Paul Skalich

Paul Skalich (1534–1573), also known as Stanislav Pavao Skalić or Paulus Scalichius de Lika, was an encyclopedist, Renaissance humanist, polymath and adventurer born in Zagreb (modern Croatia) and who lived part of his life in the Holy Roman Empire.

(modern Germany) His surname is rendered in various other ways: e.g., in English, Skalich, Scalich, Scaliger; in Latin, Scalichius or Scaligius; and Spanish, Scalitzius.

Skalić studied theology and philosophy in Vienna and later moved around Europe, living in Bologna, Rome, Bohemia, Poland, France and Germany, among other places.

[4] He and preacher Johann Funck exercised great influence over Albert (1490-1568), first duke of Prussia, and became wealthy.

M. Girardi-Karšulin at the University of Zagreb claims that he was Croatian,[6] as do the historians Joseph F. Patrouch and Stephen L. Wailes,[7][8] and other sources.

Portrait of Paul Skalich
Title page of Skalich's Encyclopaedia seu orbis disciplinarum tam sacrarum quam prophanarum epistemon from 1559, arguable one of the first encyclopedias to clearly use the word encyclopedia in its title. [ 1 ]