Johann Georg Faust From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search 17th-century German portrait

of Faust. Dr. Johann Georg Faust (/fa st/; c. 1480 (or 1466) c. 1540), also known in English as John Faustus /fsts/, was an itinerant alchemist, astrologer, and magician of the German Renaissance. His life became the nucleus of the popular tale of Doctor Faust from circa the 1580s, notably culminating in Christopher Marlowe's play The Tragical History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus (160 4) and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's closet drama Faust (1808). Contents [hide] 1 Historical Faust 1.1 Ascribed works 2 Faust in legend and literature 3 Literature 4 See also 5 References 6 External links 6.1 Grimoires attributed to Faust Historical Faust[edit] Because of his early treatment as a figure in legend and literature, it is very difficult to establish historical facts about his life with any certainty. In the 17th century, it was even doubted that there ever had been a historical Faust, and the legendary character was identified with a printer of Mainz called Johann Fust. Johann Georg Neumann in 1683 addressed the question in his Disquisitio historica de Fausto praestigiatore, establishing Faust's historical existence based on contemporary references. Possible places of origin of the historical Johann Faust are Knittlingen (Manliu s 1562), Helmstadt near Heidelberg, or Roda. Knittlingen today has an archive and a museum dedicated to Faust. According to the researches of Frank Baron[1] and Dr Leo Ruickbie,[2] the evidence most points to Helmstadt as his place of birth, or family name. Faust's year of birth is given either as 1480/1 or as 1466. Baron (1992) and Ruickbie[2] prefer the latter. The city archive of Ingolstadt has a letter dated 27 June 1528 which mentions a Doctor Jrg Faustus von Haidlberg. Other sources have Georgius Faustus Helmstet(ensis). Baron, searching for students from Helmstet in the archives of Heidelberg University, found records of a Georgius Helmstetter inscribed from 1483 to 1487. This student exceptionally refused to reveal his surname. He was promoted to baccalaureus on 12 July 1484 and to

magister artium on 1 March 1487. For the year 1506, there is a record of Faust appearing as performer of magical tricks and horoscopes in Gelnhausen. Over the following 30 years, there are numerous similar records spread over southern Germany. Faust appeared as physician, doctor of philosophy, alchemist, magician and astrologer, and was often accused as a fraud. The church denounced him as a blasphemer in league with the devil. Johannes Trithemius in a letter to Johannes Virdung dated 20 August 1507 warns the latter of a certain Georgius Sabellicus, a trickster and fraud styling himself Georgius Sabellicus, Faustus junior, fons necromanticorum, astrologus, magus secundus etc. According to Trithemius, in Selnhausen and Wrzburg Sabellicus boasted blasphemously of his powers, even claiming that he could easily reproduce all the miracles of Christ. In 1507, Trithemius alleges, he received a teaching position in Sickingen, which he abused by indulging in sodomy with his male students, evading punishment by a timely escape. Conrad Mutianus Rufus in 1513 recounts a meeting with a chiromanticus called Georgius Faustus, Helmitheus Heidelbergensis (likely for hemitheus, "demigod of Heidelberg"), overhearing his vain and foolish boasts in an Erfurt inn. On 23 February 1520, Faust was in Bamberg, doing a horoscope for the bishop and the town, for which he received the sum of 10 gulden[1]:42. In 1528, Faust visited Ingolstadt, from whence he was banished shortly after. In 1532 he seems to have tried to enter Nrnberg, according to an unflattering note made by the junior mayor of the city to "deny free passage to the great nigromancer and sodomite Doctor Faustus" (Doctor Faustus, dem groen Sodomiten und Nigromantico in furt glait ablainen). Later records give a more positive verdict, thus the Tbingen professor Joachim Camerarius in 1536 recognises Faust as a respectable astrologer, and physician Philipp Begardi of Worms in 1539 praises his medical knowledge. The last direct attestation of Faust dates to 25 June 1535, when his presence was recorded in Mnster during the Anabaptist rebellion. Faust's death is dated to 1540 or 1541. He allegedly died in an explosion of an alchemical experiment in the "Hotel zum Lwen" in Staufen im Breisgau. His body is reported to have been found in a "grievously mutilated" state which was interpreted to the effect that the devil had come to collect him in person by his clerical and scholarly enemies. While the exact year of his death is uncertain, we can assume he died before 1548, in which year the theologian Johann Gast in his sermones conviviales states that Faust had suffered a dreadful death, and would keep turning his face to the earth in spite of the body being turned on its back several times. The town of Bad Kreuznach has a "Fa ust Haus" restaurant reportedly built on the site of "the home of the legendary Magister Johann Georg Sabellicus Faust" http://www.bad-kreuznach.com/fausthaus.h tm In his 1548 account, Gast mentions a personal meeting with Faust in Basel during which Faust provided the cook with poultry of a strange kind. According to Gast, Faust travelled with a dog and a horse, and there were rumours that the dog would sometimes transform into a servant. Another posthumous account is that of Johannes Manlius, drawing on notes by Melanchthon, in his Locorum communium collectanea dating to 1562. According to

