Sigismund Albicus

Albicus, SIGISMUND, Archbishop of Prague, a Moravian, b. at Mahrisch-Neustadt in 1347; d. in Hungary, 1427. He entered the University of Prague when quite young and took his degree in medicine in 1387. Desiring to prosecute the study of civil and canon law with more profit, he went to Italy and received the Doctor‘s degree in 1404, at Padua. On his return to Prague, he taught medicine for twenty years in the University. He was appointed physician-in-chief to Wenceslaus IV who recommended him as successor to the archbishopric of Prague, on the death of its incumbent in 1409. The canons appointed him to the position, although reluctantly. Albicus held it only four years, and when he resigned, in 1413, Conrad was elected in his place. Albicus received later the Priory of Wissehrad, and the title of Archbishop of Caesarea. He was accused of favoring the new doctrines of John Huss and Wyclif. He retired to Hungary during the war of the Hussites, and died there, in 1427. He left three works on medical subjects, which were published after his death: “Praxis medendi”; “Regimen Sanitatis”; “Regimen pestilentiae” (Leipzig, 1484-87).

JOHN J. A’ BECKET.