Jodocus Badius

Jodocus Badius was a pioneer of the printing industry, and also a renowned scholar. He is also known as Badius Ascensius, after the village of Asse (Assche), near Brussels in Flemish Brabant, where he was born.

Badius had studied at Brussels and Ferrara, and, before settling in Paris, had taught Greek for several years at Lyon. It was in Lyon where he first worked as an editor and proof-reader for the printer Jean Trechsel from 1492 until 1498. Later he moved to Paris where he opened his printing shop in 1503, which became known as the Prelum Ascensianum. His production was mostly in Latin as he specialized in editions of Roman classical texts, often with his own commentaries for the student market, and also Latin works by contemporary humanist writers. He also published his works, amongst which are a life of Thomas a Kempis, and a satire on the follies of women, entitled Navicula Stultarum Mulierum. Some 775 of his editions of the period 1501–1530 are known.