JENA, a t. in the grand-duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, and formerly the capital of the duchy of Saxe-Jena, is most beautifully situated in a romantic valley at the confluence of the Leutra with the Sallie. Pop. '75, 8,903. It derives celebrity chiefly from its university, but also from the great battle fought here between the French and the Prussians.—The university rf Jena was founded about the year 1547 by the elector John Frederick of Saxony, who intended it to supply the place of Wittenberg as a scat of learning and of evangelical doctrine. It soon acquired a high reputation. The imperial authorization was obtained, after some delay and difficulty, in 1558. It is the university of the minor Saxon states, and is supported by contributions from them all. Its library contains upwards of 200,000 volumes. The most flourishing period of the university was that of duke Karl August, a zealous patron of art and science, 1787-1806 A.D. To have obtained academic honors in Jena used to be no small recommendation to employment in other German universities, and many of the most distinguished ornaments of other universities have been students of this. Some of its professors were among the first and most successful supporters of the philosophy of Kant. Fichte founded a new school of philosophy here in 1794, and the names of Schelling and Hegel are also connected with Jena. The brothers Schlegel, Voss, Fries, Krause, and Okeu have added to its celebrity
in literature and'science. The faculty of medicine, as well as those of theology and law, has reckoned many distinguished n toles. The most eminent theologians in recent times have belonged to the liberal school. There are in all about 70 professors and lecturers, and under 500 students. The Jenaisehe Literaturzeitung, under the auspices of the university, is one of the most valuable literary and scientific journals.
The great battle of Jena was fought in the neighborhood of the town Oct. 14, 1806. The Prussian army, numbering about 70,000 men, was under the command of the prince of Holienlolie; while the commanded by Napoleon, amounted to 90.000. '1'lle former were completely defeated. On the same day, Davout defeated the aged duke of BrunsWick at Auerstudt, with 30,000 French against 60,000 Prussians, and these two battles decided for a number of years the fate of the Prussian kingdom and of the n. of Germany. The loss of the Prussians on that eventful day and in the con flicts of the preceding days amounted to 50,000 killed, wounded, and prisoners, besides the loss sustained by the Saxons, their allies. The French gave out their loss to be 7,000, including 270 officers.