This article is a tribute to the man who influenced western thought on modern Occultism, Henry Cornelius Agrippa. Henricus Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim was born on September 14th, 1486, in Cologne, Germany. This month marks the 518th anniversary of his birth. His family were minor nobility and had served the royal house of Austria. The name "Agrippa" was uncommon and there are two theories which exist as to its origin. It may have originated by the Romans to signify a child born feet first. Another theory suggests that the wife of Emperor Claudius, Agrippina, who was born in Cologne in the year 51 was the source of inspiration for the Roman colony who established the town naming it in her honour, Colonia Agrippina. The inhabitants were called Agrippinenses.
Agrippa dropped the first and last part of his name. My guess is to disassociate himself from his place of birth, although I may be wrong. He called himself Cornelius Agrippa. At a young age Agrippa had developed a taste for languages. He was the talk of the town when he refused to speak anything but Latin. Along with a love for languages he also had an interest in Occult mysteries. He may have looked to Albertus Magnus (1193-1280) who was rumored to be a great magician. I'll have to write an article about him in the future. Magnus was an Occult scholar who taught in Cologne. He was also buried there.
On July 22nd, 1499, at the age of 12, Agrippa enrolled in the faculty of Arts at the University of Cologne under Petrus Capitis de Dunnen. By the time he was 20, Agrippa was at the University of Paris where he had surrounded himself with scholars of the Occult. It would be my guess that here is were Agrippa's knowledge would sprout from the seed planted in his youth. As a side note, this is also where Jacques de Molai was killed less than 200 years earlier. It's been suggested that Agrippa served Emperor Maximillian as a spy while he studied in France. He had been loyal to the Emperor and it was his desire since childhood to serve the Emperor as his father once did.
Agrippa served the Emperor as a soldier who was the master mind at seizing the Black Fort in the town of Tarragon. Rumors about Agrippa's "Black Art" had reached the enemy and it was believed that Agrippa used his sorcery to not only capture Fuerto Negro, but also to escape to an old stone tower three miles away where he was engaged in combat with an army of peasants. Such a fascinating life this man had.
When Agrippa was 23 he had gathered the notes of his De Occulta Philosophia and sent out the manuscript to his friend and mentor, Johannes Trithemius. Much of his written work had been passed down from Occult scholars whom he had befriended and his collection brought together the most brilliant minds of the time.