Probably all of you have read M. Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita and remember the fateful meeting of Berlioz and Homeless with the “foreign professor” at Patriarch's Ponds. And, perhaps, they drew attention to how Woland explains his appearance in Moscow.
- What is your specialty? Berlioz inquired.
- I am a specialist in black magic … Here in the state library were found the original manuscripts of the warlock Herbert Avrilak, tenth century. So, it is required that I disassemble them. I am the only specialist in the world.
- Oh! Are you a historian? Berlioz asked with great relief and respect.
Where did the manuscripts of some medieval magician suddenly appear in Leninka? And why the very educated and erudite Berlioz, who had already taken the "professor" for a madman, upon hearing the name of Herbert Avrilak, immediately calmed down and believed in the stranger's version?
I must say that in this novel by Bulgakov there are quite a few references to other works or to real historical events - what is now often called "Easter eggs". For example, I really like the hidden quote from the work of Michael Psellus about the "darkness that came from the sea."
M. Bulgakov:
"The darkness that came from the Mediterranean covered the city hated by the procurator."
M. Psell:
"A cloud that unexpectedly rose from the sea covered the royal city with darkness."
(The Byzantine historian uses this phrase in the story of a terrible storm that destroyed the Russian-Varangian fleet of Vladimir Novgorodsky, the son of Yaroslav the Wise, and Ingvar the Traveler, the cousin of Yaroslav's wife Ingigerd).
The mysterious warlock Herbert Avrilak, who died 15 years before the birth of Mikhail Psellus, of course, also appeared in Bulgakov's novel for a reason.
Meet the hero
Herbert is the real name of this man, who was born in the French city of Aurillac (previously the name was pronounced as Avralac) around 946, so everything is correct here. Since for a long time he lived and worked in Reims, first as a scholastic (teacher) of the school of the monastery of St. Remigius, and then actually fulfilled the duties of an archbishop, although he was not recognized as such by the Vatican, he is sometimes also called Reims. But now he is much better known as Pope Sylvester II (139th in a row).
This pontiff was a contemporary of Vladimir Svyatoslavich, the Polish king Boleslav the Brave (whose daughter the "accursed" Svyatopolk was married to) and the Hungarian king Stephen I (this pope blessed him to the throne). He also gave permission to organize the first Polish archbishop's diocese. And yet, it means that he managed to engage in magic and witchcraft, although this hobby seems very strange for a person who has become the highest hierarch of the Catholic Church.
However, the papal throne was also occupied by not such characters. Sylvester II, even in a nightmare, probably could not have dreamed of the "exploits" of John XII, who at feasts (more like orgies) repeatedly raised the bowls to the health of the devil and the pagan gods. And contemporaries did not call him the pharmacist of Satan, as Alexander VI (Borgia). No, Herbert Avrilak was a very peaceful, intelligent and quiet warlock and quite a decent and relatively harmless pope. He did not kill his predecessors, like Sergius III, did not dig up their corpses and did not judge posthumously, like Stephen VI. And even such a respectable business with a long tradition, like the sale of church posts, he disdained to engage. And such a sweet entertainment of many popes and cardinals, like the konkubinat (in Roman law - cohabitation without marriage), did not like it either. Well, except that he intrigued for his own pleasure. Acting as the scientific secretary of Bishop Adalberon of Rheims during the congress of the spiritual and secular seniors of France, he took part in the election of the Duke of Ile-de-France Hugo Capet as king - this is how the Capetian dynasty, which ruled from 987 to 1328, was founded.
Offended by Pope John XV, who refused to approve him as Archbishop of Reims, he spoke about the Vatican in such a way that his letters were then gladly quoted by Protestants - in 1567 and 1600. But who of the politicians of this scale (both modern and past years) is not unprincipled and intriguing?
So, Sylvester II was a rather active Pope, and managed a lot in the 4 years of his pontificate. But, here's the trouble, he turned out to be very fond of magic and witchcraft. So much so that they only remember this now. Let's try to figure out where the venerable pontiff suddenly got such a dubious reputation and whether his contemporaries had reason to accuse him of practicing magic, cohabitation with a succubus and ties with the devil himself.
