MEDIAEVAL UNIVERSITIES IN CENTRAL EUROPE Prague.—Of the universities included in the Austrian empire, Prague, which existed as a studium in the 13th century, was the earliest. It was at first frequented mainly by students from Styria and Austria, countries at that time ruled by the emperor Charles IV., who was also king of Bohemia, and at whose request Pope Clement VI., on Jan. 26, 1347, promulgated a bull authorizing the foundation of a studium generale in all the faculties. In the following year Charles himself issued a charter for the founda tion. Charles had himself been a student in Paris, and the organi zation of his new foundation was modelled on that university, a like division into four "nations" (although with different names) constituting one of the most marked features of imitation. The numerous students—and none of the mediaeval universities at tracted in their earlier history a larger concourse—were drawn from a gradually widening area, which at length included, not only all parts of Germany, but also England, France, Lombardy, Hungary and Poland.
Cracow.—The University of Cracow, in Poland, was founded in May 1364, by virtue of a charter given by King Casimir the Great, but its real commencement must be considered to belong to the year 1400, when it was reconstituted. Towards the close of the 15th century the university is said to have been in high repute as a school of both astronomical and humanistic studies.
Vienna.—The Avignonese popes appear to have regarded the establishment of new faculties of theology with especial jealousy; and when, in 1364, Duke Rudolph IV. founded the University of Vienna, with the design of constituting it a studium generale in all the faculties, Urban V. refused his assent to the founda tion of a theological school. Owing to the sudden death of Duke Rudolph, the university languished for the next 20 years, but after the accession of Duke Albert III., who may be regarded as its real founder, it acquired additional privileges.
Heidelberg.—The University of Heidelberg (the oldest of those of the German realm) received its charter (Oct. 23, 1385) from Urban VI. as a studium generale in all the recognized fac ulties save that of the civil law. It was granted at the request of
the elector palatine, Rupert I. But the real founder, as he was also the organizer and teacher, of the university was Marsilius of Inghen, to whose ability and energy Heidelberg was indebted for no little of its early reputation and success. In spite of the omis sion of the civil law in the original charter, it was included among its faculties almost from its first creation. No mediaeval uni versity achieved a more rapid and permanent success.
Cologne.—Owing to the labours of the Dominicans, Cologne had gained a reputation as a seat of learning long before the founding of its university; and it was through the advocacy of some leading members of the Mendicant orders that, at the desire of the city council, its charter as a studium generale (May 21, 1388) was obtained from Urban VI. It was organized on the model of the University of Paris, as a school of theology, and canon law, and "any other recognized faculty"—the civil law being incorporated as a faculty soon after the promulgation of the charter. In common with the other early universities of Ger many—Prague, Vienna and Heidelberg—Cologne owed nothing to imperial patronage, while it would appear to have been, from the first, the object of special favour with Rome. This circum stance serves to account for its distinctly ultramontane sym pathies in mediaeval times, and even far into the 16th century.