Jan Blahoslav

Jan Blahoslav (20 February 1523 – 24 November 1571) was a Czech humanistic writer, poet, translator, etymologist, hymnographer, grammarian, music theorist and composer.

After a short period at Mladá Boleslav (1548–9) he continued his education at Königsberg and Basle.

He was a linguist who strove to preserve the purity of his native tongue and succeeded in bridging the gulf between Christianity and humanism.

[citation needed] He was ordained at Mladá Boleslav in 1553, and became a bishop of the Fraternity of Czech (or Moravian) Brethren in 1557.

In the following year he established himself at Ivančice, where before long he installed a printing press.