the alchemist was not a real scientist, but was rather a clever fraudster, there are many evidences of his miraculous transformations of metals into gold in history.
Alexander Seton.
Little is known about this Scot, until recently his work was generally attributed to another, Michael Sendivog.
It was to him that Seton gave a little powder before his death, which he began to demonstrate, posing as a Cosmopolitan adept and the author of the treatise "The New World of Chemistry".
The first mention of it dates back to the beginning of the XVII century.
Seton by that time was already quite an accomplished alchemist.
In 1602, he showed friends in Germany the transmutation of an unknown metal into gold.
It is only unclear where Seth learned his art from.
It is also worth noting his unselfishness.
Wherever he went, promoting alchemy, his experiments ended with a miraculous transformation.
The scientist himself did not care about enriching himself, but about convincing the doubters.
Seton even simply distributed the precious metals created to non believers.
At that time, the adepts changed the vector of their action.
Their actions cease to be directed at themselves.
Seton became a missionary of his science, which was then a rather dangerous occupation.
The cosmopolitan traveled around Germany without giving out his real name.
After all, the church and greedy monarchs were hunting for him.
In the end, the young elector of Saxony, Christian II, not satisfied with a small portion of the powder, ordered the alchemist to be seized and demanded that he give up the secret of the Philosopher's stone.
Seton refused to do so.
At that moment, Sendivog was in Dresden, who begged kurfust to allow him a meeting with a Cosmopolitan.
The alchemist promised to tell his secret in exchange for salvation.
Sendivog sold the property, bribed the soldiers and stole the scientist.
Dying from the wounds received due to torture, Seton still refused to tell his secret.
Sendivog got the alchemist's wife and a little powder, and later a part of the glory.
Sendivog has already published Seton's treatise "The New Light of Alchemy" in his own name.
Seefeld.
No one knew anything about this alchemist who lived in France in the middle of the XVIII century for a long time.
It was only in 1963 that Vernar Husson told the story of Seefeld in his "Alchemical Studies".
Those people who could not be suspected of lying wrote about the alchemist, besides, they received all the information first hand.
Seefeld was born in Austria in the second half of the XVIII century.
From an early age, he became interested in alchemy and the search for the Philosopher's Stone.
His unsuccessful attempts caused a wave of ridicule, so the scientist had to leave the country.
He returned to the country of Seefeld only after 10 years, settling in the small town of Rodau.
There he demonstrated to his master and his family the transmutation of tin into gold as a sign of gratitude.
Soon the whole city knew that a real alchemist had settled with them.
The quiet life did not last long - the gendarmes from Vienna descended.
In the capital, everyone noticed that Zefeld has a lot of gold.
The alchemist was accused of fraud and deception and sentenced to life imprisonment in the fortress.
Over time, Emperor Franz I decided to pardon the scientist, but demanded that he continue the experiments exclusively for him alone.
Having proved his skill, the alchemist still escaped from Austria.
He began to lead a wandering life, he was seen in Amsterdam and Halle.
Over time, Seefeld seemed to disappear into thin air.
It is unclear whether he was an adept or a real alchemist.
Perhaps, during the years of wandering, he just met another master, who gave him a wonderful powder.
Perhaps Zefeld repeated the fate of Sendivog having the philosopher's stone, without having learned how to create it.
Eirenei Filaret.
This person is one of the most mysterious in history.
He was born in England, presumably in 1612.
This follows from the fact that when writing his main work in 1645, Filaret was not yet 33 years old.
Filaret spent his early years in North America, where he became close to the pharmacist Starkey.
In his presence, the alchemist conducted experiments, creating a lot of gold and silver.
The alchemist is similar to a Cosmopolitan in that he broke into History, already having a full knowledge of the innermost secret.
In the book "The Open Entrance to the closed Palace of the King", Filaret himself says that he seeks to help those who are lost in the labyrinth of delusions.
This work was intended to illuminate the way for those who want it.
With his work, the alchemist wanted to teach people to create pure gold, since the worship of this metal leads to vanity and luxury
The treatise was supposed to make gold and silver a common thing.
It was said that the alchemist demonstrated his talents to the English King Charles I.
At the same time, Filaret's powder had an amazing power.
In 1666, the alchemist appeared in Amsterdam, instructing him to translate his work into Latin.
At the same time, Filaret claimed that he had so much of the Philosopher's stone, which would be enough to create 20 tons of gold.
Even less is known about the end of the alchemist's life than about its beginning.
He just disappeared.
Many believe that Filaret used the Philosopher's Stone to create a potion of immortality.
It was said even after that Eirenei Filaret and Count Saint Germain were one and the same person.
And the alchemist's treatise was highly appreciated even by Isaac Newton himself, leaving many notes in the margins of the book.
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