Andreas Stoberl

Andreas Stoberl (1465-1515), known as Stiborius (like so many other humanists, he preferred a Latin name to express his admiration for the classic masters), was an Austrian astronomer, mathematician, and theologian. He was a member of a circle of humanists based in Vienna. This circle included the scholars Georg Tannstetter, Johannes Stabius, Thomas Resch, Stefan Rosinus, Johannes Cuspinianus, Johannes Engel, and the reformer Joachim Vadianus. These humanists were associated with the court of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor. [http://www.univie.ac.at/archiv/tour/7.htm]

Maximilian was a keen supporter of astronomers and the astronomical sciences, employing numerous astrologers and astronomers at his court and at his university, the University of Vienna. Stiborius had come to Vienna to assume a position in the Collegium Ducale at Maximilian's request. Stiborius lectured on various instruments and also carried out observational work, and dedicated his astrolabe, the "Clipeus Austrie", to the emperor, arguing that this instrument would bestow worldly power on Maximilian since emperors of the past all had similar instruments.

One of Stiborius's works is entitled "Indices praeterea monumentorum quae clarissimi viri Studii Viennensis alumni in Astronomia et aliis Mathematicis disciplinis scripta reliquerunt". [http://www.dm.unipi.it/pages/maurolic/edizioni/optica/problema/intro.htm]

The lunar crater Stiborius is named after him.

ources

*Abstract for Darin Hayton, "Astrolabes and Power in Renaissance Germany: Andreas Stiborius’ ‘Clipeus Austrie’", "University of Notre Dame", [http://www.hssonline.org/meeting/program/archiveprogs/2003%20Abstracts.htm 1] .
* [http://www.univie.ac.at/archiv/tour/7.htm Renaissance-Humanism]