University of Kraków, 1364–1780

Foundation

The University of Kraków (Universitas Studii Generali Cracoviensis, Universitas Cracoviensis; from the 16th century often referred to as Academia Cracoviensis) was originally founded by a charter of Casimir III the Great, king of Poland, on 12 May 1364. On 1 September 1364, Pope Urban V issued a bull, canonically establishing the university with three faculties: liberal arts, law and medicine. Shortly after the liberal arts and medicine faculties became active, however, the university ceased to exist after the death of king Casimir III in 1370. Liberal arts, medicine and canon law lectures were given again between 1390 and 1393. As a result of efforts by the royal couple, Jadwiga of Anjou and Władysław II Jagiełło, on 11 January 1397 the Pope Boniface IX granted a bull establishing the Faculty of Theology. After Jadwiga’s death, king Władysław II Jagiełło issued a new charter and performed a second founding of the university on 26 July 1400. Since that time the university has been active and growing without interruptions. As a result of the 1780 reform by Hughes Kołłątaj and Polish Diet’s Committee for National Education, the structure of the university was entirely transformed, and a new name was bestowed upon it: the Principal School of the Realm (Schola Princeps Regni Poloniae).

Central authorities

The university was headed by the rector (rector, rector generalis). The rector was elected by masters from among themselves, by indirect representational suffrage. Initially the term in office spanned a full academic year. In 1419, a six month term was introduced. For the winter term, the election took place on the feast of St. Gallus (16 October) and for the summer term on the feast of St. George and St. Adalbert (23 April). The rector had complete jurisdiction over the entire university community in civil as well as less serious criminal matters. Students of schools, bookmen (from the 15th century), printers (from the 16th century) and painters (from the 18th century) were also subject to this jurisdiction. The rector, assisted by assessors (assesores) appointed by him in attendance, was empowered to preside over judgements. He also designated two beadles (bedellus, sapientia), who carried out ceremonial and auxiliary functions. Additionally, beadles served as a statutory prosecutor at the rector's court (instigator officii rectoralis). Exceptionally, a temporarily appointed vice-rector would stand in for the rector within the scope of managing the university, and a judge (iudex surrogatus) appointed from the group of assessors – for presiding over judgements. Most important matters concerning the university were taken up by the general assembly composed of regent masters, convoked and presided over by the rector (convocatio generalis omnium magistrorum salariatorum). However, current management of the university passed to a smaller council of leading officials. Its composition gradually increased and since the 17th century the council comprised up to twenty people (consiliarii rectoris). These were the deans of all faculties, four oldest (in terms of experience) professors in the Faculty of Theology and Faculty of Law (patres seniores), five representatives of faculties, two councillors (consiliarii) nominated by the rector and four university officials: the proctor, notary, solicitor (syndicus) and public speaker (orator).

The proctor (procurator generalis bonorum Universitatis) managed general university assets (incomes and real estate). This office first appeared in the early 1440s. The proctor was elected by the general assembly, initially for a few years and since 1518 for a two year term.

The notary (notarius Universitatis, notarius officii rectoralis, notarius actorum rectoralium, actuarius) provided notarial services for the university. This office was established by virtue of resolutions of the general assembly from 1494 and 1501.

The university solicitor (syndicus generalis Universitatis) represented and defended the interests of the university on the external forum, and in particular in lawsuits before lay and church courts. This office was established in the early 16th century.

The university’s public speaker office (orator Universitatis), dated back to 1531 and was associated with the Thomas Nowek’s chair of rhetoric. Its duties included delivering addresses on behalf of the university during the ceremonial welcoming of the king, bishops and other prominent guests. Since 1616 the tasks was taken over by the professor of elocution, holder of the chair founded by bishop Peter Tylicki (known as orator Tylicianus).

The bishop of Kraków was the ex officio university chancellor (cancellarius Universitatis). He approved exams and graduations (mostly on the Faculty of Arts), collated licentiam docendi and watched over the university. On account of his numerous church and state related duties, the bishop of Kraków appointed his deputies from the body of regent masters: vice-chancellors for the entire university (vicecancellarius Universitatis) or particular faculties (vicecancellarius facultatis).

In 1410 an office of the university rights protectors was established (conservatores Universitatis). There were ex officio deans of the cathedral chapters in Gniezno, Kraków and Wrocław. As of 1429, the Kraków dean was replaced by every abbot of the Cistercian monastery in Mogiła near Kraków. Conservatores protected the university rights, privileges and assets, as well as the students, bachelors and masters. They could also summon defendants, who reside in other dioceses and countries, to appear before their court. Conservatores often exercised their powers through their deputies (viceconservatores) designated from the body of university masters. As of the 16th century, the office lost their significance.

