Martin Delrio
Encyclopedia
Martín Antonio Del Rio or Martin Antoine Del Rio (17 May 1551, Antwerpen – 19 October 1608, Leuven
) was a Jesuit theologian
of Spanish descent. He wrote, among other books, Disquisitionum magicarum libri sex, a work on magic
and the occult
. This work, first published in three parts over 1599 to 1600, was reprinted at least 20 times, making it the second most popular book, after Malleus Maleficarum
, on the occult. It was last reprinted in 1755 in Cologne
. In the Disquisitionum, Delrio made a connection between witches and heretics. The book was popular amongst both Catholics and Protestants, and was one of the books used at the famous Salem witch trials
of 1692.
His friend the Flemish
humanist Justus Lipsius
called him "the wonder of the century". Posterity, however, has not been so generous. For Voltaire he was the “procureur general de Beelzebuth”. For the nineteenth century authors of the Biographie Nationale de Belgique
, an anthology of short biographies, Del Rio was something of an embarrassment. Some modern historians, most notably Robert Muchembled, have accused him of being the principal cause of witch-hunt
s in the Southern Netherlands
. Most historians, however, have noticed Delrio's relative moderation on the subject of witchcraft
. He was born in Antwerp, and studied at numerous institutions, receiving the degree of Doctor of Law
from Salamanca
in 1574. After a period of political service, he became a Jesuit in 1580. He taught theology for several years in Leuven
, Mainz, and Douai; all intellectual centres for the Catholic Reformation. He died in Leuven.
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
) was a Jesuit theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
of Spanish descent. He wrote, among other books, Disquisitionum magicarum libri sex, a work on magic
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
and the occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
. This work, first published in three parts over 1599 to 1600, was reprinted at least 20 times, making it the second most popular book, after Malleus Maleficarum
Malleus Maleficarum
The Malleus Maleficarum is an infamous treatise on witches, written in 1486 by Heinrich Kramer, an Inquisitor of the Catholic Church, and was first published in Germany in 1487...
, on the occult. It was last reprinted in 1755 in Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. In the Disquisitionum, Delrio made a connection between witches and heretics. The book was popular amongst both Catholics and Protestants, and was one of the books used at the famous Salem witch trials
Salem witch trials
The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before county court trials to prosecute people accused of witchcraft in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Middlesex in colonial Massachusetts, between February 1692 and May 1693...
of 1692.
His friend the Flemish
Flemish people
The Flemings or Flemish are the Dutch-speaking inhabitants of Belgium, where they are mostly found in the northern region of Flanders. They are one of two principal cultural-linguistic groups in Belgium, the other being the French-speaking Walloons...
humanist Justus Lipsius
Justus Lipsius
Justus Lipsius was a Southern-Netherlandish philologist and humanist. Lipsius wrote a series of works designed to revive ancient Stoicism in a form that would be compatible with Christianity. The most famous of these is De Constantia...
called him "the wonder of the century". Posterity, however, has not been so generous. For Voltaire he was the “procureur general de Beelzebuth”. For the nineteenth century authors of the Biographie Nationale de Belgique
Biographie Nationale de Belgique
The Biographie Nationale de Belgique is the biographical dictionary of Belgium and its predecessor states....
, an anthology of short biographies, Del Rio was something of an embarrassment. Some modern historians, most notably Robert Muchembled, have accused him of being the principal cause of witch-hunt
Witch-hunt
A witch-hunt is a search for witches or evidence of witchcraft, often involving moral panic, mass hysteria and lynching, but in historical instances also legally sanctioned and involving official witchcraft trials...
s in the Southern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands
Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...
. Most historians, however, have noticed Delrio's relative moderation on the subject of witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
. He was born in Antwerp, and studied at numerous institutions, receiving the degree of Doctor of Law
Doctor of law
Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
from Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
in 1574. After a period of political service, he became a Jesuit in 1580. He taught theology for several years in Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, Mainz, and Douai; all intellectual centres for the Catholic Reformation. He died in Leuven.