The smile of fortune and the bitterness of fate. Alexander Sculteti
(c. 1485–1570), friend of Nicolaus Copernicus
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Submission date: 2024-01-30
Acceptance date: 2024-03-15
Online publication date: 2024-03-15
Publication date: 2024-03-15
KMW 2023;323(4):519-577
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ABSTRACT
Aleksander Scultetus was born around 1485, as the son of a councillor of Tczew (Dirschau). He
studied first in Krakow (1503–1508) and then in Rome, where he obtained a doctorate in both
laws. Thanks to his talents and belonging to the “family” of Cardinal Alexander Farnese (the future
Pope Paul III), Scultetus obtained canons in Dorpat (Tartu) and Hapsal (Haapsalu), in 1514 and
in Rewel (Tallinn) and Frombork (Frauenburg) in 1519. Facing the Reformation, Scultetus saw
the necessity of reforming the Church and defended the rights of Giese, appointed by the ailing
Bishop Maurice Ferber as his coadjutor. He conflicted then to the Bishop of Chełmno (Kulm) Jan
Dantiscus and to the Royal Secretary Stanislaw Hozjusz. Accused by them of breaking the celibacy
and professing heresy, he was sentenced to banishment by the King, so in the autumn of 1540, he
left to Rome. He belonged to the circle of supporters of the Council of Trent and participated in
its opening. He died in Rome in 1570, and his bookscollection became the property of the broth-
erhood “S. Maria dell’ Anima”