The First Necromancer - How a Medieval Sorcerer Combined Astrology & Black Magic

The origins of medieval necromancy remains mysterious. But, by the early 14th century daring attempts to systematize Astrology and the Conjuration of Demons first appears in the lectures and commentaries of Cecco d'Ascoli leading to his execution by burning in 1327. And, the end of the century would see the first true theory and practice of Astral Necromancy by Antonio da Montolmo, in his Liber de Occultis et Manifestis (Book on the Hidden and Manifest). This daring text, the first publicly authored book of Black Magic, provides both the theory and practice of combining Astrological Elections with the Solomonic tradition of conjuring and binding Demonic beings, here the "Intelligences Outside Divine Grace" imprisoned in the region beneath the Moon. Join me as I explore this obscure, but foundational text in the history of Western Magic.
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Recommended Readings:
Fanger (ed) - Invoking Angels: Theurgic Ideas and Practices, Thirteenth to Sixteenth Centuries - 978-0271051437
MS of Liber de Occultis et Manifestis, etc., Latin 7337 - archivesetmanuscrits.bnf.fr/a...
Hermetism from Late Antiquity to Humanism - Glosa super imagines duodecim signorum Hermetis in "Antonio da Montolmo et la magie hermétique," pgs 545-568

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[@thetavibes9021]

Do you really listen to and enjoy Black Metal, wanderer?

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Yes​@@thetavibes9021

[@thetavibes9021]

@@TheEsotericaChannel I must say, you are indubitably an absolute unit. Hear I thought you couldn't be anymore cooler. We appreciate everything you do, by sharing with us the best of what is to offer. A special thanks to you. Much obliged.

[@gulliverthegullible6667]

​@@TheEsotericaChannel could you please film it next time you summon a demon? That would make an awesome video. I really appreciate your vast knowledge on the matter. You must be one of the top demonologists in the world.

[@UnityofHumanity1]

You sound like a nice blend of intelligent Aquarian, Sarcastic Pisces and grounded critical Virgo. How did I go with my analogy. Btw, I am Jungian and enjoy your research and humour. Look forward to more of your analogies. Scorpio might be a strong influence also.

[@ChunsBuns]

"Don't conjur multiple demons that don't like each other, you'll just get ..... wrestling-" EASILY added 10 years to my life. I love this channel so much, hearing Latin so seamlessly in your speech is just a blessing. Thanks so much !

[@IndelibleNihilist]

It’s legit advice!

[@Holyg33]

Why else would you summon them?

[@UnderAppreciatedWhiteMage]

So basically they behave like betta fish.

[@EgonSupreme]

Necromantic Wrestling Federation

[@derekirish5121]

What does that even mean, added 10 years to your life? Also, no one knows how Latin was actually spoken.

[@Aphercotropes]

I'm adding "necromancy flex" to my lexicon. Thank you, Dr Sledge, for not only enlightening but entertaining the curious-minded.

[@thevoidmessiah]

flexicon?!

[@waido_]

@@thevoidmessiah i came here just to type that LOL

[@hobosorcerer]

I'm just imagining an arm bone straight up bulging unnaturally with muscle.

[@thevoidmessiah]

@@hobosorcerer LOL back from the dead for gains and reps 💪💀reading the flexicon helps with deadlifts

[@Gares.]

This video brought me back from the dead.

[@yesfredfredburger8008]

Praise be to autoplay

[@TheBrclear66]

Oh I get it!!!

[@Stigmatikk]

same tbh

[@juneclemintine4991]

It’s working 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@magicMosquito]

Simple, yet still pretty funny.

[@MrSeventyAce]

This is criminally underrated. I've never learned about this part of history anywhere else before

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

The channel ain't called Esoterica for nothing

[@corvuscorax9028]

Some people say it's hard raising a family, I say not if they're buried close enough together

[@serkhetreo2489]

😂😂😂

[@DG-iw3yw]

Id put a funeral ring on that...

[@Morariu94]

Amazing.

