History, prophecy, and the stars : the Christian astrology of Pierre d'Ailly, 1350-1420 / Laura Ackerman Smoller.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Smoller, Laura Ackerman, 1960- author.

Series:

Princeton legacy library.

Princeton Legacy Library

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Astrology--History.

Astrology.

Occultism--Religious aspects--Christianity--History--Middle Ages, 600-1500.

Occultism.

Ailly, Pierre d', 1350-1420?.

Ailly, Pierre d'.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (246 pages) : illustrations.

Place of Publication:

Princeton, New Jersey : Princeton University Press, 1994.

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

Although astrology was viewed with suspicion by the medieval church, it became a major area of inquiry for the renowned cardinal and scholar Pierre d'Ailly, whose astrological and apocalyptic writings had a significant influence on Christopher Columbus. D'Ailly's writings on the stars, the focus of this book, clearly illustrate the complex relationships among astrology, science, and Christian thinking in the late Middle Ages. Through an examination of his letters, sermons, and philosophical, astrological, and theological treatises, Laura Ackerman Smoller reveals astrology's appeal as a scientific means to interpret history and prophecy, and not merely as a magical way to forecast and manipulate one's own fate. At the same time, she shows how d'Ailly dealt with delicate problems--such as free will and God's omnipotence--in elevating astrology to a compelling, but not always consistent, "natural theology." The French cardinal's most intriguing prediction was for the advent of Antichrist in 1789, one that stemmed from his deep concern over the Great Schism (1378-1414). Smoller maintains that the division in the church led d'Ailly to fear the imminence of the apocalypse, and that he eventually turned to astrology to quell his apocalyptic fears, thereby gaining confidence that a church council could heal the Schism. In elucidating the place of astrology in medieval society, this book also affords a personal glimpse of a man facing a profound crisis.Originally published in 1994.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Illustrations

Acknowledgments

1. Introduction

2. The Medieval Debate about Astrology

3. The Making of an Astrologer: The Development of Pierre d'Ailly's Thought on the Stars

4. Astrology and the Narration of History

5. The Great Schism and the Coming of the Apocalypse

6. Astrology and the Postponement of the End

7. The Concordance of Astrology and Theology

Appendix 1. A Note on the Availability of d'Ailly's Writings on Astrology

Appendix 2. A Chronology of d'Ailly's Works Dealing with Astrology

Abbreviations

Notes

Select Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780691654317

069165431X

9780691600512

0691600511

OCLC:

1004882928