Petrus Magni

Petrus Magni (Swedish: Peder Månsson) (* 1462 ; † May 17, 1534 ) was a Swedish monk and bishop of Västerås .

After his ordination, Månsson was initially schoolmaster and chaplain of Vadstena . In 1499, however, he entered the local Birgitten monastery as a monk. In 1507 his order sent him to Rome to attend to some monastic affairs. After completing this task, Månsson engaged in various scientific works, collected and translated them into Swedish.

Between 1512 and 1524 he wrote a so-called "mountain book", an extensive work of literature that deals with the geological features of the region, whose mineral - and ore - deposits , as well as various techniques of mining and metallurgy and associated alchemy dealt.

Månsson's aversion to the rule of the Danes and the secular hustle and bustle of many clergymen as well as his enthusiasm for the teachings of Martin Luther prompted Gustav I. Wasa , who was elected king in 1523, to have him elected Bishop of Västerås in Rome. King Gustav's secret plans to use Månsson as an assistant for his reformation of the church and nationalization of the church property, however, initially failed because of the old clergyman's persistent refusal. The angry king stripped the new bishop of all power and influence and carried out his plans on his own.

Peder Månsson finally died a broken man on May 17, 1534. His mountain book never went to print, but has been preserved in handwriting and served the subsequent Wasa kings as a guideline for the technical development of the country and as an important source for the development of history of the technique.

literature

• Otto Johannsen: Peder Månssons writings on technical chemistry and metallurgy. A source on the history of technology in the Middle Ages . VDI-Verlag GmbH, Berlin 1941.
• Otto Johannsen (on behalf of the Association of German Ironworkers): History of the iron . 3. Edition. Verlag Stahleisen mbH, Düsseldorf 1953, p. 83-84 .