The beginning of a spiritual career
Herbert was born in 946 into a poor and noble family. In Europe of the 10th century, the only chance to somehow advance for people like him was the career of a clergyman, and therefore in 963 the young man entered the Benedictine monastery of St. Herald. Here he immediately drew attention to himself with his abilities and aptitude for the exact sciences. And then Herbert was lucky for the first time. The abbot of this monastery, who turned out to be a person who was not indifferent and progressive, in 967 recommended the young man as a secretary to the Count of Barcelona Borrell II who happened to be in those places. So Herbert got to Spain.
However, such a country as Spain did not yet exist at that time. Almost the entire Iberian Peninsula was occupied by the Cordoba Caliphate, only in the north there were small Christian kingdoms, and the Reconquista was still far away.
The powerful Cordoba Caliphate exerted a great influence on neighboring Christian states, including in the field of education and culture. The libraries of Arab cities have preserved the works of ancient authors, many of which will be rediscovered by Europeans only in the Renaissance. The library of Cordoba is said to hold up to half a million books, while the best European libraries boasted only a thousand.
Anyway, Herbert was very lucky. But it was to this period that the first "warlock" legend "refers to his connection with a succubus named Meridiana, from which he received" inhuman "knowledge, and then - wealth and power.
In the name of this succubus, a geometric term is clearly heard - indeed, someone really heard the ringing, but did not understand where it came from. By the way, some of Herbert's illiterate interlocutors also considered the octahedron and rhombus to be the names of demons.
It is often difficult for people in general to believe that a person can achieve success without having a noble birth, wealth or influential patrons: it is easier to explain other people's achievements by witchcraft or even a deal with the devil.
But Herbert did not cohabit with the beautiful Meridiana, but studied in Catalonia - in Vic. And then he managed to visit Cordoba. He may have also visited Seville and Toledo. And this study with the Moors was the reason for the appearance of the second legend - that Herbert stole a book of spells from the palace of the Caliph al-Hakkam II himself: he found in it a formula that makes a person invisible, read it with the necessary intonations - and, as they say, he was.
There is another version of this legend, according to which the daughter of his magician teacher, who was in love with him, helped Herbert to steal the book.
Fateful visit to Rome
In 969, Herbert ended up in Rome with the Barcelona Count Borrell. Here he met Pope John XIII. The scholarly young man made such a good impression on the Pope that he recommended him as the educator of his son to Emperor Otto I himself.
In this position, Herbert was for three years, after which in 972 he went to Reims, where he taught at the monastery school, built a hydraulic organ and fought for the seat of archbishop.
The future emperor Otto II also liked the teacher very much, which is not surprising, because Herbert was a supporter of the assertion of the priority of imperial power over spiritual. When he came to power in 973, Otto II remembered the teacher by appointing the abbot of the monastery in Babbio. But Herbert found it bored there, and he chose to return to Reims. Then he supported the former student in the war against his compatriot - the French king Lothair (in 978).
Otto II, by the way, headed the jury of judges during the famous debate "on the classification of sciences" in Ravenna, in which his former teacher converged with the German dialectician Otrich. This dispute lasted a day and ended in a draw due to the complete exhaustion of the members of the jury, who, by their willful decision, stopped this dispute and literally crawled out of the hall.
Otto II died in 983 at the age of 28, presumably from malaria. The heir to the throne, the son of the Byzantine princess Theophano, was only three years old at that time and his name was also Otto (only the Third: I'm already tired of writing this name - people have no imagination). This emperor, who was nicknamed the Miracle of the World by the court flatterers, also had an excellent relationship with Herbert.
In Reims, as we remember, our hero did not succeed in becoming an archbishop, but thanks to the efforts of Otto III, he was appointed archbishop of Ravenna. This was not too difficult to achieve: Pope Gregory V was the emperor's cousin.
