The short message of Ottaviano Rovereti (1556–1626), doctor of Rudolf II. The theme of the article is a translation and commentary of the Latin file called “Relatio brevis.” It describes the evolution of the health status of the Emperor Rudolf II in the last few months of his life. The author was one of the emperor’s personal physicians, Ottaviano Rover (Roboreto), who subsequently directed the posthumous dissection of the emperor’s body. The document Relatio brevis has always been used by historians as a source of information but has often been misinterpreted. The aim of the article is a detailed interpretation of the translated text as well as an introduction to Ottaviano Rovereti’s life for the interested public. Though Rovereti held a very important place at the Prague imperial court, he remains almost unknown.
Rudolf II; illness; death; Ottavio Rovereti; history of medicine
ISSN 0300-4414 (print)
ISSN 2788-3485 (online)
founded 1968
Published by Society for the History of Sciences and Technology http://www.sdvt.cz
Pavel Mervart Publishing http://www.pavelmervart.cz/
