Basilius Valentinus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

18th century illustration to 3rd key, in Duodecim Claves
18th century illustration to 3rd key, in Duodecim Claves

Basilius Valentinus, also known under the Anglicized version of his name, Basil Valentine, was a 15th-century alchemist. He was the Canon of the Benedictine Priory of Sankt Peter in Erfurt, Germany. Even his name cannot be corroborated; during the 18th century it was suggested that he was Johann Thölde. The year given for his birth in Mainz, 1394, is also uncertain.

He showed that ammonia could be obtained by the action of alkalies on sal-ammoniac, and how hydrochloric acid could be produced from acidizing brine.

Basilius Valentinus wrote dozens of important publications on alchemy in Latin and German. They have been translated into many Western European languages, including English, French, and others.

Most famous works (in Latin)
  • Currus Triumphalis Antimonii (The triumphal chariot of antimony)
  • Duodecim Claves (The twelve keys)
Many other works (in Latin and German)
  • Porta sophica
  • The Medicine of Metals
  • Of things natural and supernatural
  • Of the first tincture, root and spirit of metals
  • Of the great secrecy of the world, and its medicin
  • Libri quattuor de particularibus septem planetarum (Of the supremacy of the seven planets)
  • Experimenta chymica
  • Practica
  • Compendium veritatis philosophicum (German)
  • Last will and testament

Advanced Search
Included Web Search Engines


Safe Search

close

Top Matching Results

Occasionally Search.com will highlight specialized results that are based on the context of your query. Examples of specialized results include specific links to news, images, or video.

Top Matching Results may highlight information from other Search.com pages, content from the CNET Network of sites, or third party content. The listings are based purely on relevance. Search.com does not receive payment for listings in this section but our partners that provide this data may get paid for listing these products.

Sponsored Links

This section contains paid listings which have been purchased by companies that want to have their sites appear for specific search terms and related content. These listings are administered, sorted and maintained by a third party and are not endorsed by Search.com.

Search Results

Search.com sends your search query to several search engines at one time and integrates the results into one list which has been sorted by relevance using Search.com's proprietary algorithm. You can customize the list of search engines included in your metasearch from the preferences.

The search engines that are used in your metasearch may allow companies to pay to have their Web sites included within the results. To view the Paid Inclusion policy for a specific search engine, please visit their Web site. Search.com does not accept payment or share revenue with any search engine partner for listings in this section.