Jean Taisner

Jean Taisnier (or Taisner) (Latin: Johannes Taisnierius; 1508, Ath, Habsburg Netherlands – 1562, Cologne), surnamed Hannonius (i.e., of the County of Hainaut), was a Wallonian musician, mathematician and astrologer who published a number of works and taught in various European cities and universities. In some sources he is mis-named Jean Fuisnier. He was for some time schoolmaster of the boys of the Chapel (Sacellanus) in the court of Emperor Charles V. By 1559 he styled himself "Poet Laureate" (a laureation of the Holy Roman Empire), and "Doctor of both Laws", but upon what authority is unknown. While he propounded a general theory of Mathematics in four "Quantities" of Astronomy, Geometry, Arithmetic and Music, and aimed to publish a general exposition of them, he became preoccupied with astrology and cheiromancy, and neglected to publish his advertized Treatise on Music which (given his experience) might have been the most interesting of all his works. His unacknowledged use of the work of other authors has incurred the accusation of plagiarism. He was the great-uncle of David Teniers the Elder.