Paul Skalic

Paul Skalic, was an Croatian encyclopedist, humanist and adventurer (1534-1573) His book Encyclopaedia seu orbis disciplinarum tam sacrarum quam prophanarum epistemon (Encyclopaedia, or Knowledge of the World of Disciplines . . .) in Basel (1559) brought the term encyclopedia back into vogue. He also wrote a treatise on music: Dialogus de Lyra (Cologne, 1570).

He and preacher John Funck exercised great influence over Albert (1490-1568), first duke of Prussia, and became wealthy. Religious differences with the king of Poland led to the execution of Funck and the flight of Skalic.