ThePseudomonarchia Daemonum (lit. 'False Monarchy of Demons') first appears as an appendix toDe praestigiis daemonum (1577) byJohann Weyer.[1] An abridgment of agrimoire similar in nature to theArs Goetia (first book ofThe Lesser Key of Solomon), it contains alist of demons, and the appropriate hours andrituals to conjure them.
ThePseudomonarchia predates, and differs somewhat from,Ars Goetia. ThePseudomonarchia lists sixty-nine demons (in contrast to the later seventy-two), and their sequence varies, along with some of their characteristics. The demon Pruflas appears only inPseudomonarchia,[note 1] andPseudomonarchia does not attribute anysigils to the demons.[citation needed]
Weyer referred to his source manuscript asLiber officiorum spirituum, seu Liber dictus Empto. Salomonis, de principibus et regibus daemoniorum. (Book of the offices of spirits, or the book called 'Empto'. Solomon, concerning the princes and kings of demons.)[1] This work is likely related to a very similar 1583 manuscript titledThe Office of Spirits,[2] both of which appear ultimately be an elaboration on a fifteenth-century manuscript titledLeLivre des Esperitz (of which 30 of its 47 spirits are nearly identical to spirits in theArs Goetia).[3]