A year later, this pontiff died, and Herbert was elected the new head of the Catholic Church. He became the first Frenchman to occupy the throne of Saint Peter.
Interestingly, the name chosen by Herbert upon accession to the throne: Sylvester. He took it in honor of the pope, who was an adviser to Constantine the Great. The hint was quite transparent, and the interested persons understood it perfectly.
Subsequently, Otto III and Sylvester II acted as allies. In 1001, they had to flee together from rebellious Rome. Meanwhile, the days of both were already running out. The young emperor died in 1002 (he was 22 at the time) during a campaign against Rome, Pope Sylvester II briefly survived him, having died in 1003. But he nevertheless returned to the Eternal City and was buried in the Lateran Cathedral (St. John Lateran).
The inscription on his tombstone reads: "Here lie the mortal remains of Sylvester, who will rise at the sound of the coming of the Lord."
Later, a legend appeared that periodically a noise was heard from this tomb, warning of the imminent death of the Pope.
Mage and warlock
So, the rootless and poor Herbert of Aurillac was familiar with the three emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, with the support of the last of them he became an archbishop, and then was elected pope - and, according to some, all this happened not without the help of the Devil. And successes in science (pretty exaggerated and colored with rumor) increased suspicion. So far, these were only rumors circulating among the illiterate and superstitious commoners. But soon even the hierarchs of the Catholic Church started talking about it. And this is not surprising, because Pope Sylvester II, as we remember, was opposed to the sale of church positions and even considered the imperial power above spiritual, and therefore he had many opponents and ill-wishers in the highest church circles.
Pope Sylvester II, Cardinal Bennon, was the first to officially blame the deceased (in 1003) Pope Sylvester II for the deal with Satan. This accusation fell on fertile ground, and later the stories about the miracles performed by the warlock on the papal throne only multiplied and acquired the most bizarre forms.
The enemies of Sylvester II even spread rumors that his ancestor was Simon the Magus - the same one who wished to buy from the apostles Philip, John and Peter "power over the Holy Spirit" and the ability to work miracles in his name. And who died in Rome, falling from the tower, during the competition with the apostles Peter and Paul - because Peter took the power from the demons who held the magician (Nero acted as the arbiter in this magical duel, on whose order these apostles were later executed).
On behalf of this character of the New Testament "Acts of the Apostles", as well as the apocryphal "Acts of Peter" and "Syntagma" the term "simony" originates, but Pope Sylvester, as we remember, was a principled opponent of the trade in church offices and miraculous relics.
It was also said that the black dog that accompanied Herbert everywhere was the devil himself, with whom he made a pact. This legend undoubtedly influenced the later legends about Faust and Goethe's Mephistopheles appears to Faust in the guise of a black poodle.
However, there is a version of the legend in which Herbert did not conclude an agreement with the devil, but won the papal tiara in the bones from him. In this case, he acts already in the role of a character who has shamed the enemy of the human race and forced him to serve himself. The official church, of course, did not even encourage such ties with the devil, but among the people such a victory over an unclean spirit was perceived unambiguously positively. Let us recall the numerous legends about how Satan was able to deceive the builders of cathedrals (for example, Cologne) and bridges (Rakotzbrücke in Saxony or associated with the name of Suvorov "Devil" in Switzerland).
By the way, our hero was not the only Roman pontiff who had his own demon: Pope Boniface VIII also had a devil in his service. We know about this from the words of the French king Philip the Fair, who made an official statement at the Louvre meeting in 1303.
But what miracles did the warlock Herbert of Aurillac, who became pope, work?
Let's start with a simple one: everyone was simply amazed at his ability to perform mathematical calculations in the "mind" - it is simply impossible to do this using the then widespread Roman numerals. However, Herbert used Arabic numerals (in fact, the Arabs themselves borrowed them from the Indians, so it would be more correct to call them Indian). Herbert did not keep secret the method of number, multiplication and division, new for Europe, with the help of Arabic numerals: he taught it while working at the school of the monastery of St. Remigius in Reims and later tried to popularize it in every possible way. But how many students did he have then? It took a long time until the new method of calculation became common and familiar. Europe finally abandoned Roman numerals only in the Renaissance.
