Jena, a fortified town, the capital of a cognominal circle in the grand duchy of Saxe-Weimar, is situate in a valley on the River Salle, here crossed by a handsome stone bridge. It is 12 miles E. of Weimar, and 45 miles S.W. of Leipzig. It has long been famous as a seat of learning, and is also celebrated for the great battles fought in its neighbourhood. The university of Jena was founded in 1547 by the elector John Frederic, and was opened in 1558, under the joint patronage of the ducal houses of Weimar, Altenburg, Coburg, and Meiningen. Its halls and lecture-rooms were soon filled with students from all parts of Germany; and the fame of the prelections delivered in its theatres made the attendance yearly increase. The largest number of matriculated students was in 1813, when it amounted to nearly 3000. From that date, however, the numbers have been gradually diminishing, partly from a want of proper academic discipline, but chiefly from the erection of several new colleges in other parts of the country. In 1850 there were about 400 students and 76 teachers, including professors and tutors. The great names which are associated with this university are numerous, and justly celebrated in the departments of philosophy and theology. Gerhard, Buddens, Dantiz, Fichte, Schelling, Hegel, Griesbach, Gabler, and Schiller, have all taught within the walls of the college. The garden in which the observatory stands was long the favourite resort of the last, who is said to have composed many of his works there. In connection with the university there is a library containing 70,000 volumes and many valuable MSS., an hospital, a lunatic asylum, botanic garden, and observatory. The students have also admittance to the museums of natural history and archæology in the ducal castle. Besides the above-mentioned buildings Jena contains a Roman Catholic and three Protestant churches. The courts of appeal for the Saxon duchies and Reuss principalities are held in the castle. The trade of the town is unimportant; and the manufactures consist only of coarse linen, tobacco pipes, and hats. The famous battle of Jena, fought in October 1806 between the Prussians, under Prince Hohenlohe, and the French, under Napoleon, when the former were defeated, took place in the neighbourhood of the town. This battle, however, must be carefully distinguished from that of Auerstadt, which happened after the defeat of the Prussians by Bonaparte, but which is apt to be confounded with it from the proximity of the places and time of the two events.

Pop. (1852) 6502.