Faculties

Four faculties were active at the University of Kraków: liberal arts (philosophy), medicine, law and theology. Each faculty was headed by a dean elected by masters of given faculty. Elections were held every term: for the winter term on Saturday preceding the feast of St. Gallus and for the summer one on Saturday preceding the feast of St. George and St. Adalbert. The deans looked after exercises, lectures and disputations, as well as exams and faculty incomes. They had two or three advisers (consiliarii facultatis) to help them, elected for every term. Masters incorporated to the faculty were members of the faculty and formed the faculty assembly. The most senior member of the faculty (senior pater) in terms of experience played a particular role at every faculty.

Bachelors, licentiates as well as masters and doctors taught classes and gave lectures at the faculties. There were two categories of faculty lecturers: ordinary (lectores or professores ordinarii) and extraordinary (lectores or professores extraordinarii). There was an additional categorisation at the Faculty of Arts into members of, respectively, the Royal (Major) College and the Minor College (collegiati or collegae maiores or minores) as well as other masters not belonging to the colleges (extranei). The latter were further split into two categories: incorporated (extranei de facultate) and not incorporated as faculty fellows (extranei de non facultate). Two half-year academic periods were observed: in the winter term (commutatio hiemalis or brumalis) lessons started on the day after the feast of St. Luke (19 October), in the summer one (commutatio aestivalis) – on the day after the feast of St. Mark (26 April).

Examinations for bachelor's degree in liberal arts (philosophy) took place during the Ember Days, mostly four times a year. These terms were defined in sources in different ways. They fell after Ash Wednesday (February-March), after the Pentecost (May-June), after the Elevation of the Holy Cross (after 14 September) and after the feast of St. Lucy (after 13 December). Exams for the master's degree in liberal arts (doctor of philosophy) were opened once a year about the Feast of Epiphany (6 January). There were no fixed, usually accepted, dates in the higher faculties. The process of obtaining a degree lasted several weeks or even several months and was completed with a solemn promotion.

Colleges

On 22 July 1400, king Władysław II Jagiełło founded a college known first as the Royal College or Artists College and subsequently most often referred to as the Major College (Collegium Regis Wladislai, Collegium Artistarum, Collegium Maius). It was a place of residence mainly for masters of the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Theology. Between 1403 and 1406 the College of Jurists (Collegium Iuridicum, Collegium Iurisperitorum) for masters of the Faculty of Law was established, and in 1449 the Minor College (Collegium Minus) for younger masters of liberal arts. A number of colleges for students (also called bursae) were founded between 15th and 17th centuries: Bursa Pauperum (1410), Bursa Philosophorum (before 1447), Bursa Ierusalem (1456), Bursa Pisarum (1440; after the foundation by Jan Długosz in 1471 named Bursa Longini or Iurisperitorum), Contubernium Sisinianum (1641), Contubernium Gelonianum (1646) and Contubernium Starnigelanum (1647). Other lodgings for students were not categorized as students’ colleges, such as Bursa Divitum (active in 1428–1476), Bursa Hungarorum (1464/1470–1535), Bursa Theutonicorum (1488–1558). Many students also found accommodation in Kraków’s parish schools.

Three masters' colleges constituted an autonomous, self-governing corporations within the university. A provost (praepositus collegii), elected by fellows of the given college, was at the head of the community. The provosts at Collegium Maius and Collegium Iuridicum were in office for a half-year term, whilst at Collegium Minus for three months. They managed college affairs, chaired assemblies of fellows and exercised jurisdiction over the community. Usually two advisers (consiliarii collegii), elected by the community, helped with provost’s duties. In the Major College the provisor (known also as praepositus cellarii) and after 1456 also the treasurers (fiscarii) supported the provost in economic management. The most oldest fellow in terms of experience (senior pater) had particular authority at every college.

A kind of chairs, called collegiaturae, were the endowment for masters fellows of the colleges. First collegiaturae for professors in liberal arts (professores regales or regii) and in theology were founded in 1401 by king Władysław II Jagiełło, whereas for jurists by the bishop of Kraków and at the same time university chancellor, Piotr Wysz. More collegiaturae were established as a result of private foundations. These include, e.g.: the Jan Stobner chair (about 1405); the Marcin Król of Żurawica chair (about 1450) for a master of arts who was to teach astronomy, astrology and mathematics; the Tomasz Nowek chair (1406) and the Katarzyna Mężykowa chair (1420) for a master of arts who was to teach grammar and rhetoric. Over time, the above-mentioned chairs associated with the Faculty of Arts were incorporated into Collegium Minus (1449). Subsequently founded chairs were linked up solely with the three existing masters colleges, depending on the subject taught or had no permanent affiliation and were staffed interchangeably either by a fellow of Collegium Maius or by a fellow of Collegium Minus. Some chairs remained outside of colleges and functioned by faculties. Chairs were named after their founders, endowment or the taught subject.