Manlius, Johannes Faustus was a personal acquaintance of Melanchthon's and had studied in Krakow. Manlius' account is already suffused with legendary elements, and cannot be taken at face value as a historical source. Manlius recounts that Faust had boasted that the victories of the German emperor in Italy were due to his magical intervention. In Venice, he allegedly attempted to fly, but was thrown to the ground by the devil. Johannes Wier in de prestigiis daemonum (1568 ) recounts that Faustus had been arrested in Batenburg because he had recommended that the local chaplain called Dorstenius should use arsenic to get rid of his stubble. Dorstenius smeared his face with the poison, upon which he lost not only his beard but also much of his skin, an anecdote Wier says he heard from the victim himself. Philipp Camerarius in 1602 still claims to have heard tales of Faust directly from people who had met him in person, but from the publication of the 1587 Faustbuch, it becomes impossible to separate historical anecdotes from rumour and legend. In the light of records of an suggested that there were two one Georg, active ca. 1505 to This cannot be disproved, but activity spanning more than 30 years, it has been itinerant magicians calling themselves Faustus, 1515, and another Johann, active in the 1530s. neither is there a compelling reason to accept it.

Even assuming the earlier date of birth, Faust would have died at the above-aver age but not impossible age of 74 or 75. Ascribed works[edit] There are several grimoires or alchemical treatises ascribed to Faust, some of which appeared during his lifetime and may be considered his work, or plagiarisms thereof: 1501 Doctor Faustens dreyfacher Hllenzwang (Passau 1407[sic], Rome 1501, reprint Scheible 1849, ARW "Moonchild-Edition" 2, Munich 1976, 1977) 1501 Geister-Commando (Tabellae Rabellinae Geister Commando id est Magiae Albae et Nigrae Citatio Generalis), Rome (reprint Scheible 1849, ARW, "Moonchild-Editi on" 3, Munich 1977) 1501 D.Faustus vierfacher Hllen-Zwang (Rome 1501, reprint Scheible 1849, ARW "Moo nchild-Edition" 4, Munich 1976, 1977) 1520 Fausts dreifacher Hllenzwang (D.Faustus Magus Maximus Kundlingensis Original Dreyfacher Hllenzwang id est Die gyptische Schwarzkunst), "Egyptian Nigromancy, magical seals for the invocation of seven spirits. (reprint ARW "Moo nchild-Edition" 3, Munich 1976, 1977) 1524 Johannis Fausti Manual Hllenzwang (Wittenberg 1524 reprint Scheible 1849, ARW "Moonchild-Edition" 6, Munich 1976, 1977) 1527 Praxis Magia Faustiana, (Passau, reprint Scheible 1849, ARW "Moonchild-Edit ion" 4, Munich 1976, 1977;) 1540, Fausti Hllenzwang oder Mirakul-Kunst und Wunder-Buch (Wittenberg 1540, reprint Scheible 1849, ARW "Moonchild-Edition" 4, Munich 1976, 1977)

