Johannes Crato von Krafftheim
Johannes Crato of Krafftheim (* November 22, 1519 in Breslau, † October 19, 1585 ibid; originally Johannes Krafft, also: Crato of Crafftheim; locust Cratonis ) was a German humanist and physician.
Background and education
Crato of Krafftheim was born as Johann Krafft. He was the son of the craftsman and councilor, Christoph Krafft and students of the Breslau Gymnasium St. Elizabeth and Mary Magdalene. Because of his outstanding academic achievements, he was awarded a scholarship from the Wrocław City Council of 20 guilders annually and grants from Wroclaw patrician families, which enabled him to take up a course of study.
Studies and stay in Wittenberg
From 1535 on Crato studied at the University of Wittenberg theology and lived six years in the household of Martin Luther. There he met Philipp Melanchthon know, he dealt in detail under its influence with the classical languages . After 1538 his patron John Metzler had died, Melanchthon gave it to Ambrose Moibanus. In 1542 he finished his studies of Artes liberalis with the Master's degree. During his time at Wittenberg, he kept a diary, the J. Aurifaber has recovered for 1566 published by him » Table Talks and Colloquia D. M. Luther ," and has remained known by the Crato today.
In Luther's advice that dissuaded him from the theological career, he intended to study medicine. In 1544 he temporarily took the place of a steward in to a count of Wertheim in Leipzig. During this time he became friends with Joachim Camerarius the Younger on.
Studied medicine and stay in Italy
With the support of the Wroclaw Council and recommendations of Philipp Melanchthon and Joachim Camerarius Crato studied from 1546 medicine at the University of Padua. He became a pupil of the famous professor of medicine Johannes Baptista Montanus, the Cratos first writings influenced decisively. Crato graduated with a medical doctorate, then went on with his friends Johann Baptist Hainzel and Paul Hainzel a journey through Italy and then practiced a short time in Verona.
Medical activities and future life
1550 Crato returned back to his hometown of Breslau and was appointed there to the second town doctor. In the same year he married the daughter of Wroclaw city clerk John Sharp of Werd and started a family. The parents had a son and two daughters.
1553 visited him Hubert Languet. Much credit Crato acquired during the plague epidemic of 1554, after already in 1553 a " Pestordnung " had been written by him. As one of the first he had recognized the contagiousness of the plague. For his selfless work it by the Council of the city of Wroclaw granted an annual salary of 100 thalers. City servants and poor students, he had to be treated for free.
Around 1560, his sister became engaged with the Leipzig professor of jurisprudence Kaspar Young Man ( 1531-1606 ) (father of Louis Young Man ). Although Cratos reputation soon spread all over Germany, relieved him in 1561 the then President of the Council, Mr. Hans Berger More of his work as a doctor of the poor, because he was suspected to be a Calvinist. Even before that had caused his conversion from the Catholic to the Protestant faith attention.
In 1560 he was summoned to the imperial court in Vienna and was appointed physician to the Emperor Ferdinand I.. With increasing disease of the Emperor, he moved to Vienna in 1563, but returned after the Emperor had died in 1564, to his family in Breslau. A year later, he was appointed first physician to the Emperor Maximilian II, he served for 11 years.
1567 Crato, was charged by Emperor Maximilian II, who generously paid him and showered with honors in the peerage and appointed imperial count palatine a year later. In his capacity as Count Palatine he gave to crest letters:
- Johann Woyssel, dated Vienna, May 1, 1569
- Martin Weinrich, 1583; Professor at the Elisabeth -Gymnasium in Breslau
- Lorenz Scholz Rosenau, 1585
Crato possessed in a high degree the confidence of the Emperor, which he used for the benefit of the Calvinists. Therefore it was not possible to Hofjesuiten to win Maximilian II to combat Protestantism. As a representative of the milder Melanchthon - Calvinistic direction Crato fought the followers of Matthias Flacius.
As a result of the ruling in the court intrigues had Crato, who was a firm believer in conventional medicine will experience that a quack Ulmer was called to the bedside of the dying emperor. After his death in 1576, he was - like all Protestants - released from the Prague court service and returned to Breslau.
Already in 1577 saw the court compelled to call Crato as personal physician to the sick Emperor Rudolf II. Although ill himself, he moved to Prague in 1578 again at any time to be in the vicinity of the emperor. Soon he had to suffer under the growing influence of the Jesuits, and he sought the dismissal from the service of the court. In the fall of 1581 his request was granted. He retired to his estate in the county of Glatz Rückers back, which he had acquired in 1567 and founded a Protestant church with church and preacher. He intended to spend the rest of his life on the farm and let create its library of Prague there.
" He also held with those most learned men of his time good friendship than with the Joachimo Camerario, Conrado Gesnero, Theod. Zwingero, Zach. Virsino, Henrico Stephano, Joanne Sambuco, Paulo and Aldo Manutio II, Petro Victorio and others. "
Because he wanted to continue the lively scientific life have part, he returned in 1583 returned to Breslau and left the estate to his son. His neighbor in Wroclaw was Andrew Dudith. Despite age and illness, he worked in Breslau continues as plague physician to the public, but had to see that his own wife died of the disease. He even followed her on 19 October 1585th
The Good Rückers inherited by his son Johann Baptist of Krafftheim. He was married to Anna von Heugel, to the estate passed, after she had become a widow.
First known written post-mortem
The first written documentation section was carried out by Crato of Krafftheim and the Hofwundarzt Peter Suma on October 13, 1576 in Regensburg at the corpse of the emperor Maximilian II. The autopsy report was signed by the Regensburger Dr. Fabricius and authenticated by a notary Linda. The guts of the emperor were placed in a gold-plated copper boiler that was buried on the Gospel side of the high altar in the Regensburg Cathedral. Today denotes a memorial stone with the imperial crown, the monogram of Maximilian and the year 1576 this place. The heart of the Emperor was placed in a precious box back to the body in the coffin. Whether there has been a section in the scientific and anatomical sense, but it can be doubted. It was used primarily for preparing the body for the pious custom of one part of the body to leave at the place to where you were standing in a special relationship.
Works
- Idea doctrinae Hippocraticae, 1554
- Methodus Therapeutica ex Galen et JB Montani sententia, Basel 1555
- Order or in preservation at the time of the plague, Wroclaw 1555
- Isagoge medicinae, Venice 1560
- Perioche methodica in libros of Galen, Basel 1563
- De morbo gallico commentarius, Frankfurt 1564
- Mikrotechne, seu ars parva medicinalis
- Order of in preservation: How to vorwahren to time in a Jnfection, also report how the right Pestilentz erkandt, VND sol are curirt - jetzo but everything vbersehen with assiduity auffs new, corrigiert VND - Franckfurt the Mayn. Feyerabend, 1585 Digitized edition the university and State library Dusseldorf
- Commentarii de vera et praecavandi curandi febrem pestilentem contagiosam ratione ( translated by Martin Weinreich )
- Consilia et Epistolae medicinales, 1591, 1592, 1593 and Others
- Ioannis Cratonis A Krafftheim ... Epistola ad Ioannem Sambvcvm Med Doct. Consiliarivm Et Historicvm Caesarevm De Morte Imperatoris Maximiliani Secvndi. Nvnc Primvm Edidit / Christian. Godofred. Grvner. Litteris Mavkii, Lenae 1781 Digitized edition of the University and State Library Dusseldorf