Elizabeth Kallai. The union proving an unhappy one, Jósika parted from his wife, settled on his estate at Szurdok in Transylvania, and devoted himself to agricultural and literary pursuits. Drawn into the sphere of politics, he took part in the memorable Transylvanian diet of 1834. About this time Jósika first began to attract attention as a writer of fiction. In 1836 his Abafi laid the foundation of his literary reputation. This novel gives a vivid picture of Transylvania in the time of Sigismund Bátori. Jósika was soon afterwards elected member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and of the Kisfaludy Society; of the latter he became, in 1841, director, and in 1842 vice-president. In 1847 he appeared at the Transylvanian diet as second deputy for the county of Szolnok, and zealously supported the movement for the union of Transylvania with Hungary proper. In the same year he was converted to Protestantism, was formally divorced from his wife, and married Baroness Julia Podmaniczky, herself a writer of considerable merit, with whom he lived happily until his death. So great was Jósika’s literary activity that by the time of the revolution (1848) he had already produced about sixty volumes of romances and novels, besides numerous contributions to periodicals. Both as magnate of the upper house of the Hungarian diet and by his writings Jósika aided the revolutionary movement, with which he was soon personally identified, being chosen one of the members of the committee of national defence. Consequently, after the capitulation at Világos (Aug. 13, 1849) he found it necessary to flee the country, and settled first at Dresden and then, in 1850, at Brussels, where he resumed his literary pursuits anonymously. In 1864 he removed to Dresden, in which city he died on the 27th of February 1865. The romances of Jósika, written somewhat after the style of Sir Walter Scott, are chiefly of an historical and social-political character, his materials being drawn almost entirely from the annals of his own country. Among his more important works may be specially mentioned, besides Abafi—The Poet Zrinyi (1843); The Last of the Bátoris (1837); The Bohemians in Hungary (1839); Esther (1853); Francis Rákóczy II. (1861); and A Végváriak, a tale of the time of the Transylvanian prince Bethlen Gábor, 1864. Many of Jósika’s novels have been translated into German.
See K. Moenich and S. Vutkovich, Magyar Irók Névtára (1876); M. Jókai, “Jósika Miklós Emlékezete,” A Kisfaludy-Társaság Evlapjai, Új folyam, vol. iii. (1869); G. W. Steinacker, Ungarische Lyriker (1874). Cf. also Jósika’s autobiography—Emlékirat, vol. iv. (1865).
JOSIPPON, the name usually given to a popular chronicle of
Jewish history from Adam to the age of Titus, attributed to an
author Josippon or Joseph ben Gorion.[1] The name, though at
one time identified with that of the historian Josephus, is perhaps
a corruption of Hegesippus, from whom (according to Trieber)
the author derived much of his material. The chronicle was
probably compiled in Hebrew early in the 10th century, by a
Jewish native of south Italy. The first edition was printed in
Mantua in 1476. Josippon subsequently appeared in many
forms, one of the most popular being in Yiddish (Judaeo-German),
with quaint illustrations. Though the chronicle is
more legendary than historical, it is not unlikely that some
good and even ancient sources were used by the first compiler,
the Josippon known to us having passed through the
hands of many interpolators. The book enjoyed much vogue
in England. Peter Morvyn in 1558 translated an abbreviated
version into English, and edition after edition was called
for. Lucien Wolf has shown that the English translations
of the Bible aroused so much interest in the Jews that there
was a widespread desire to know more about them. This led
to the circulation of many editions of Josippon, which thus
formed a link in the chain of events which culminated in
the readmission of the Jews to England by Cromwell. (I. A.)
JOSS, in the pidgin-English of the Chinese seaports, the name
given to idols and deities. It is used adjectivally in regard to
many things connected with religious rites, such as “joss-house,”
a temple; “joss-stick,” a stick which when burned gives forth
a fragrant odour and is used as incense; “joss-paper,” paper cut
to resemble money (and sometimes with prayers written upon it)
burned in funeral and other ceremonies. “Joss” is not a
Chinese word, and is probably a corruption of Port. deos, god,
applied by Portuguese navigators in the 16th century to the idols
worshipped in the East Indies. The Dutch form is joosge
(diminutive of joos), whence the Javanese dejos, and the English
yos, later joss. The word seems to have been carried to China
by English seamen from Batavia.