Doctor Fausts groer und gewaltiger Hllenzwang (Prague, reprint ARW "Moonchild-Edit ion" 7, Munich 1977) 1669? Dr. Johann Faustens Miracul-Kunst- und Wunder-Buch oder der schwarze Rabe auch der Dreifache Hllenzwang genannt (Lyon M.C.D.XXXXXXIX, reprint ARW "Moonchil d-Edition" 7, Munich 1977) D.I.Fausti Schwartzer Rabe (undated, 16th century, reprint Scheible 1849, ARW, " Moonchild-Edition" 3, Munich 1976, 1977) 1692 Doctor Faust's groer und gewaltiger Meergeist, worinn Lucifer und drey Meergeister um Schtze aus den Gewssern zu holen, beschworen werden (Amsterdam, reprint ARW "Moonchild-Edition" 1, Munich 1977) These works were reprinted in Das Kloster by J. Scheible (1849), and based on Scheible in 1976 and 1977 by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft fr Religions- und Weltanschauungsfragen, in the (ironically-titled) "Moonchild-Edition", and again as facsimile by Poseidon Press and Fourier Verlag. Faust in legend and literature[edit] Main articles: Faust and Faustbuch title page of a 1588 edition of the Faustbuch. The Historia von D. Johann Fausten printed by Johann Spies 1587, a German chapbook about Faust's sins, is at the beginning of the literary tradition of the Faust character. It was translated into English in 1587, where it came to the attention of Christopher Marlowe. Marlowe's The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus of 1589 portrays Faust as the archetypical adept of Renaissance magic. In the 17th century, Marlowe's work was re-introduced to Germany in the form of popular plays, which over time reduced Faust to a merely comical figure for popular amusement. Meanwhile, the chapbook of Spies was edited and excerpted by G. R. Widmann and Nikolaus Pfitzer, and was finally re-published anonymously in modernised form in the early 18th century, as the Faustbuch des Christlich Meynenden. This edition became widely known and was also read by Goethe in his youth. As summarized by Richard Stecher, this version is the account of a young man called Johann Faust, son of a peasant, who studies theology in Wittenberg, besides medicine, astrology and "other magical arts". His boundless desire for knowledge leads him to conjure the devil in a wood near Wittenberg, who appears in the shape of a greyfriar who calls himself Mephistopheles. Faust enters a pact with the devil, pledging his soul in exchange for 24 years of service. The devil produces a famulus Christoph Wagner and a poodle Prstigiar to accompany Faust in his adventure. Faust goes on to live a life of pleasures. In Leipzig, he rides out of Auerbachs Keller on a barrel. In Erfurt he taps wine from a table. He visits the Pope in Rome, the Sultan in Constantinople and the Kaiser in Innsbruck. After 16 years, he begins to regret his pact and wants to withdraw , but the devil persuades him to renew it, conjuring up Helen of Troy, with whom Faust sires a son called Justus. As the 24 years are over, "Satan, chief of devils" appears and announces Faust's death for the coming night. Faust at a "la st supper" scene in Rimlich takes leave of his friends and admonishes them to repentance and piety. At midnight, there is a great noise from Faust's room, and in the morning, its walls and floors are found splattered with blood and brains,

