De Frédéric II à Rodolphe II: Astrologie, divination et magie dans les cours (XIIIe-XVIIe siècle), ed. Jean-Patrice Boudet, Martine Ostorero, and Agostino Paravicini Bagliani. Micrologus Library, 85. Florence: Sismel, Edizioni del Galluzzo, 2017, xxi, 432 pp.

Abstract

One of the most intriguing aspects pertaining to magic and astrology (not the same, of course, but closely related) in the Middle Ages proves to be the constant tension between black and white magic, between authorized magical work and condemnation of magical practices. The Church was in a very difficult situation in this regard, whereas worldly rulers tended to embrace magic much more openly and also pursued astrological operations with the help of hired experts. This entire complex is nicely addressed in the present volume, which contains the papers delivered at a symposium at the Université de Lausanne in October 2014.