Johann Heinrich Bösenselle

Who is Johann Heinrich Bösenselle?

Johann Heinrich Bösenselle, Czech: Jindřich Antonín Boesenselle, Latin: Henricus Antonius Bösenselle, was a lawyer, professor of law and Rector of University of Olomouc.

Originally from Westphalia, Johann Heinrich Bösenselle assumed position of Professor of Law at University of Olomouc in 1751. Bösenselle, together with Professor of Law Josef Antonín Sommer, strived to enhance quality of Olomouc law school. The lectures were extended to cover international, public and natural law, taught according to Grotius and Vitoria. Bösenselle was also lecturing history of Imperii Romano-Germanici according to Johann Jacob Mascov. In 1755 the study of law was extended to 3 years.

From the 1750s there was a power struggle raging between the empress Maria Theresa and jesuits over control of the University. The University was controlled by the Jesuit order from its establishment in 1573, and the position of University's Rector Magnificus was automatically in the hands of the rector of Jesuit order. Firstly, the Empress took away the Jesuit's monopoly over the position by imposing that the Rector Magnificus was to be elected by academia. As a theologian was elected Rector Magnificus in 1765, the empress assumed the power and appointed her own favourite, Johann Heinrich Bösenselle, as the head of university in 1766.