Jan Jesenius
Encyclopedia
Jan Jesenius was a Slovak
physician
, politician
and philosopher. He is renowned rather for his tragic fate than for his work in the field of anatomy and surgery.
He studied at the Elisabeth gymnasium in Wrocław and since 1583 at the University of Wittenberg, 1585 at University of Leipzig
, and 1588 University of Padua
.
; 1594 professor of anatomy
at the University of Wittenberg; after 1600 settled down in Prague
as professor and anatomical consultant for Rudolf II, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor
; in 1617 elected rector
of the Charles University of Prague.
In 1600 he attracted considerable public interest by performing a public autopsy
in Prague. (His notes on the autopsy were published in 2005 by Karolinum
, a publishing house of the Charles University of Prague.)
s in the Crown of Bohemia, he took several diplomatic missions for Bohemian estates and for the newly-elected king Frederick of the Palatinate
. After the defeat of King Frederick of Bohemia
by Emperor Ferdinand II
in 1620 (Battle of White Mountain
), Jesenius was arrested in Bratislava
after being sent as a deputy by the Bohemian estates, and was held in a prison of Vienna
. In December, he was released in exchange for two Habsburg captives.
There is a legend that before his release, he wrote an inscription IMMMM on the wall of his prison cell. Ferdinand explained this as Imperator Mathias Mense Martio Morietur (Latin
for "Emperor Mathias will die in the month of March"), and he wrote another prophecy next to it: Iesseni, Mentiris, Mala Morte Morieris ("Jesenius, you lie, you will die a horrible death").
Both predictions came true: Emperor Mathias died on March of 1619, and Jesenius was executed, along with 26 other Bohemian estates leaders, on the Old Town Square
in 1621.
His most important philosophical work was Zoroaster (1593), a work of universal philosophy which attempted to recover the lost wisdom of the ancients.
Slovaks
The Slovaks, Slovak people, or Slovakians are a West Slavic people that primarily inhabit Slovakia and speak the Slovak language, which is closely related to the Czech language.Most Slovaks today live within the borders of the independent Slovakia...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and philosopher. He is renowned rather for his tragic fate than for his work in the field of anatomy and surgery.
He studied at the Elisabeth gymnasium in Wrocław and since 1583 at the University of Wittenberg, 1585 at University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, and 1588 University of Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
.
Medical achievements
Since 1593 physician of Prince of SaxonySaxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
; 1594 professor of anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
at the University of Wittenberg; after 1600 settled down in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
as professor and anatomical consultant for Rudolf II, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
; in 1617 elected rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Charles University of Prague.
In 1600 he attracted considerable public interest by performing a public autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
in Prague. (His notes on the autopsy were published in 2005 by Karolinum
Karolinum
Karolinum is a complex of buildings located in the Old Town of the City of Prague. Karolinum, the seat of the Charles University in Prague, is one of the oldest dormitories situated in the Central Europe...
, a publishing house of the Charles University of Prague.)
Political career
He was an excellent diplomat and orator, and after the dethroning of HabsburgHabsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
s in the Crown of Bohemia, he took several diplomatic missions for Bohemian estates and for the newly-elected king Frederick of the Palatinate
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
. After the defeat of King Frederick of Bohemia
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
by Emperor Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
in 1620 (Battle of White Mountain
Battle of White Mountain
The Battle of White Mountain, 8 November 1620 was an early battle in the Thirty Years' War in which an army of 30,000 Bohemians and mercenaries under Christian of Anhalt were routed by 27,000 men of the combined armies of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor under Charles Bonaventure de Longueval,...
), Jesenius was arrested in Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
after being sent as a deputy by the Bohemian estates, and was held in a prison of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. In December, he was released in exchange for two Habsburg captives.
There is a legend that before his release, he wrote an inscription IMMMM on the wall of his prison cell. Ferdinand explained this as Imperator Mathias Mense Martio Morietur (Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
for "Emperor Mathias will die in the month of March"), and he wrote another prophecy next to it: Iesseni, Mentiris, Mala Morte Morieris ("Jesenius, you lie, you will die a horrible death").
Both predictions came true: Emperor Mathias died on March of 1619, and Jesenius was executed, along with 26 other Bohemian estates leaders, on the Old Town Square
Old Town Square (Prague)
Old Town Square is a historic square in the Old Town quarter of Prague in the Czech Republic at .Located between Wenceslas Square and the Charles Bridge, Prague's Old Town Square is often bursting at the seams with tourists in the summer. Featuring various architectural styles including the...
in 1621.
His most important philosophical work was Zoroaster (1593), a work of universal philosophy which attempted to recover the lost wisdom of the ancients.