A Calamitous Century: John of Rupescissa’s Prophecy and Alchemy during the Black Death and Hundred Years War
Abstract:
John of Rupescissa was a Franciscan monk, apocalyptic prophet, and alchemist in the fourteenth century. Rupescissa’s work earned him fame during his own period, and has been recognized by modern scholars as a turning point in alchemical practice. This project aims to establish that the calamities of the fourteenth century, mainly the Hundred Years War and Black Death, profoundly impacted how Rupescissa viewed the world. This change in world view created a linear relationship between Rupescissa’s religious beliefs, his prophetic writings, and his alchemical work. By evaluating Rupescissa’s writings and the trends within his work, he can be compared to the authors which came before him such as Joachim of Fiore and Roger Bacon. This comparison shows that Rupescissa’s work was not a simple continuation of theirs but instead a unique break that was only possible in the context of the fourteenth century.