| Summary: | Emperor Rudolf II's Patronage of Alchemy. Michael Maier (1569-1622) and Anselmus Boëthius de Boodt (1550-1632) The work is focused on the emperor Rudolf II's (1552-1612) patronage of alchemy and two distinguished physicians interested in alchemy that lived for some time at the emperor's court. The text reflects these topics in its structure; therefore, it is divided into three parts. The first part deals with the emperor himself and his support of alchemy at the court. Furthermore, the reasons of the emperor's interest in this field of research are analyzed, as well as historical and philosophical context of the research. Examined were also collaborators and closest courtiers to the emperor that took and interest in alchemy and the possibilities of practical realization of laboratory works at Prague castle, the question of their nature and expected results. Last but not least is discussed, to what extent was the emperor personally involved in the experiments. The second chapter is about Michael Maier (1569-1622), a physician and alchemist, who came to Prague in the middle of 1608 with an intention to ask the emperor to support his research. Maier gained a doctorate in medicine in Basel and his interest in alchemy was purely medical. He wanted to offer the emperor a 'universal medicament' he had...
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