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The 13th century

The University of Padova was officially founded in 1222, although the city had been a haven of study and research for many years prior to this. In fact, this was the date of the first notarial record indicating a proper organisation of Padua’s university, known as “Studium Patavinum”.
There was no prior authorisation to establish the University of Padova from the medieval powers that be (empire and papacy). It was instead founded thanks to a number of favourable circumstances: on the one hand, many professors and scholars moved here from Bologna and, on the other, the local council proved to be very charitable and supportive. Between 1224 and 1241, scholars and professors came to Padua from all over Europe, especially from German-speaking countries, but also from French, Provençal, English, Spanish, Polish, Czech and Hungarian areas, as well as from various parts of Italy. They came here to find freedom of culture and expression and a hospitable home for their studies. As was the case for the University of Bologna, Padua’s university also had three distinct components at this time: students’ associations, graduate colleges and the registrar.

The development and growth of the University of Padua during this period is also connected to the settlement in the city of the preaching Friars of San Domenico, an order that was particularly open to culture, who settled in the city. Not even the twenty-year dominion of Ezzelino III da Romano (1237-1256) was able to stop the development of this new University. Moreover, his expulsion from the city actually helped the University to flourish even more! The end of the century sees Padua, the last surviving independently governed city of the Veneto region, move towards what is probably the most important and splendid period of its independent history.

1222Fondazione

STUDIUM PATAVINUM FOUNDED

STUDIUM PATAVINUM FOUNDED

“1222. Messer Giovanni Rusca da Como podestà de Padoa. In questo tempo fu transferito il Studio di Bologna in Padoa” (Annali di Padova). This is the year when the University of …

1222

ALBERTUS MAGNUS

ALBERTUS MAGNUS

Albertus Magnus, future Dominican master, moved to Padua as a student

1237-1256

THE RULE OF EZZELINO III

Under the rule of Ezzelino III da Romano, the jurists’ colleges came to an end (present until 1241).

1253

Bruno da Longobucco

Bruno da Longobucco

Bruno da Longobucco wrote and published the “Chirurgia magna” and the “Chirurgia parva” in Padua. Thanks to the authority granted by his status as “magister”, he was given one of …

1255

GIOVANNI BATTISTA FORZATE’ FIRST BISHOP TO BE APPOINTED BY THE POPE

GIOVANNI BATTISTA FORZATE’ FIRST BISHOP TO BE APPOINTED BY THE POPE

Giovanni Battista Forzatè was the first bishop from Padua to be appointed by the pope. In 1281, he awarded Guidotto da Abbiategrasso the graduate diploma in law, the oldest original …

1260

Il primo rettore

Il primo rettore

Gosaldo archdeacon of Cuenca, identified as Gonzalo Perez Gudiel, was the first chancellor of whom there remains a trace. He drew up a set of rules governing various issues (recruitment …

1262

COLLEGE OF DOCTORS AND ARTISTS ESTABLISHED

COLLEGE OF DOCTORS AND ARTISTS ESTABLISHED

At this time, probably in 1250, one of the three Colleges in Padua was established – the college of doctors and artists, whose job was to grant doctorates to scholars

1264

PROCEDURE CONFIRMED FOR THE COMPLETION OF UNIVERSITY COURSES

Padua’s first papal confirmation for the procedure to complete university courses and to award the “licentia docendi”, which was granted by the bishop after the examination completed with the teachers

1267

BASILICA OF SAINT ANTHONY BUILT

Work was completed on the Basilica dedicated to Saint Anthony, the Franciscan friar of Portuguese origin who died in Padua in 1231

1276

MUNICIPAL CODE OF STATUTES

The municipal code of statutes defined certain terms and conditions for students, fees for professors and for university “negotiators”, the city judiciary linking the municipality and the university

1287

RECOGNITION OF INTERNATIONAL DEGREES

The city charter stated that: “Whoever holds a degree from Paris and Bologna may come to teach in Padua. They will not receive a public salary but will enjoy the …

1293

RICCARDO MALOMBRA AWARDED THE CIVIL LAW PROFESSORSHIP

RICCARDO MALOMBRA AWARDED THE CIVIL LAW PROFESSORSHIP

Coming from a long line of jurists, he was awarded a civil law professorship at the Studio Patavino which he held from 1289 to 1310