ABSTRACT
The early modern European courts were an important site of scientific investigation, information exchange and patronage. A large number of princes and noblewomen became known for their personal interest in natural knowledge, particularly in astronomy, alchemy and medicine. They exchanged information on these practices with like-minded aristocrats and commoners, maintained paid staff involved in various areas of natural inquiry, acted as patrons of printed works and conducted and supported scientific experiments. To some extent, the courts provided a more flexible space for natural inquiry than the universities, as they remained less beholden to classical authorities and prioritised fields that universities either ignored or viewed as lower status. Yet they also fostered close connections to traditional sites of knowledge.
