Abstract
The authors try to focus the reader’s attention on “regimina sanitatis”, the once popular but now little known genre of medieval literature. Viability of this type of literature of popular-science literature suggests the interest of own health and its promotion in medieval upper classes.
The asset of the book also consists in the fact that the respective texts were found quite recently and here they are fully published for the first time, together with concurrent translations. The care of a sovereign’s health is reflected in these texts as a nearly statesmanlike concern.
The king has his tasks, which he can only do provided he is in good health. This concept also reflects certain policy on the physicians’ part.
The king’s health becomes a political task, and his physician becomes his assistant and, to some extent, policy-maker. Thus “regimina sanitatis” possess an insistent educational note, thereby emphasizing the physician’s role.