[@awillis2676]

😅 That's just sick. 😂

[@bloodfeather2614]

😬😝

[@thelastremnantofevil]

Funny you mentioned how the demon summoning mechanism might work in a video game. The mid 90s elder scrolls game daggerfall kinda worked like that. Where the various daedric princes (stand in for demonic intelligences in the game universe.) can only be summoned at their specific temples on specific days of the year. And if you missed one you could end up waiting months in game to try again. Cool to see that system has its roots in real world cosmology.

[@talkingmudcrab718]

Some of the Princes also required certain weather or could not be summoned in specific weather. IIRC Witches Covens had fewer restrictions on summoning circumstances than the Mages Guild. Yeah. My screen name is "Talking Mudcrab." I'm obsessed with the elder Elder Scrolls games.

[@ameliaritter2975]

I know its gotta be hard to keep something completely hidden but I'm surprised the catholic society in those days didnt go around and burning anybody n there homes, friends, and or other partners to completely erase all manuals to this

[@Loy_Otterton]

@@talkingmudcrab718 Oh wise talking mud crap, feed your ancient tales!

[@Nefylym]

@@Loy_Otterton Don't mind me guys, I'm just offloading some inventory. (opens mudcrab and transfers gold bars and soul gems)

[@mogim815]

imagine being some dark cult dedicated to molag bal, and you're just about to summon him after decades of preparation, when your cult supplies cart gets stuck in some mud on the road or something, and you miss the day to summon him, so you have to wait a whole year again just to get another chance.

[@Cross-Carrier]

Friday night ESOTERICA brings me an unspeakable happiness.

[@beeb6809]

SAME!

[@Bildgesmythe]

Same! I also love to listen to the play lists the rest of the week.

[@Nefylym]

No no, dare not speak it my good man!!!

[@nickhoward7419]

You mentioned geocentrism in the video, and in particular that theologians viewed the demonic as existing in the 'air' under the moon. As opposed to the later Protestant view that demons lived in hell under the ground. Have you considered doing a video on something like 'The midevil mind' or the 'late midevil worldview'? I think people dont realize just how different the conception of not just the world, but the fundamental mechanism of that world, is from our modern view. Thank you for the content as always!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

That's a great idea, and I agree! We really take for granted that we see the world the same at all and that couldn't be further from the case.

[@kazoogod]

I second the medieval mind idea; I often watch this channel when prepping for my D&D campaign for inspiration and I may be able to refer my players to such a video to assist with immersion and tone @@TheEsotericaChannel

[@Cloudryder]

This is what I’ve been searching for as well. This would be a fantastic episode.

[@dizzydial8081]

I'd like to know where this idea comes from. The afterlife in the Christian bible, from what I remember, isn't the way it's depicted these days. It's like an underworld divided into two sections where a "paradise" is on one side where righteous dwell, and the other side where sinners go. Nobody actually goes to heaven.

[@trikepilot101]

@@dizzydial8081 In some passages of the New Testament Jesus seemed to say that the Kingdom of God was coming to earth in the near future, within the lifetime of those hearing His speaches. There would be no need for the righteous dead to go to heaven because God's Kingdom would be on earth. Since that does not seem to happen, a new idea of souls going to heaven evolved without any divine texts to base it on.

[@threebee5]

Listening to this channel while also being obsessed currently with the lore of Elden Ring is very neat experience, especially when there are subtle or not so subtle connections between the lore and actual old magic. Probably not your intended audience but I still love the channel and thank you for what you do!

[@jmpar4]

Right there with you 🖤

[@beetlejuice_578]

Literally in the same boat my friend. An elden ring enjoyer x esoteric magical knowledge

[@Bildgesmythe]

You're in the right place ❤

[@joshuawilliford881]

🤙

[@lindboknifeandtool]

I’m sure the dying earth book series would interest you. The magic system of D&D was based off its universe. Suuuuper interesting story.

[@misterOphilies]

The necromancy episodes are always full of fun language and interesting concepts. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

[@colingallagher1648]

“The dead speak” Thanks for all your stuff always appreciated

[@shix13]

Your delivery on this topic is fantastic, Dr. Sledge!!

[@AlystrZelland]

"This could be an excellent mechanic for a magic system in game design" Dr. Justin sees right through me

[@ulyssesm.daniels6927]

Really excited for the continuation of this topic. I love everything on this channel and this topic is something I'm looking forward to learning more about. Can't wait!