Another magical specialty of Herbert was advising on territorial disputes: in this regard, the ability to calculate the areas of geometric figures was very valuable.
The unprecedented hydraulic organ built by Herbert in Reims also aroused great surprise among his contemporaries. He was also credited with creating the world's first mechanical tower clock, which he allegedly presented to Magdeburg. This clock seemed to "noted all the movements of light, and the time when the stars rise and set." However, serious researchers do not believe very much in these watches: Herbert should have been ahead of his time very much when creating them. Only in the XII century, a tower clock without a dial appeared, which announced the beginning of a new hour with the sound of a bell. And the first reliably known mechanical tower clock with hands was created only in 1335 - in Milan. And historians do not at all believe in the legend that in the 16th century the Dutchman Bomelius brought with him to Moscow a watch made by Herbert of Aurillac.
Elisey Bomelia clock
Eliseus Bomelius was the son of a Dutch priest, but was born in Westphalia (1530). Taking care of the sick son of a noble English family, Bertie, he later ended up in England with her. Studied as a physician at the University of Cambridge, but did not graduate. For providing medical assistance without a diploma and license, as well as on charges of practicing black magic, he was later arrested. However, by that time, Bomelius already had some connections in high society, and he managed to get free. And then the Russian embassy in London turned out to be, and its head Andrei Lapin, who was entrusted with finding a good doctor for Ivan the Terrible, could not pass by such a valuable frame - the good fellow looked. Bomelius, too, was not able to stay in London, so they agreed rather quickly. In Moscow, Elisey Bomeliy (as they began to call him here) gained great influence. The Dutchman managed to add to the king's studies of astrology and together they often watched the starry sky at night. It was rumored that the royal physician and astrologer also had one more specialty: allegedly, by order of Ivan the Terrible, he made poisons that did not kill a person immediately, but after a certain time: liquids and powders for adding to drink or food and candles with a poisoned wick. That is why in Moscow Bomeliy received the nicknames "fierce sorcerer" and "evil heretic." However, it should be noted that Ivan the Terrible had no reason to hide his anger and disgrace, and secret murders of enemies were not typical for him. On the contrary, in his massacres and executions, he strove for publicity and theatricality, sometimes bordering on blasphemy. Therefore, he hardly needed the services of a qualified poisoner. He valued the Dutchman precisely as a doctor and a fortuneteller. Even enemies did not deny Bomelius's medicinal talents, and some stories that have come down to our time depict the Dutchman, albeit a "filthy", but almost a miracle worker. And even in Rimsky-Korsakov's opera "The Tsar's Bride" there is an episode where people are indignant at the sight of two young people leaving Bomelia's house:
“Did you go to the German for medicine?.. He's a filthy man! After all, he is infidel!.. Before you begin to rub shoulders with him, the cross must be removed. After all, he is a sorcerer!"
As for the influence on the tsar, some researchers believe that it was on the advice of Bomelius that Ivan IV temporarily transferred the throne to the baptized Chingizid Simeon Bekbulatovich - in order to avoid the troubles and misfortunes that the stars promised the Grand Duke of Moscow that year.
But Bomelius forgot an important rule of any seer: his predictions must be pleasing to clients. And it is especially cautious to predict those who have the opportunity to “pay for the services” of the prophet not only with silver or gold, but also with a noose and a dungeon: if we predict some kind of trouble for them, then it is imperative to immediately give a recipe for deliverance (as in the case of “renunciation from the throne in favor of Simeon Bekublatovich). Bomelius, as they say, in 1579, undertaking to predict the royal fate with the help of a crystal ball, got carried away and laid out a clean (as it turned out later), but very terrible truth: he told the monarch about the impending death of the heir's second wife during childbirth, the death of three sons and the suppression of the dynasty.