JOST, ISAAK MARKUS (1793–1860), Jewish historical writer,
was born on the 22nd of February 1793 at Bernburg, and studied
at the universities of Göttingen and Berlin. In Berlin he began
to teach, and in 1835 received the appointment of upper master
in the Jewish commercial school (called the Philanthropin) at
Frankfort-on-the-Main. Here he remained until his death, on
the 22nd of November 1860. The work by which he is chiefly
known is Geschichte der Israeliten seit der Zeit der Maccabäer,
in 9 vols. (1820–1829), which was afterwards supplemented by
Neuere Geschichte der Israeliten von 1815–1845 (1846–1847), and
Geschichte des Judenthums und seiner Sekten (1857–1859). He also
published an abridgment under the title Allgemeine Geschichte
des israelitischen Volkes (1831–1832), and an edition of the Mishna
with a German translation and notes (6 vols., 1832–1834). The
Israelitische Annalen were edited by him from 1839 to 1841, and
he contributed extensively to periodicals.
See Zirndorf, Isaak Markus Jost und seine Freunde (Cincinnati, 1886).
JOTUNHEIM, or Jotun Fjelde, a mountainous region of
southern Norway, lying between Gudbrandsdal on the east and
Jostedalsbrae and the head of the Sogne fjord on the west.
Within an area of about 950 sq. m. it contains the highest mountain
in the Scandinavian Peninsula—Galdhöpiggen (8399 ft.)—and
several others but little inferior. Such are Glittertind
or Glitretind (8380), and Memurutind (7966), which face
Galdhöpiggen across the northward-sloping Visdal; Knutshulstind
(7812) and several other peaks exceeding 7000 ft., to the
south, between lakes Gjende and Bygdin, and Skagastölstind
(7723) in the west of the region, above the Utladal, the chief
summit of the magnificent Horunger. The upper parts of the
main valleys are of characteristic form, not ending in lofty
mountain-walls but comparatively low and level, and bearing
lakes. The name Jotunheim (giants’ home) is a modern
memorial of the mountain-dwelling giants of Norse fable; the
alternative name Jotun Fjelde was the first bestowed on the
region, when it was explored in 1820 by the geologist Balthasar
Matthias Keilhau (1797–1858). In modern times the region
has attracted mountaineers and many visitors accustomed to
rough lodging and difficult travelling.
JOUBERT, BARTHÉLEMY CATHERINE (1769–1799), French
general, the son of an advocate, was born at Pont de Vaux (Ain)
on the 14th of April 1769. In 1784 he ran away from school to
enlist in the artillery, but was brought back and sent to study
law at Lyons and Dijon. In 1791 he joined the volunteers of
the Ain, and was elected by his comrades successively corporal
and sergeant. In January 1792 he became sub-lieutenant, and
in November lieutenant, having in the meantime made his first
campaign with the army of Italy. In 1793 he distinguished
himself by the brilliant defence of a redoubt at the Col di Tenda,
with only thirty men against a battalion of the enemy. Wounded
and made prisoner in this affair, Joubert was released on parole
by the Austrian commander-in-chief, Devins, soon afterwards.
In 1794 he was again actively engaged, and in 1795 he rendered
such conspicuous service as to be made general of brigade. In
the campaign of 1796 the young general commanded a brigade
under Augereau, and soon attracted the special attention of
Bonaparte, who caused him to be made a general of division in
December, and repeatedly selected him for the command of
important detachments. Thus he was in charge of the retaining
force at the battle of Rivoli, and in the campaign of 1799
- ↑ A prefect of Jerusalem of this name is mentioned by Josephus, Bell. Jud. ii. 20. 3.