with Faust's eyes lying on the floor and his dead body in the courtyard. 16th to 18th century treatments of the Faust legend include: Johann Spies: Historia von D. Johann Fausten (1587) Das Wagnerbuch von (1593) Das Widmann'sche Faustbuch von (1599) Dr. Fausts groer und gewaltiger Hllenzwang (Frankfurt 1609) Dr. Johannes Faust, Magia naturalis et innaturalis (Passau 1612) Das Pfitzer'sche Faustbuch (1674) Dr. Fausts groer und gewaltiger Meergeist (Amsterdam 1692) Das Wagnerbuch (1714) Faustbuch des Christlich Meynenden (1725) Literature[edit] Frank Baron: Dr. Faustus: From History to Legend. Mnchen: Fink 1978. ISBN 3-77051539-0 Frank Baron: Faustus on Trial. The Origin of Johann Spies's Historia in an Age of Witch-hunting. Tbingen: Niemeyer 1992. ISBN 3-484-36509-9 Fritz Brukner, Franz Hadamowsky: Die Wiener Faust-Dichtungen von Stranitzky bis zu Goethes Tod. Wien 1932. Carl Kiesewetter: Faust in der Geschichte und Tradition. Berlin 1921 Gnther Mahal: Faust: Untersuchungen zu einem zeitlosen Thema. Neuried: ars una 1998 (Abdruck der Dokumente ber Faust mit Erluterungen). ISBN 3-89391-306-8 Gnther Mahal: Faust. Die Spuren eines geheimnisvollen Lebens. Reinbek bei Hamburg: Rowohlt 1995. ISBN 3-499-13713-5 Frank Mbius (Hrsg.): Faust: Annherung an einen Mythos. Ausstellungskatalog. Gttingen: Wallenstein 1995. Leo Ruickbie: Faustus: The Life and Times of a Renaissance Magician. The History Press 2009. ISBN 978-0-7509-5090-9 Karl Theens: Geschichte der Faustgestalt vom 16. Jahrhundert bis zur Gegenwart. Meisenheim 1948. See also[edit] Deal with the Devil Works based on Faust Pan Twardowski

References[edit] 1. ^ a b Baron, Frank (1978), Doctor Faustus: From History to Legend, Wilhelm Fink Verlag. 2. ^ a b Ruickbie, Leo (2009), Faustus: The Life and Times of a Renaissance Magician, The History Press, pp. 267. 1. Frank Baron, "Who Was the Historical Faustus? Interpreting an Overlooked Source," Daphnis 18 (1989), 297302. External links[edit] Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie Faust legends Volksbuch von Dr. Faust in der Bibliotheka Augustana Faust-Museum Knittlingen Faust als Spiegel der Geschichte: Vortrag im Rahmen der Reihe Wissenschaft, Technik und Ethik Faust timeline D. Johanni Fausti ... Nrnberg: 1695 (German) Grimoires attributed to Faust[edit] The Black Raven Doctor Johannes Faust's Miracle and Magic Book or also called the Threefold Coercion of Hell (English translation of Dr. Johann Faustens Miracul-Kunst- und Wunder-Buch oder der schwarze Rabe auch der Dreifache Hllenzwang genannt) Magia naturalis et innaturalis, oder dreifacher Hllenzwang, letztes Testament und Siegelkunst - Part I (Google Books) Magia naturalis et innaturalis, oder dreifacher Hllenzwang, letztes Testament und Siegelkunst - Part IV (Google Books) [hide] v t e Faust Characters Inspiration Johann Georg Faust Johann Fust Simon Magus Theophilus of Adana Legend Erdgeist Faust Mephistopheles Pan Twardowski Comics Doctor Faustus Felix Faust Mephisto Mys-Tech Sebastian Faust Seminal works Historia von D. Johann Fausten (1587 chapbook) Cenodoxus (1602, pl ay) Doctor Faustus (1604 play) Goethe's Faust (1808 play) (The First Part of the Tragedy The Second Part of the Tragedy) Films Faust and Marguerite (1900) The Student of Prague (1913) The Student of Pr ague (1926) Faust (1926) The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941) Alias Nick Beal (19 49) The Band Wagon (1953) Marguerite de la nuit (1955) Faustina (1957) Damn Yank ees (1958) Faust (1960) Bedazzled (1967) Doctor Faustus (1967) El extrao caso del doctor Fausto (1969) The Master and Margaret (1972) Kanashimi no Belladonna (19 73) The Devil and Max Devlin (1981) Mephisto (1981) Care Bears Movie II: A New G eneration (1986) Crossroads (1986) Doctor Faustus (1982) Oh, God! You Devil (198

