Federico Cesi
Federico Angelo Cesi (Italian: [fedeˈriːko ˈandʒelo ˈtʃɛːzi]; 26 February 1585 – 1 August 1630) was an Italian scientist, naturalist, and founder of the Accademia dei Lincei. On his father's death in 1630, he became briefly lord of Acquasparta.
For the 16th-century cardinal, see Federico Cesi (cardinal).
Federico Angelo Cesi
Biography[edit]
Federico Cesi was born to an aristocratic family highly connected in Rome and the Papal States. The family derives its name from Cesi, a little town near Rome. They had a close connection with the Catholic Church, Frederico's uncle Bartolomeo Cesi was a cardinal in the church, and most of their wealth came from that connection.[1] Federico was the first of eleven legitimate male children and was born in Palazzo Cesi, in via della Maschera d'Oro, Rome, on 26 February 1585. His father was Federico, marchese di Monticelli (1562–1630)[2] and his mother was Olimpia Orsini of Todi. In 1614 Cesi was married to Artemisia Colonna, the daughter of Francesco, Principe di Palestrina; she died two years later. In 1617 he married Isabella, cousin of Filippo Salviati, the daughter of the Marquis of Lorenzo.[3] In 1618 he moved to Acquasparta and lived there until his death at the age of forty-five.
Cesi and Astronomy[edit]
Cesi started gaining interest in the study of astronomy around 1605, where he became familiar with Johannes Kepler's and Tycho Brahe's research.[7] He specifically looked into the theories pertaining to the permeability of the Heavens and the routes of different comets.[7] His interest in the cosmos led him to the invention of the telescope, and him meeting two well-known astronomers, Giovanbattista della Porta and Galileo Galilei.[7] There is no evidence to prove exactly when Cesi was able to handle and use the telescope for the first time, but it is likely he was able to see through the invention before fall began in 1609.[8] The first verification that Cesi had knowledge of the telescope is seen in a letter from August 28, 1609.[9] The letter was sent by Giovanbattista della Porta, an Italian natural philosopher, and it depicted an illustration of the early telescope along with instructions on how to manufacture one.[9] Cesi was intrigued by della Porta and wanted to learn everything from him, so he traveled to Naples in May 1610 to visit della Porta.[10] While there, Cesi was able to see the advancements that della Porta came up with and was very impressed when he was able to see a man three thousand paces away.[10] During his visit, he recruited della Porta to come join him at the Academy.[10] His friendship with della Porta also led him to become familiar with another astronomer by the name Galileo Galilei.[11] Cesi played a critical part in bringing Galileo to Rome in 1611, where Cesi planned out his schedule and followed him everywhere.[12] Cesi sought out to learn everything he could about Galileo and his discoveries, and even helped him plan out his presentations.[12] Cesi went to all of Galileo's demonstrations of the telescope and was in amazement of the way he could prove Aristotelian views wrong.[13] He backed Galileo and his research up, and he brought other people to observe Galileo and come to the same conclusion.[13] Cesi formally invited Galileo to join the Academy and expand his knowledge in April, 1611.[14] Galileo brought a new wave to the Academy, and they stopped looking into what was wrong with old science and started to build the new science.[14]
Shortly after the founding of the Accademia dei Lincei, the founding members began their first major project.[15] In August of 1603, Cesi and his compatriots began design and construction of a large astrolabe to which they referred to as "The Planisphere or the Great Astrolabe."[15] The astrolabe's construction only lasted about two months, finishing on October 12.[15] Upon completion, the three co-founders used the astrolabe to embark on their first philosophical task.[15] The Linceans sought to align society with Christianity and Platonic philosophy.[15] They believed that Catholicism and Aristotelianism had been causing a deterioration of contemporary knowledge and moral values.[15] They trusted that replacing these ideologies could be countered by enforcing Plato's philosophy outlined in the Timaeus, describing the connections between man and the universe.[15] Only a few years after their work began,1604-1608, the Holy Council tried Cesi's colleague, Joannes van Heeck, for heresy.[7] During this trial, Federico's father sent van Heeck from Rome and halted his sons work until 1609.[7]
