Jan z Jenštejna

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Jan z Jenštejna (born 1348, died 1400) was the Archbishop of Prague 1379-1396. He studied in Bologna, Padova, Montpellier and Paris.

In 1379 he became the owner of the castle Hrádek. In 1379 his uncle Jan Očko z Vlašimi stepped down, whereupon he was chosen archbishop in his place. Soon he became Chancellor to Wenceslav IV. Next year the capital was struck by a Plaque epidemic , which struck him as well. He recovered, but this episode left deep scars on his character and he began to examine theological and philosophical problems at his castle Helfenburk u Úštěka. He had abandoned public life because of a quarrel with Wenceslav IV: the latter was also with him over the matter of the Popes of Avignon. Jan was still loyal to Pope Urban VI, which the king was not. In 1384 he left his chancelor post. The quarrel with the king removed him completely him from political life, and he retired to his castle and abandoned the post of archbishop on 2nd July 1396.

While on his castle, he fell from a newly built tower and miracurously managed to grab hold of the something before falling to the ground. He died in Rome in 1400, and all his possesions, including his castle, passed to the Archbishops of Prague.