Die satirischen Schriften Wolfhart Spangenbergs

Wolfhart Spangenberg (1567-1636?) is the anonymous author of the 'EselKönig' ('King Ass') (1625), the most vitriolic known satire against Rosicrucians, Pansophists and Paracelsists, movements which gained considerable currency in the early 17th century. The present study examines Spangenberg's motives and objectives and relates the 'EselKönig' to his earlier satirical writings 'Des Flohes Strauß mit der Lauß' ('The Flea's Combat with the Louse'), 'Lob der Mucken' ('In Praise of Gnats'), and 'GanßKönig' ('King Goose').