Jean de Roquetaillade

Johannes de Rupescissa may also refer to Cardinal Jean de La Rochetaillée
Jean de Roquetaillade

Manuscript from 1350 by Jean de Roquetaillade
Born ca. 1310
Yolet or Marcolès
Died between 1366 and 1370
Avignon
Residence Auvergne and Avignon
Nationality Auvergnat
Other names Johannes de Rupescissa
Occupation Franciscan, alchemist

Jean de Roquetaillade [1] (born ca. 1310, died between 1366 and 1370, probably at Avignon) was a French Franciscan alchemist.[2]

Biography

After studying philosophy for five years at Toulouse, he entered the Franciscan monastery at Aurillac, where he continued his studies for five years longer.

His experiments in distillation led to the discovery of what he termed aqua vitæ, or usually quinta essentia, and commended as a panacea for all disease. His work as an alchemist forms the subject-matter of De consideratione quintæ essentiæ (Basle, 1561) and De extractione quintæ essentiæ; likewise Libellus de conficiendo vero lapide philosophico ad sublevandam inopiam papæ et cleri in tempore tribulationis (Strasburg, 1659).

His prophecies and violent denunciation of ecclesiastical abuses brought him into disfavour with his superiors, resulting in his imprisonment in the local Franciscan convents. During a transfer from one convent to another, he was able to reach Avignon and present an appeal before Pope Clement VI in 1349. While there he wrote in 1349 his Visiones seu revelationes, and in 1356 Vade Mecum in tribulatione[3] and Liber Ostensor. His other works include commentaries on the Oraculum Cyrilli, the recently discovered Sexdequiloquium and many other lost treatises and commentaries on various prophecies.

Works

Notes

  1. John of Roquetaillade, Johannes de Rupescissa, Giovanni da Rupescissa.
  2. John of Roquetaillade (de Rupescissa) - Catholic Encyclopedia
  3. In Brown, Fascicula rerum expetendarum et fugiendarum, III, London, 1640.

References

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