4) Limit Up (1989) Faust (1994) The Master and Margarita (1994) The Day of the B east (1995) Spawn (1997) H-E Double Hockey Sticks (1999) Bedazzled (2000) O Brot her, Where Art Thou? (2000) Faust: Love of the Damned (2001) I Was a Teenage Fau st (2002) Shortcut to Happiness (2003) Ghost Rider (2007) American Faust: From C ondi to Neo-Condi (2010) Faust (2011) Wizard of Stone Mountain (2011) Plays Gretchen (1879) Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1955) The Black Bonspiel of Wullie MacCrimmon (1965) Temptation (1986) Operas Faust (1816, Spohr) La damnation de Faust (1846, Berlioz) Faust (1859, Go unod) Mefistofele (1868, Boito) Faust and Marguerite (1855, Lutz) Faust up to da te (1888, Lutz) Doktor Faust (191625, Busoni) Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights (1 938) Reuben, Reuben (1955) Historia von D. Johann Fausten (1994) Classical music Gretchen am Spinnrade (1814) Faust Overture (1840) Grande sonate 'Les quatre ges' 2nd movement "Quasi-Faust" (1847) Scenes from Goethe's Faust (1 853) Part II of Symphony No. 8 (190607, Mahler) Faust Symphony (185457, Liszt) Mep histo Waltzes (Liszt) Gothic Symphony Bagatelle sans tonalit Other music Albums Epica Saga (Epica The Black Halo) Beethoven's Last Night The Black Rider Songs "Mephisto Polka" (185985) "Cross Road Blues" (1936) "Sympathy for the Devil" (196 8) "Friend of the Devil" (1970) "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975) "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" (1979) "Take My Scars" (1997) "Faustian Echoes" (2012) Television Episodes "Printer's Devil" (1963) "Of Late I Think of Cliffordville" (1963) "Devil's Due" (1991) "Treehouse of Horror IV" (1993) "Bart Sells His Soul" (1995) "Hell Is Ot her Robots" (1999) "The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings" (2003) Other The Devil and Daniel Mouse (1978) The Collector (2004) Reaper (2009) Musicals Damn Yankees (1955) Randy Newman's Faust (1993) Success! (1993) Faust ( 2003) Prose Bearskin Daniel and the Devil "The Monk" (1796) Melmoth the Wanderer (1820 ) "The Devil and Tom Walker" (1824) St. John's Eve (1830) "Auriol" (1844) The So rrows of Satan (1896) Exploits and Opinions of Dr. Faustroll, Pataphysician (189 8) The Master and Margarita (192940) Mephisto (1936) The Devil and Daniel Webster (1937) None But Lucifer (1939) Doktor Faustus (1947) The Devil in Velvet (1951) The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant (1954) Gimmicks Three (1956) The Devil to Pay in the Backlands (1956) That Hell-Bound Train (1958) For a Breath I Tarry ( 1966) The Damnation Game (1986) Faust Eric (1990) The Devil's Own Work (1991) Ja ck Faust (1997) Spider-Man: One More Day (2007) Johannes Cabal the Necromancer ( 2009) Doktor Faust und Mephisto (2013) Ballet Faust Art Faust Gods' Man Poems Manfred Video games GrimGrimoire Knights Contract Animamundi: Dark Alchemist Comics Dangerous Habits Ghost Rider Faust Spawn Spider-Man: One More Day Manga & anime Black Butler Faust Puella Magi Madoka Magica Related Deal with the Devil (in popular culture) Works based on Faust Phantom of the Paradise The Phantom of the Opera G vs E The Fiery Angel (1908) The Rake's Progress (1951, Stravinsky) The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891) "Black Easter" (19 68) Vi veri universum vivus vici The Transformers: The Movie (1986) Star Wars Ep isode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) Before Twilight (2009) Authority control VIAF: 92729043 Categories: 15th-century German people16th-century German peopleGerman alchemistsGerman astrologersChristian astrologersOccultistsFaustGoethe's Faust14 60s births1540 deaths Navigation menu

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