[@dialectic76]

Amazing. Fascinating. Possibly my favorite episode of Esoterica yet, and that's saying something.

[@stehfreejesseah7893]

Demons in the air somehow makes more sense than demons underground in hell.

[@arturhashmi6281]

How does it make more sense?

[@RedDoorPaintedBlack.]

Hell isn't under ground, it's a different realm.

[@arturhashmi6281]

@@RedDoorPaintedBlack. why do you say realm? Is it physical place in your opinion?

[@RedDoorPaintedBlack.]

@@arturhashmi6281 Realm just means domain / area / sphere / world, not necessarily physical and not necessarily in this dimension, e.g the realm of heaven. If anything the other person was creating the impression that they think hell is a physical place under the ground somewhere. I'm saying the opposite.

[@arturhashmi6281]

@@RedDoorPaintedBlack. I do not think that Hell is a place perse, but if someone says it is underground or it is "above the sky", it means it is hidden from them, that it is unknown "place" and I think thats the point, people saw that dead bodies sink in the ground and spirit/breath exhalate to the air, so people saw both possibilities, but the core of such believe was secret, hidden aspect of death and accompanying fear. In modern times most of people does not believe in demons underground, but a lot of people imagine eg. alliens in the unknown areas of our universe, some people see visions of ufo and powerfull beings, because thats where our culture sets the border between our knowledge and the cosmic mystery. Our understanding of the universe is constantly growing but the unknown will always exist and "hic sunt dracones". (Sorry for my english it's not the best but I wish it is understandable.)

[@PaulAJohnston1963]

This channel is rapidly becoming a favourite of mine. Keep up the good work!

[@beeb6809]

I'm pretty sure this has become my favorite channel.

[@user-nx2kl2dt5k]

Im considered a weirdo for being into these sorts of things.. i find it refreshing that here we are just conversating on the topic

[@naomiseraphina9718]

Rock and ROLL! I love this necromancer/professor, and I love his chutzpah, his flagrant audacity in writing, publishing, and completely copping to his wonderful system of astral necromancy! I am so glad that you shared your knowledge of this Antonio da Montolmo maniac with the rest of us! Your work/brilliance/sense of humor are all just glorious to behold! Thank you, Dr. Sledge! Thank you. PS: Despite the alleged elegance and simplicity of this Montolmo guy's system, can you think of even one project, no matter how abstruse or grandiose, in which it would actually seem worth all the risk and hassle of performing one of his astral-demonological operations? It's often that way with ritual magic; you look at the effort of performing the ritual on the one hand, versus just doing the work (whatever it may be) with your own hands and brain on the other hand, and the magic almost always turns out to be the more cumbersome of the two paths to pursue. I'm sure that many a student of medieval sorcery probably looked through their first real grimoire and just thought: "Fuck it. I'll go dowse and dig for the stupid buried treasure myself!"

[@fredriksdottir]

I am so glad I am not the only one who thinks about this 😅.

[@Nefylym]

@@fredriksdottir "Ye wishe me to boil a virgin what?? ... Well, mayhap there be few lefte in ye pantryr."

[@andrewbreding593]

you give a comprehensive and grounded experience every time. I like your academic examination of these things it allows anyone who wants to think about them a clear perspective pov fascination rather than mystical viels

[@judethedudeisrude16]

Thanks Dr. Sledge, always a pleasure to watch your videos

[@MrDalisclock]

This channel has done a lot to educate me just how different our conception of the world in the West today is from our ancestors a couple centuries ago.

[@sleepalaska]

great vid as usual, doktor. this channel is fascinating.

[@user-mi5wc9vx6t]

Thank you Dr. Sledge 🙏❤

[@Vildhjuggah]

This might literally be the best pedal demo ive ever seen I gotta watch more from.your channel

[@J_Z913]

An amazing video! Thanks Dr. Sledge!

[@MrTheCaptain]

Justin Sledge talking about necromancy is the most metal thing ive seen

[@Nefylym]

Right up until someone makes a video of demon wrestling brother! OOooooo yeeeeeeah in the kingdom of the myaaaadnesssss!

