The monograph Martin Pegius (1519–1592) Life and Work of the Learned Lawyer from Carniola, authored by dr. Vid Žepič, assistant professor and researcher at the Chair of Legal History, Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana, examines the life and oeuvre of the most prominent lawyer from the territory of present-day Slovenia in the early modern period. The author first presents the legal conditions in Salzburg and Bavaria during the first half of the 16th century. This contextualization is necessary because Martin Pegius left his native Carniola at a young age, studied in Bavaria, and subsequently served the Archbishopric of Salzburg until the decline of his career, which ended with accusations of divulging official secrets and practicing witchcraft. The second part of the book, which focuses on Pegius’ biography, places particular emphasis on the final years of his life. The central section of the book is devoted to presenting his published works, which cover law, astrology, rhetoric, and healing practices. The author examines not only works reliably attributed to Pegius but also devotes nearly equal attention to texts ascribed to him in the 18th century. The text is supported by excerpts from Pegius’ writings in the original language and in Slovene translation, and is enriched with numerous illustrations and annotations. The book also includes a bibliography of Pegius’ works and an extensive summary in German. The foreword is written by Emeritus Professor Dr. Janez Kranjc. The work will be of interest primarily to legal scholars, historians, and enthusiasts of regional literature. Due to Pegius’ engagement with rhetoric, astronomy, and healing, the book is also indispensable for anyone studying the development of these fields in the region. Pegius, whose statue stands in front of the main entrance of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ljubljana, has become one of its symbols, making this book a welcome read for students of Slovenia’s largest law faculty.
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