Sendivogius, Michael (—1646) - Witchcraft Hall of Fame

The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: The Complete A-Z for the Entire Magical World - Judika Illes 2005

Sendivogius, Michael (—1646)
Witchcraft Hall of Fame

Michael Sendivogius was a famed Moravian alchemist. Alchemists were allegedly calling themselves Rosicrucians during the sixteenth century; Michael Sendivogius’ Society of the Unknown Philosophers is considered among the precursors to the Rosicrucians.

Sendivogius rescued the alchemist Alexander Seton (see below) and used Seton’s powder to make gold, apparently creating several genuine transformations. When the powder was gone, he bluffed for a while based on his previous success but was eventually reduced to poverty.

Sendivogius married Seton’s widow whose dowry included an alchemical manuscript left by Seton. Sendivogius published this manuscript under his own name in Gdansk in 1604, titled, Twelve Treatises on the Philosopher’s Stone.