[@jackiesaucedo4471]

Wow! You are well educated. Even when you present popular questions of the masses you ask them where they sound like answers. I wish I could've had a teacher with your understanding of your teachings.

[@padpad2199]

This video inspires grave thoughts. Thank you for resurrecting my interest. Love your videos!

[@timothyjames4195]

Thank you for teaching so much of your knowledge. You are a wealth of esoteric treasures

[@KristenKras]

This is fantastic and I love the explanations of why do they appear to some and not others, why in crystals, etc. Thank you. 🙏

[@justinlloyd2446]

Sounds like Morbid Angels' demo haha. Thank you Dr. Sledge. I love your channel. I wish I could catch a live stream just to tell you how awesome it is.

[@darkglass9184]

I just want to say that I really love your channel and I share it often in my fb. I find this topic completely intriguing. I love the pic you posted with Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell. In my opinion you're awesome. Thank you for sharing your knowledge 🖤💀🖤

[@TheMeritCoba]

You have always very interesting and undoubtedly unique content. I especially like it as it inspires me.

[@TheStrangeHermit]

The idea of demons inhabiting the air, reminds me of a passage in the book of Enoch, concerning the spirits of the Nephilim, that after death, their spirits would neither ascend to heaven nor descend to hell, but would continue to exist as invisible disembodied spirits that neither eat or drink. (Very loosely paraphrasing 😅)

[@marywright4934]

I'm new here but am already a big fan. I have studied Esoteric subjects my whole life. This makes me think about belief and consciousness. Psychic mediums and channelers fascinate me. The paranormal and extraterrestrial are a couple of favorites too. I can't wait to watch more. Thank you

[@nadiasouthiere7908]

Best Channel here on U-Tube! Keep up the good work Sir, top notch videos! Thanks 🙏🏻 for sharing all your knowledge with us!🙋🏼‍♀️🇨🇦❤️👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍👍🙂

[@spicytrashmanda9860]

Your content is so wonderful. Thank you

[@thegreaterclaush8292]

I love this sort of videos, gives some cool ideas for world building and story writing

[@BMK_Magick_Explorations]

Excellent video Dr. Sledge! Liked, and subscribed!!

[@Hellnation13]

wow dude thank you for your work to spread knowledge to many

[@derekedington777]

love ur vids, thanks for all u do.

[@marykayryan7891]

As to the "bravery" of Antonio da Montolmo, as Mycroft says to Watson in Sherlock, "Bravery is by far the kindest word for stupidity, don't you think?" These guys who just kept on knowing full well what was likely to be the outcome...well CRAZY is another word that comes to mind, eh? But for us, we are glad they did or all this information would have been lost. As always, you crack me up.

[@DG-iw3yw]

In this context for bravery, instead of stupidity, i prefer, either unaware of the possibilities, or unaware of how much they will regret those possibilities, or simply that luck and maybe skill is on their side. Stupid is a stupid word.

[@marykayryan7891]

@@DG-iw3yw Stupid is a perfectly good word. Some folks are just stupid.

[@TheFarmacySeedsNetwork]

This was excellent... confirmed many things for me... THANK YOU!

[@ahviouslyanarchy9188]

You're a gift to humanity, you're hilarious and brilliant. Thank you for the great work.

[@harryhoofcloppen]

OK, I can’t stop thinking about the idea of conjuring a couple of mythed-off demons of different types, and they come up so mad about it all in general and at each other in specific that it turns into some sort of necromantic wrestling federation match. Hmmmmm… NWF Wrestling. 🤔

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Macho Intelligence Randy Savage-el

[@genghisgalahad8465]

​​@@TheEsotericaChannel MIR, the space demon station! Percolating rpg's to space scifi horror genre... 📖 🚀 🌌 😈 ISS, Intelligence Summa Sacre... 💡🤔 🚀 🌎 🌏

[@genuinegrace888]

Thank you 🙏🏻 I enjoy learning. You are wonderful. ✨🧚🏻‍♂️✨

[@Dizzy55555]

Man, this comes at a perfect time! I literally just began playing it again a few days ago :D

[@beeb6809]

Woohoo new video! Much excite

[@maryparis9136]

In astrology Its called the The Medium Coeli or Midheaven (MC): Located at the very top of a birth chart, at the 12 o'clock mark, the MC represents the highest point on the horizon that any planet can reach.

