Abstract
To entrench Prague as a European cultural and educational center contributed significantly to the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries as well as a community of scholars grouped around Rudolf II. At the end of his life, the Emperor, who suffered many diseases, was surrounded by seven doctors and two pharmacists.
As the total number of court members has gradually doubled, it has also been necessary to employ several other doctors for the needs of courtiers. Most of them were graduates of European faculties of medicine.
As with other intellectuals, physicians did not confine themselves to courting but also devoted themselves to research and publishing (Bartholomeo Guarinoni, Jeronimus Stromayer, Jacob Scutelarius, Simon Simonis of Lucca, Godefridus Steeghius, Christophoro Guarinoni, Martin Rulandt, Ottavio Roboreta etc.)