Zbyněk Zajíc

Zbyněk Zajíc of Hasenburg [Zbinco, Sbinco.] ( _cs. Házmburk) (c. 1376 Bohemia – September 28, 1411 in Bratislava, Hungaria today Slovakia) was a Czech nobleman, and an important representative of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the 5th Archbishop of Prague 1403-1411, succeeding Olbram ze Škvorce.

While he was initially a supporter of Czech religious reformer Jan Hus [ [http://logosresourcepages.org/History/huss_b.htm Biography of John Huss ] ] , he later opposed his views.

Life and career

Zbyněk Zajíc came from the influential Czech noble house of Zajíc of Hasenburg (Czech: "Zajícové z Házmburka"). He was born in 1376 (some say 1375) as the oldest son of Vilém Zajíc z Hazmburka and Anna ze Slavětína a Libochovic. He had five brothers and four sisters. Between 1395 and 1400 he possessed a sixth of the castle Hazmburk.

Zbyněk was a knight, capable leader, and military adviser to the Bohemian King Wenceslaus IV. Originally at the court of Wenceslaus, he then moved to position as provost at Mělník, in 1390 (at the age of 15). He was a military leader, as he led, on the King's orders, the expansion into Bavaria.

He was not a priest and was without serious education. He later became the canon (priest) of Vyšehrad in 1400, and the Archbishop of Prague in November 1402 (at age twenty-six).

Originally Zbyněk respected Jan Hus, tolerating and protecting him in his reforming endeavour despite the complaining clergy. In 1403 he became the Archbishop. At that time he required Hus to report to him "absences or deviations of law" ("nedostatky nebo odchylky od práva".) This allowed Hus and others among Wycliffe's sympathizers to spread reformed ideas. At the beginning of 1409 Archbishop Zbyněk entered into conflict with King Wenceslaus concerning the council in Pisa. While the king approved of the council and the newly elected pope Alexander V, Archbishop Zbyněk remained loyal to Pope Gregory XII. When Wenceslaus had refused to recognise any of the three existing popes (at the time) and wished to await the outcome of the council at Pisa, Zbyněk had put an interdict (Czech:"klatba") on "all who obeyed the king", meaning Bohemia in general.

Under pressure from the pope and the clergy, Zbyněk required the books of Wycliffe and others to be condemned. In September 1409 he acknowledged the newly elected Pope Alexander V. With the Pope's blessing he ordered the heretical works burned [ [http://www.theopedia.com/John_Huss John Huss - Theopedia ] ] , and proclaimed an interdict against Hus. The King then condemned Wycliffe as well and forbade preaching outside of churches [ [http://www.es.flinders.edu.au/~mattom/science+society/lectures/illustrations/lecture19/huss.html Science, civilization and society ] ] , including Hus's at Betlémská kaple. On 16th July 1410 Zbyněk ordered that the confiscated works of Wycliffe be burned, at his court in Prague. Thereafter he had to flee to save his life from an angry mob. University students were singing satirical songs such as: "Zbyněk Bishop burnt the books, without knowing what they are about", ridiculing the archbishop's illiteracy.

Wenceslaus required him to end the interdict and replace the destroyed books. Zbyněk refused and so the king stopped his income. Zbyněk Zajíc refused to give in and repeated the interdict, which led Wenceslaus to confiscate all the church treasures. After the intervention of Sigismund, the younger brother of Wenceslaus, the Archbishop restored his former relationship to the King. Still, Zbyněk Zajíc did not feel safe in Prague and so he planned to travel to Hungary. On the way he fell ill and died in Prešpurk (today's Bratislava).

In 1436 he was buried at the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague.

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