At colleges for students the functions of supervisors were fulfilled by the so-called elders (senior bursae, senior contubernii), who were appointed by the university general assembly from among the young masters. Advisors (consiliarii) elected for half-year long terms out of the students living in the bursa, advised and helped the senior. Provisor bursae appointed from among the elder masters exercised general supervision over the given student college.

Endowment

Endowment at the University of Kraków was gradually increasing from the second founding in 1400, as the original provisions from the year 1364 were not put in place. It comprised ecclesiastical benefices, real properties, tithes, incomes from custom tariffs and salt mine in Bochnia near Krakow, rents from villages, manors, town houses and other. The asset structure, distribution of incomes and system of management were very complex.

The church benefices affiliated to the university were:

• two canonries in the Kraków cathedral chapter (1401);
• prelatures and canonries in the collegiate church of St. Florian’s in Kleparz (near Krakow), together with three regional chancelleries incorporated to that collegiate (from 1401);
• provostship at the St. Anne's church in Kraków (after 1418) and after the establishment of St. Anne's collegiate church in 1535, its prelatures and canonries;
• prelatures and canonries in the collegiate church of All Saints in Kraków (after 1490);
• provostships of the parish churches in: Luborzyca, Olkusz, Nowy Korczyn, Przemyków, Pajęczno, St. Nicolaus’s church in Wesoła (suburb of Krakow), as well as rectorships of the churches of St. Adalbert of Prague and St. Mary Magdalene in Kraków.

A system of scholarships for students was developing from the mid-16th century. These included the so-called borkarna (borcarnae, borcanae), administered by appointed professors (provisor borcanae).

Schools and other institutions associated with the university

Kraków agglomeration schools: cathedral, collegiate and parish, were also under the jurisdiction of the University of Kraków's rector. University bachelors and masters often taught there and managed the institutions (as rector scholae or senior scholae). Many professors also engaged in private tuition (praeceptores). In 1588 the University of Kraków established a humanistic secondary school, which was later referred to as the Nowodworski Schools (Classes, Scholae Novodvorscianae, Collegium Vladislavianum). Four divisions (classae) functioned therein, giving the courses of grammar, poetry, rhetoric and dialectic respectively. University professors taught there and the administrator (provisor Scholarum Novodvorscianum) had overall responsibility. Moreover, in the 17th and 18th centuries, the University of Kraków assumed supervision over about thirty schools all over the country: parish, collegiate and cathedral, which were referred to as coloniae academicae. The humanistic Lubrański Academy in Poznań (established in 1519) was one of the finest, handed over to the university to manage in 1619. The university watched over the activities of those schools and appointed their headmasters and teachers from among its own bachelors and masters. An academic-diocesian seminary (Seminarium academicum, Seminarium academico-dioecesianum) was established in Kraków in 1723, where university professors performed the function of the prefect (praefectus seminarii). From the 18th century, the University of Kraków had its own printing house managed by an appointed professor (administrator or praefectus typographiae).

University records

Documentation pertaining to university offices was neither standard, nor drawn up systematically. The state in which it survives also varies. The statutes formed the basis for organisation and day-to-day activity of the whole university, faculties and colleges. Records concerning main university offices initially kept the rector either by himself or with the help of others, and after the turn of the 15th century also with the university notary. It includes i.a. general matriculation roll, rectors’ court files, records of decisions (conclusiones) of the university’s general assembly. It was the dean's responsibility to keep books at given faculties. At the Faculty of Arts main series of records were: books of decisions of the faculty assembly, graduation books and diligence books, which contained schedules of lectures and parties (classes) to disputes. Records of the higher faculties are not rich today, so there exist only few books containing decisionsof the assemblies as well as faculty books, where statutes and decisions were recorded together with list of graduations. Colleges also maintained their official books. Accounting books, assets inventories and cartularies for given university units, churches, estates or funds constituted a separate type of documentation.

College libraries and the private libraries of masters and students contained numerous manuscripts and printed materials. Original works constitute a significant part thereof. Provenance and inventory notes, colophons and glosses also survive therein, which render additional bibliographical information pertaining to the owners, authors, copyists and readers of particular works.