Ivan thanked Bomelius by hitting a heavy goblet on the head, from which he was unconscious for several days. Having come to his senses, the seer decided that he had spent too much time in Moscow and in English, without saying goodbye to the hospitable king, went to Pskov. However, Ivan the Terrible did not like foreign customs, and he considered people who left Moscow without his permission to be thieves and traitors. He sent a pursuit after Bomelius, which intercepted the fugitive. In the capital he recklessly abandoned, Bomelius was roasted alive on a spit, having time to curse the king before his death. This curse was remembered when Ivan IV died suddenly, not even having time to take the monastic vows, according to custom.
But back to Elisey Bomeliy's watch: they claim that somehow it later fell into the hands of Ivan Kulibin (he turned out to be the eighth owner of this watch) and burned down along with his house in 1814.
What about this story? The first individual watches, as you know, were created in the 15th century, and therefore Bomelius could really bring such a curiosity with him. However, this watch clearly had nothing to do with Herbert Aurillac. But this legend proves the wide popularity of this warlock in Russia.
Continuation of the story of Herbert of Aurillac
Other magical deeds of Herbert were the reconstruction of the abacus (a prototype of the accounts) and the astrolabe found in Arab books from the drawings of the abacus (the prototype of the accounts) and the astrolabe, which he also improved.
The astrolabe, by the way, began to be used by European sailors only a century later (although they did not forget about it a second time, and that's good). Also, our hero was the first in Christian Europe to construct Sphaera armillaris - an armillary celestial sphere, where the celestial equator, tropics, ecliptic and poles were designated.
It is believed that it was Herbert, who became pope, who provoked in Italy the fashion for astrology, which quickly spread throughout Europe. But his personal attempts to predict the future were more than unsuccessful.
The fiasco was all the louder and more abundant that he decided to predict the end of the world. And he named it the exact date: January 1, 1000. But at that time he was not a scholastic and not an abbot, but a Pope, to whose words the whole Catholic world listened. Panic began, engulfing all of Europe: some, having quit their jobs and caring for their families, fasted and prayed, others, on the contrary, decided to take a walk at last. And the affairs of many families fell into disrepair. When the end of the world did not come, the authority of Sylvester II was greatly undermined. Many consider this to be one of the main reasons for the above-mentioned revolt in Rome, due to which Emperor Otto III and Pope Sylvester II had to flee to Ravenna in 1001.
The death of this pope is, of course, also told a mystical story. Sylvester II allegedly made an automaton in the form of a copper head (teraphim), capable of giving unambiguous answers to the questions posed. Perhaps it was a kind of prototype of a slot machine that gave answers "yes" - "no" in a random order (nodding or shaking his head).
According to another version, the teraphim were presented to him by members of a secret society founded by the Indian king Ashoka, called the Nine Unknowns. The first version, in my opinion, is easier to believe. This machine allegedly discouraged Sylvester from going on his planned pilgrimage to Jerusalem. And when Sylvester died shortly after the service in the Roman Church of St. Mary of Jerusalem, the inhabitants of the city, remembering his refusal to go to the Holy Land, immediately began to say that, according to an agreement with the devil, the unclean had to take the soul of the Pope when he set foot on earth. Jerusalem. According to the same legend, Sylvester II bequeathed to chop his body into pieces and bury it in different places so that the Devil would not find him. However, as we remember, this pope was buried in the Lateran Cathedral.
The most offensive thing is that even in our time, these stupid medieval rumors and gossip affect the perception of the image of this handsome and extraordinary person. And in the British TV series "The Discovery of Witches" (2018) Herbert of Aurillac suddenly turns out to be not even a warlock, but a vampire.
Well, as for Woland's visit to Moscow, if he nevertheless found time to get acquainted with the manuscripts of Herbert of Aurillac, most likely, he found in them not magic formulas, but works on geometry or astronomy. Something like this:
And, probably, Bulgakov's demon was very disappointed with his discovery.
