Origins & Early Life

Thomas Cajetan ( KAJ-ə-tən; 20 February 1469 – 9 August 1534), also known as Gaetanus or Cajetanus, commonly Tommaso de Vio or Thomas de Vio, was an Italian philosopher, theologian, the Master of the Order of Preachers 1508 to 1518, and cardinal from 1517 until his death. He was a leading theologian of his day who is now best known as the spokesman for Catholic opposition to the teachings of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation while he was the Pope's legate in Augsburg, and among Catholics for his extensive commentary on the Summa Theologiae of St. Thomas Aquinas. He is not to be confused with his contemporary Saint Cajetan, the founder of the Theatines.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was born in Gaeta, then part of the Kingdom of Naples, as Jacopo Vio. The name Tommaso was taken as his religious as a friar, while the surname Cajetan derives from his native city. At the age of fifteen, he entered the Dominican order and devoted himself to the study of the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, becoming before the age of thirty a doctor of theology at Padua, and subsequently professor of metaphysics. A public disputation at Ferrara (1494) with Pico della Mirandola made his reputation as a theologian...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Filippo Lippi — Contemporary (Died in 1469) (1469): Master Italian Renaissance painter and Carmelite priest of the Quattrocento.
• Guru Nanak — Contemporary (Born in 1469) (1469): Founder of Sikhism, an Indian mystic and poet who taught the message of Ik Onkar.
• Johannes Pfefferkorn — Contemporary (Born in 1469) (1469): German theologian known for anti-Jewish writings and efforts to destroy the Talmud.
• Antonio da Correggio — Contemporary (Died in 1534) (1534): Master of the Parma School, known for sensuous, dynamic High Renaissance painting.
• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu — Contemporary (Died in 1534) (1534): Founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, known for bhajan-kirtan and devotion to Krishna.
• Oda Nobunaga — Contemporary (Born in 1534) (1534): Pioneering warlord who paved the way for Japan's unification.
• Adalbert Gyrowetz — Shared historical date (02-20 · Born) (1763): Czech-Austrian composer known for symphonies and string quartets.
• Ansel Adams — Shared historical date (02-20 · Born) (1902): Iconic photographer and environmentalist celebrated for the American West's landscapes.
• Alexandre Alexeieff — Shared historical date (08-09 · Died) (1982): Russian-born artist, filmmaker, and illustrator known for inventing the pinscreen technique.
• Amedeo Avogadro — Shared historical date (08-09 · Born) (1776): Pioneering Italian scientist known for Avogadro's law on gas volumes and molecular theory.
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