Franz Reinzer

Who was Franz Reinzer?

Franz Reinzer was an Austrian Jesuit professor of rhetoric, philosophy, and theology at Linz, Graz, Vienna, and Krems. His Meteorologia philosophico-politica, in duodecim dissertationes per quaestiones meteorologicas & conclusiones politicas divisa, appositisque was first published in 1697. A third edition was published posthumously in 1709.

His Meteorologia philosophicao-politica is, as its title indicates, a meteorological, astrological, and political compendium. It comprises 12 dissertations – most of which follow Athanasius Kircher. Subjects covered include comets, meteors, lightning, winds, fossils, metals, bodies of water, and subterranean treasures and secrets of the earth. Illustrations in the 1709 edition were done by Wolffgangus Josephus Kadoriza.

Reinzer intended that this work be read by Emperor Joseph I, who was nonetheless hostile towards the Jesuits. His 12 dissertations are subdivided into 84 "questions." These questions not only consider various natural phenomena but also the application of appropriate political policy and behavior in reaction to them.