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Tadeáš Hájek z Hájku | |
|---|---|
 An 18th-century engraving of Tadeáš Hájek | |
| Born | 1 December 1525 |
| Died | 1 September 1600(1600-09-01) (aged 74) Prague, Bohemia |
Tadeáš Hájek of Hájek (Czech:Tadeáš Hájek z Hájku,Czech pronunciation:[ˈtadeaːʃˈɦaːjɛkˈzɦaːjku]; 1 December 1525 – 1 September 1600), also known by Latinized namesThaddaeus Hagecius ab Hayek andThaddeus Nemicus, was a Czech naturalist and astronomer. He was a personalphysician of the Holy Roman EmperorRudolf II and anastronomer in theKingdom of Bohemia.
Tadeáš Hájek was born on 1 December 1525 inPrague. He was the son of Šimon Hájek (c. 1485–1551) from an old Prague family. He wasennobled in 1554 byFerdinand I of Germany, knighted in 1571 byMaximilian II, later made knight of theHoly Roman Empire byRudolf II. He had three wives, three sons, and one daughter.
In 1548–1549, he studied medicine and astronomy inVienna and graduated in 1550, receiving his Masters "in artibus" in 1551. In 1554 he studied medicine inBologna and went toMilan the same year to listen to lectures byGirolamo Cardano, but he soon returned toPrague, where he became a professor ofmathematics at theCharles University of Prague in 1555.
He published theAphorismi Metoposcopici in 1561, dealing withdivination and diagnosis by interpreting lines on theforehead. He triangulated the area around Prague and in 1563 co-authored a map of it, which is lost. In 1564 he received the Emperor's privilege stating that noastrological prognostication could be printed in Prague before he had seen and approved it. In 1566–1570, he served as an army doctor in theHabsburg monarchy andHungary during the war with theOttoman Empire. He published his studies of asupernova in the constellationCassiopeia in 1572. Tadeáš Hájek was in frequent scientific correspondence with the recognized astronomerTycho Brahe (1546–1601) and played an important role in persuading Rudolf II to invite Brahe (and laterKepler) to Prague.
His voluminous writings inLatin were mostly concerned with astronomy and many regarded him as the greatest astronomer of his time. Besides his work, Tadeáš Hájek eagerly collected manuscripts, especially those byCopernicus. Throughout his life he also published numerous astrological prognostics in Czech and that is why he was until recently viewed as an "occultist" rather than a great scientist. He corresponded withJohn Dee as a result of their common interest inEuclid andgeometry.
He died on 1 September 1600 in Prague.
The lunarcraterHagecius and theasteroid1995 Hajek are named in his honour.[1]
