Alfonso X the Wise

(Alfonso X el Sabio), Alfonso X Astronomer
(23.11. 1221, Burgos (on dp. According to Toledo), Spain - 24.04.1284, Sevilla)
King of Castile and Leon in 1252, Mr.. Son of Ferdinand III Holy. Even before the enthronement proved his bravery in the capture of Seville (1248). In 1257, Mr.. elected King of Germany (but was not approved by the Pope). Deposed from the throne in 1282, Mr.. as a result of internecine warfare own son Sancho. Son of Ferdinand III Holy. A. been most educated ruler of his time. He patronized science and literature, he studied astrology and astronomy, for which he was nicknamed the Wise. Care of translating all available to him astrological works into Latin. In addition, A. ordered to write the first general history of Spain and translate the Bible into Spanish. In addition, A. down in history as the founder of Castilian prose, the author of the new legislation. It improves the quality of education in the country, for that he has increased the number of departments in the University of Salamanca and exalted position of professors.

Under the guidance of a. in 1248. in Toledo, Spanish, Arabic and Jewish scientists have developed new ephemeris tables, more progressive in comparison with the tables of Ptolemy and the Toledo Tables. Being published in 1252, . These tables, . known as "Alfonsinskih (" Alphonse ", . "Tabulae Alphonsiae"), . quickly dispersed to Europe, . became popular, . Despite the enormous in those days the price (40 thousand ducats), . and used European astrologers to draw up the horoscopes for several centuries (until Kepler),
. From the Spanish original preserved only an introduction, but it is known 75 lists and 13 early editions of the Latin version of the tables.

Several researchers noted that the complexity of the political fate of a. largely due to its free -. A. subjected to persecution of the church and lost the throne, after he was acquainted with the complex system of the world Ptolemy (cm. "Almagest"), said that if God in creating the world asked for advice from AA, he would offer him a more simple structure of the world. In honor of A. named lunar crater Alphonsus.