Jacob Kurz von Senftenau (1554 – 11 March 1594) (sometimes spelled as Kurtz, Latinized name: Jacob Curtius, Czech: Jakub Kurz ze Senftenavy) was the Imperial pro-chancellor (Reichsvizekanzler) for the Emperor Rudolph II.
In addition to high politics he was also a contact between the Emperor and contemporary scholars, notably the astronomer Tycho Brahe.
Jacob Kurz was born to a noble family whose many members filled high governmental position for the Habsburgs during the 16th and 17th century (Senftenau is name of a castle in Lindau, Bavaria bought by Jacob's father).
[1] Kurz organized the move of Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe to Prague, and designed a quadrant for him.
[2] Brahe arrived in 1594 and was offered Kurz's house to live in.