Bavor Rodovský the Younger of Hustířany at the Budyně nad Ohří Castle

Bavor Rodovský the Younger of Hustířany (probably 1526 – probably 1600) was one of the most important and most influential Bohemian alchemists. Yet Rodovský has not enriched the history of science in the Bohemian lands only by his alchemical writings, including the translations into Czech of important alchemical works, but also by treatises from the fields of astronomy and history. The work of Bavor Rodovský of Hustířany is linked closely with the castle in Budyně nad Ohří. 

As a self-taught man, Bavor Rodovský the Younger of Hustířany was deeply interested in the most diverse scientific fields. Apart from astronomy, mathematics, medicine and history, what interested him most was alchemy. The task of alchemy, according to Rodovský – with reference to Theophrastus Paracelsus – is not only to examine the relations between metals and their transformation (e. g. with the help of dissolution, calcination or distillation) but also to prepare effective drugs. Rodovský`s work in the field of alchemy reflects not his extensive and practical knowledge of chemistry. He wasn’t one to come up with new hypotheses but in his manuscripts written in Czech he presented and gave expert comments on ancient Bohemian alchemical sources as well as other foreign works of similar orientation. His translations into Czech of the essential alchemical writings of the time thus became an important part of his works known under the titles On Hermes’s Philosophy and The Book on the Perfect Art of Chemistry. An alchemical treatise of his own is Rodovský`s theoretically as well as practically oriented manuscript from 1595, entitled The Philosophical Discourses. Here he presents the basics of alchemy, giving instructions for various experiments and theoretical considerations on the composition of metals, and dominated by the “sulphur-mercury theory”. Rodovský`s last work is Bohemian Alchemy which brings his practical experience in chemical practice alongside extensive notes on the history of alchemy and the works of other authors. In addition to historical works on Aristotle, Plutarch or Alexander the Great, Rodovský published in 1574 an astronomical treatise, A Short Essay on the Strange Brightness of One Star and on the Stars called fixae. In later years he continued his work in the field of astronomy and astrology. Between 1573 and 1576 Rodovský worked for William of Rosenberg. In the last twenty years of his life Rodovský lived at the castle in Budyně nad Ohří under the patronage of Jan Zbyněk Zajíc of Hasenburg who was also a great supporter of Renaissance science and of alchemy. Bavor Rodovský of Hustířany died at this castle around 1600. Today, his work there is the subject of exhibition in the Janda Museum at the Budyně Castle. 

Bittner, J. a kol.: Budyně nad Ohří. Historie regionu města. Budyně nad Ohří 1998.

Kuncitr, V.: Alchymie v Českých zemích. In: Opus magnum. Praha 1997, s. 48–62, zde s. 60–62. 

Purš, I., Karpenko, V.: Alchymie na šlechtických dvorech v českých zemích. In: Purš, I., Karpenko, V. (ed.): Alchymie a Rudolf II. Praha 2011, s. 47–91, zde s. 82–86. 

Zachar, O.: O alchymii a českých alchymistech. Praha 1911, s. 172–225. 

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