Victorinus Schönfeldt (1533 - 1591) und sein "Prognosticon Astrologicum"

Abstract

Annual astrological calendars, practica and prognostications became widespread publications in Europe after the invention of printing presses in the 15th century. Using the national language instead of Latin, the language of the scientists, the motion of sun, moon and planets were explained and used to foretell weather, growth of fruit, diseases, war and misfortune. By this means astronomical knowledge became accessible to everyone capable of reading. A milestone in the context of position calculations of bodies of our solar system was the publication of the Copernican system in 1543. When Victorinus Schönfeldt started his studies at Wittenberg University he was educated in the so called “Wittenberg Interpretation” of Copernicus. In 1557 Schönfeldt became professor of mathematics at Marburg University and in 1566 he additionally was given a professorship of medicine With the help of his teachers and mentors in Wittenberg Schönfeldt was introduced to the court of the landgrave of Hessen in Marburg and became a close friend to the noble family. To Wilhelm IV., landgrave of Hessen-Kassel from 1567, he served not only as one of the personal physicians but as a scientific counselor in the landgraves’ astronomical studies. Presumably right after being appointed a professor of mathematics Schönfeldt began to write his “\emph{Prognosticon Astrologicum}”, a series of annual books, that he continued until his death. He made use the Copernican system for his calculations, comparing them occasionally with calculations using new Ptolemaic based ephemerides and in his last almanacs with calculations based on Tycho Brahes’ model.