Michael Coignet: A Mathematical Practitioner in 16th Century Antwerp

Around 1550 Antwerp was a vibrant port. Its many schools catered for the many companies, its Beurs was one of the first stock markets of the world, its printers published books on all subjects. Ships travelled to all parts of Europe, the Baltic, Italy, Scotland, the Azores with merchants dreaming of sailing even further. This optimistic view was shattered by the Iconoclastic Revolt of 1566 and the intransigence of Philip II to make concessions to the protestants. First and foremost among Antwerp’s mathematicians was Michiel Coignet, schoolmaster, winegauger, instrument maker and mathematician to the Archdukes. From the 1570s onwards he kept notes on a variety of mathematical subjects. Parts of these notes written between 1576 and 1603 are preserved in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris (Ms Néer 56, Est de Michaelis Coigneti 1576). They give an insight not only in mathematical developments but also in some sociological changes. The manuscript shows the relation between pure and applied mathematics. In this talk we will address these topics.