The Queen as Alchemist

Mělník had long been a dower town of the queens of Bohemia. Between 1437 and 1451, Emperor Sigismund’s widow Barbara of Cilli lived here and practised alchemy. Another Bohemian alchemist of the time, Jan of Laz, who knew and visited her in Mělník, spoke of her with little respect. He said she cheated, and fearlessly told her so. She wanted him imprisoned, but he escaped. Few women alchemists are known to history. Besides the mythical Mary of Egypt, names mentioned include Flamel’s wife Perenelle and the Danish queen Christina. In Bohemia they also included Salomena Scheinpflug, who worked in Třeboň. (See that entry.) Jan of Laz was an honest Bohemian alchemist who trained in Italy with Anthony of Florence. His honesty earned him the nickname Lasnioro, explained in Italian as Laz-nien-oro: “Laz—no gold”.