Paul Skalić

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Stanislav Pavao (Paul) Skalić (1534-1573), also known as Paul Skalich or Pauli Scalichii de Lika, was an encyclopedist, humanist, and adventurer born in Zagreb, Croatia and who lived part of his life in Germany.^[1] His surname is also rendered in various other ways: e.g., in English, Skalich, Scalich, Scaliger; in Latin, Scalichius; and in Spanish, Scalitzius.

His book Encyclopaedia seu orbis disciplinarum tam sacrarum quam prophanarum epistemon ("Encyclopaedia, or Knowledge of the World of Disciplines . . .") (Basel, 1559) brought the term encyclopedia into common usage. He also wrote a treatise on music: Dialogus de Lyra (Cologne, 1570).

He and preacher John Funck exercised great influence over Albert (1490-1568), first duke of Prussia, and became wealthy. Religious differences with the king of Poland led to the execution of Funck and the flight of Skalić.

[edit] Nationality

References vary regarding Mr. Skalić's nationality. M. Girardi-Karšulin at the University of Zagreb claims that he is Croatian.^[2] as does the modern Croatian historian Darko Zubrinic.^[1] But many modern English encyclopedias, such as Encyclopædia Britannica^[3] Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, and Encarta^[4] indicate that he is German. This could be because he lived at the time when Lika and the rest of Croatia was part of the Habsburg Monarchy, although, as stated above, he spent at least part of his life in Germany.

Older works like the Spanish Enciclopedia universal ilustrada europeoamericana (Espasa), vol. 19, (1930) page 1166, say that he is an Hungarian count ("y esta voz, ya latinizada, se emplea en el rótulo de la obra del conde húngaro Scalitzus", "and this term, now Latinized, is used in the heading of the work of the Hungarian count Scalitzius.") The Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition (1911) page 169 says the same, referring to him as "Paulus Scalichius de Lika, an Hungarian count"^[5]. This raises the possibility that the reference was to the Kingdom of Hungary, of which Lika and Croatia in general was also part at the time.

[edit] Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Croatian Humanists, Ecumenists, Latinists, and Encyclopaedists (1995)
2. ^ Basic philosophical problems in Pavao Skaliæ's work (1994)
3. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica "encyclopaedia"
4. ^ Encarta "Encyclopedia"
5. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica 1911 scan