Heinrich cornelius agrippa von nettesheim biography template images

His book was widely influential among esotericists of the early modern period, and was condemned as heretical by the inquisitor of Cologne. Agrippa was born in Nettesheim, near Cologne on 14 September to a family of middle nobility. It is likely that Agrippa's interest in the occult came from this Albertist influence.

Cornelius agrippa beliefs

In Agrippa traveled to Spain to work as a mercenary. In the king sent Agrippa on a diplomatic mission to England, where he was the guest of the Humanist and Platonist John Colet , dean of St Paul's Cathedral , and where he replied to the accusations brought against him by Catilinet Expostulatio super Expositione sua in librum De verbo mirifico.

Agrippa followed Maximilian to Italy in , and as a theologian attended the schismatic council of Pisa , which was called by some cardinals in opposition to a council called by Pope Julius II. In the efforts of one or other of his patrons secured for Agrippa the position of town advocate and orator, or syndic , at Metz. The consequence of this was that in he resigned his office and returned to Cologne, where he stayed about two years.

He then practiced for a short time as a physician at Geneva and Freiburg , but in went to Lyons on being appointed physician to Louise of Savoy , mother of Francis I. In he gave up this position, and about this time was invited to take part in the dispute over the legality of the divorce of Catherine of Aragon by Henry VIII ; but he preferred an offer made by Margaret, duchess of Savoy and regent of the Netherlands, and became archivist and historiographer to the emperor Charles V.

Margaret's death in weakened his position, and the publication of some of his writings about the same time aroused anew the hatred of his enemies; but after suffering a short imprisonment for debt at Brussels he lived at Cologne and Bonn , under the protection of Hermann of Wied , archbishop of Cologne.

What is cornelius agrippa known for

By publishing his works he brought himself into antagonism with the Inquisition , which sought to stop the printing of De occulta philosophia. He then went to France, where he was arrested by order of Francis I for some disparaging words about the queen-mother; but he was soon released, and on 18 February died at Grenoble. He was married three times and had a large family.

During his wandering life in Germany, France, and Italy, Agrippa worked as a theologian, physician, legal expert, and soldier.