Galvano da Levanto

Having suffered medical and financial problems, he sought the patronage of King Philip IV of France and later Pope Boniface VIII and the Curia romana.

He wrote prolifically on medical and theological topics, but his most famous work today is his crusade treatise.

Most notably, Iacopo da Levanto served as an admiral of King Louis IX of France (1226–1270).

He received a good scientific and biblical education, probably obtained at either the Franciscan or Dominican school in Genoa.

The Liber anniversarium of the Franciscans of Genoa includes him as "master Galvano, physician, devout and faithful friend".

[1] He usually identifies himself by name and trade in his writings, calling himself "Galvano the Genoese of Levanto, shadow of a physician".

[4] The term "shadow of a physician" (Latin umbra medici), which he uses in other places also, has been interpreted variously, but is probably just a show of modesty.

[5] In his Ars navigativa spiritualis, Galvano writes of a serious illness and his belief that he owed his recovery to divine intervention.

In his Liber sancti passagii, which he wrote between 1291 and 1295 and dedicated to King Philip IV of France, he refers to financial troubles.

One lost work by Galvano is known, the Liber manu Dei contra calculosum languorem sanctissimo pape Bonifatii VIII intitulato.