[@Frankie_G_]

Thanks. Appreciate all the history

[@jaredwilson5699]

I feel like I'm in a time portal with every video I watch🌙

[@jrdarby]

Thank you! Fascinating.

[@bossman5757]

This was fascinating

[@alexandersauscer9139]

You have a fan here. Your humor too with that straight face adds to your charm. Gives a belly roll here.

[@jmcaes32112]

that would be the donuts my good sir

[@berng3870]

I love everything about this. I'm designing right now a tabletop rpg with the intention to make a magic system that can capture this very kind of feeling. You are manna from the sky

[@getupandgojoe]

Love your channel!

[@SolvableMattB]

so happy to exist in a time period where i get to listen to this video and play starwars battlefront 2 at the same time.

[@elispiller2686]

Astral wrestling is exactly what I imagine would happen summoning a bunch of demons who don’t ‘gel’

[@AleisterCrowleyDiary]

great very good video! the best channel.

[@monique6549]

Fond of ur cerebral presentation & ur dry sense of humor. Thanks for some fascinating info!

[@theresasayanara5565]

Thank you and Shalom ❤

[@NightsideNomad]

Childhood me is beaming rn. As a kid I was obsessed with this kind of stuff, like all through fifth grade to 9th lol. Loved the stories and lore. Mind you I never became one of those particularly eccentric kids

[@dehjkliproductionse4222]

So many books and knowledge to explore, reading was all I did when I was young and it pays off so much, can't wait to have my kids experience that too. Sorry for the ramble your comment just brought that up

[@crazzyjay7785]

☮love all the research you do.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Thanks for the kind donation!

[@josdelijster4505]

as always thank you

[@danalarson7590]

Love your videos. #Necromancyflex should be trending....

[@Skrunglygirl]

oh man new history channel to watch obsessively for the next eight hours oh joy

[@-Star-Soul]

This channel is always interesting in so many ways. The ways that humans try and understand the observed world is so fascinating. I make the observation that the devil originates from within one's self, or maybe the person is the conduit. More research is needed.

[@hindleygj]

Love your channel, thanks -

[@icollectstories5702]

I feel so blessed(?) to have the attention of so many powerful beings. Sadly, if they have ever introduced themselves to me, I don't remember.

[@Twisted676Faith]

I know these are complicated topics that shouldn't be overly simplified with sound bites, but I feel this channel could benefit from shorts. There's so much to unpack a few shorts could make a larger audience hungry for the whole video

[@troywhite6039]

Nice to meet you Dr Sledge. Liked, Subscribed. I can't wait to deep dive into your channel and all your videos. This is my first of yours and enjoyable learning. Do you have any favorites to recommend of all your videos? I'm also interested in everything Solomonic and I'm basically just starting out so any tips on where to begin to dive right in would be great? Finally, what have you found most interesting and enjoyable to learn in your own explorations and what is your expertise'? Sorry if all these questions seem like an interrogation, I'm just excited to run into you and can't wait to know what your all about what you have discovered.

[@hayrogarciga924]

no, thank you, for making all this accessible to us!

[@Life_with_Lissett]

Fascinating

[@Jharo77]

Thanks!

[@Maat213]

Super interesting video…That dude “Tony” was wild. It would be amazing to actually see some of these texts in real life. I need to learn Latin…I don’t get how some of these texts have yet to be translated. Love your channel, awesome work.

[@chrissavage1449]

A Meditation The occult is hidden knowledge. In many occult teachings there are lessons in summoning and binding demons. Typically, you can bind a demon merely by knowing its name. Demons are like agents of the unknown, which we often perceive as scary, ghoulish beings. This makes sense, as the greatest fear is the fear of the unknown. But if shadow is the unknown, then it’s counterpart is light, or the known. It has been said by the likes of Carl Jung that much suffering and calamity come from not confronting our shadow personalities. By properly integrating our shadow selves, we become whole. By casting light upon demons, by seeing them for what they truly are, you destroy them. Knowing isn’t half the battle. Knowing IS the battle. ✌️❤️

[@icyone]

Was reminded of Kronks (Emperors New Groove) shoulder angels lol!❤❤❤

[@sweetpotatodato6068]

If I had the money I would totally fund a film adaptation of the life of Antonio da Montolmo. Guy seems like a fascinating person.

