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The concept of a person selling their soul to the devil is a common motif in folklore, literature, and legend, known as a Faustian bargain. There are no verifiable historical instances of this occurring, but several figures throughout history have become the subjects of such tales.
Legendary and Folkloric Figures
Faust: The original and most famous figure, whose story originated in German chapbooks around the 16th century. The historical Johann Georg Faust was a real alchemist and magician, but the legend grew to portray him as a scholar who sold his soul to the devil (Mephistopheles) in exchange for unlimited knowledge, power, and worldly pleasures for a set period (usually 24 years).
Theophilus of Adana: A 6th-century cleric who, according to an early medieval legend, made a pact with the devil to become a bishop. He later repented, and the Virgin Mary supposedly intervened to save his soul. This story is a likely precursor to the Faust legend.
Robert Johnson: The Delta blues musician is famously rumored to have acquired his extraordinary guitar skills by selling his soul to the devil at a crossroads at midnight. This is considered a folk legend within the hoodoo tradition, amplified by his mysterious death at age 27 and lyrics from songs like "Hellhound on My Trail".
Niccolò Paganini: The 19th-century Italian violinist and composer was so skilled that rumors spread he achieved his virtuosity through a pact with the devil. His gaunt appearance and complex compositions fueled the speculation.
Other figures who were subjects of similar legends include the Italian violinist Giuseppe Tartini, French priest Urbain Grandier, and the American general Jonathan Moulton.