Acknowledgments 1 Introduction: The Theoretical and Biographical Ingredients The Theological-Magical Nexus The Biographical Setting 2 The Magical Inheritance Patristic and Medieval Demonology The Medieval and Early Renaissance Defense of Magic 3 The Demonological Vision The Monastic Rudiments Sorcery Sin and Divine Providence The Problem of Accommodating Magic to Miracle The Witch Issue The Problem of Learned Sorcery The Distinction Between Sorcery and Exorcism 4 The Occult Vision The Making of the Magical Legend The Personal Defense The Divine Revelation and the Esoteric Rule The Special Appeal to Princes Pelagius and Libanius The Theoretical Precepts From Occult Theory to Cryptographical Practice Trithemius and Agrippa 5 The Debate over Trithemian Magic during the Renaissance, Reformation, and Age of Reason Agrippa's Later Ambivalence The Monastic Apologists The Protestant Reaction The Catholic Reaction The Cryptographical and Alchemical Revivals The "Jesuit Labyrinth" and Demonological Response The Cryptographical Vogue The Rosicrucian Debate The Skeptical Shift and the Scientific Revolution 6 Conclusion: Trithemian Magic in Later Perspective The Persisting Scholarly Conundrum The Trithemian Will Notes Bibliography Index
Noel L. Brann has taught Renaissance and Reformation History and Early Modern European Intellectual History at universities throughout the United States. He is the author of The Abbot Trithemius (1462-1516): The Renaissance of Monastic Humanism.
"Noel Brann has chosen a controversial and little understood historical figure as the focus of this book. Although Trithemius has been treated before in biographical studies, this is the first exhaustive treatment of Trithemius's magical theology, the most elusive and most provocative aspect of his contributions. Brann's presentation is cautious, original, and persuasive. He strikes out into areas that have not been treated before. Brann is able to interpret Trithemius by revealing the background of his views, by reconstructing their contexts, and by tracing their impact." - Frank Baron, University of Kansas
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