[@comeyouspirits]

Laughing out loud on a Sunday night doing the washing up. Thank you, Dr Justin. 😂❤

[@Fr.O.G.]

Yay! I love necromancy!

[@rlk6387]

Well done

[@jasoncrawford2664]

Extremely enlightening 😮🎉🎉

[@Daelleech]

Thanks for all of your videos mate! The vast knowledge you have, and provide to the public freely, is outstanding and amazing to me. I have learnt a great deal from you and look forward to new content. I would very much like to sit and talk with you in person. It would be interesting to say the least. You appear to be a "cool dude" 😆 I love the band name alerts in an Arkon tutorial video ya funny bugga 😂 Would've been so amazing to go to/win the Evil Dead thang. One downside of living in the nicest country on the Earth, Australia! Say g'day to Bruce for me please. My real name is Dael Cheers and thanks again buddy 🪐♉🪄⚖🌬🌪

[@lightbending]

"weird, wandering stars" relatable content OP

[@stevenkammerer8002]

Damn, one of your best again, Dr. Sledge. Thanks. You’ve said a number of times in the past that astrology is not your forte, but it looks like - of necessity- you are having to grapple with it more and more. Would love to see you one day grab the bull by the horns and explore the whole interface between astrology and necromancy.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

This is kinda it. Honestly the synthesis was basically abandoned and most Solomonic mage has very little to do with astrological elections, c.f., the total lack of astrological elections in the Lesser Key, which is certainly the most commonly used grimoire today. I have a pretty good understanding of Hellenistic and Medeival astrology, though it's just not something I'm terribly interested in. In fact, I wouldn't even consider astrology to be 'esoteric' in this period. I mean, it was literally taught in universities.

[@stevenkammerer8002]

@@TheEsotericaChannel Ah, that explains a lot. I guess i assumed there must be more to it because of how demons & spirits are ordered by the 7 planets. And all those tables in Agrippa. I'm currently looking at a grimoire from 1505 that is spuriously associated with Johannes Georg Faust, and for each spirit associated with a planet, auspicious days of the week and hours to conjure and bind them are listed. I thought some "ephemeral election" might be behind this!

[@orpheusgoeselectric5935]

I keep running across references to "Orphic Mysteries" & Orphic Magic." I wonder if exploring such a subject would be up your street, so to speak. Just a thought. In any case, I love your videos. Cheers!

[@grindsaur]

Awesome! A Unified Theory of Magic! :D

[@michaelnesbit6447]

Actually kind of reminds me of another work you covered: De Radiis by Al Kindi

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Yep, definitely related!

[@alyssafuller375]

“Ask Cecco…you can’t because he’s ASHES” is a new favorite along side “Josh of Nazareth”

[@otaconpunished]

The game is called Mage the Ascension

[@hexbug3484]

actually its a very recent fortnite leak

[@matthewsermons7247]

If you bring one person back from the dead, you're a necromancer, or at least necro-curious. But when you bring yourself back from the dead, you are a full on demi-lich. Easter is such a weird holiday.

[@feliloki7]

did not expect a link to christine de pizan in here! crazy stuff

[@cynthiafrank5638]

So much here recalls Faust's conjurations in Goethe's poem.

[@ennoia1371]

Your game idea honestly reminds me of a RPG mechanics I made up lol 25:29

[@MrStanwo]

Thank you.

[@Entropy1234]

Would love to see your take on some of the alchemical symbols / concepts used in the anime fullmetal alchemist: brotherhood. I get that putting anime up doesn't fit the brand, but it's fascinating how well they pulled that world together.

[@leahcole8672]

Necromancy fleeex 😂😂😂 I'm going to be saying that for the rest of my life out of context forever thank you as always for the content and the laugh Dr. Sledge!