Italian Physicians at the Habsburg Courts (1550–1620): Hiring Processes, Professional Networks and Integration into the Court Space

Abstract

In the second half of the sixteenth century, many Italian learned physicians moved to the Habsburg courts, entering the service of the imperial family. This paper traces their professional itineraries, identifying the decisive socio-cultural factors which influenced their hiring at court. Most of the Italian physicians achieved significant advancements, enhanced their social status, and obtained economic privileges. In this context, they proved their professional versatility, carrying out non-medical tasks as well as providing medical services. However, pursuing a long-term career depended not only on a large spectrum of unpredictable factors – the Emperor's will, the economic means at his disposal, and the need of the imperial family for health assistance – but also on the physicians’ ability to earn the Emperor's favour and that of his entourage. Based on a comparison between Italian and non-Italian court and imperial physicians in terms of recruitment, tasks, remuneration, privileges, and duration of career, this article also tries to understand to what extent Italian physicians integrated into the Habsburg courts and what legacy they left there.