Jenzenstein (Jenstein), Jana di

JENZENSTEIN (JENSTEIN), JANA di. - Archbishop of Prague, b. in 1350, d. in 1400. After completing his studies at Padua, Bologna and Paris (1370-75), J. became bishop of Meissen in 1376 and in 1378 succeeded his uncle Cardinal Giovanni Ocko of Vasim on the archiepiscopal throne of Prague.

J. supported the Roman Popes (Urban VI, Boniface IX) against those of Avignon and also induced King Wenceslaus IV to do so, whose chancellor he was in 1380-84. He energetically opposed any interference by the laity in the field of his archiepiscopal jurisdiction. Because of this J. had frequent conflicts also with King Wenceslaus, the sharpest in 1393, which cost the life of his vicar general St. John of Nepomuk (v.). In 1396 J. abdicated in favor of his nephew Volfram of Skvorec and retired to Rome, where he died as titular patriarch of Alexandria and was buried at S. Prassede. Besides religious hymns and an autobiography, J. wrote several theological treatises, especially on the visitation of the B. V. Mary, whose feast he introduced into his diocese. While he lived in the monastery at S. Prassede, he revised and corrected his works, whose original manuscript is preserved in cod. Vat. lat. 1122.

Giuseppe Olär