Johannes Crato von Krafftheim

Johannes Crato von Krafftheim (born Johannes Krafft; 22 November 1519 – 19 October 1585) was a humanist and court physician to three Holy Roman emperors.

Origins and education Crato von Krafftheim was born Johannes Krafft. He was the son of the artisan and council leader Christoph Krafft and a student at the Breslau (Wrocław) Gymnasium of St. Elisabeth and Mary Magdalene. On account of his prodigious academic talent, the city council of Breslau bestowed a 20 Gulden fellowship upon Crato, with further benefactions of the Breslau patrician families, to continue his studies at the university level.

Studies and residency in Wittenberg From 1535 onwards, Crato studied theology and lived six years in the household of Martin Luther in the University of Wittenberg. He also lived for some time at 17 Burgermeisterstrasse. He also became acquainted with Philipp Melanchthon there and under his influence engaged in an in depth study of classical languages. Crato took his M.A. in 1542. He kept a diary during his time in Wittenberg which was used as a source for Johannes Aurifaber's influential edition of Luther's Table Talk (Colloquia oder Tischreden Doctor Martini Lutheri).

On Luther's suggestion, who did not think Crato well suited for a theological career, Crato decided to study medicine. He served briefly in this time as the tutor to the Counts of Wertheim in Leipzig. Also in this era, he developed a close relationship with Joachim Camerarius the Younger.

Works Idea doctrinae Hippocraticae. 1554 Methodus therapeutica ex Galeni et J. B. Montani sententia. Basel, 1555 Ordnung der preservation ... wider die Pestilenz, Breslau, 1555. [VD16 C 5719] / Digital edition from 1585 by the University and State Library Düsseldorf Isagoge medicinae. Venice, 1560 Johannis Cratonis Wratislaviensis in Cl. Galeni divinos libros Methodi therapeutices Perioche Methodica. Basel, 1563 De morbo gallico commentarius. Frankfurt, 1564 Mikrotechne, seu parva ars medicinalis. Commentarii de vera praecavandi et curandi febrem pestilentem contagiosam ratione (translated by Martin Weinreich) Consilia et Epistolae medicinales. 1591, 1592, 1593, etc.