The College of Sorbonne () was a theological college of the University of Paris, founded in 1253 (confirmed in 1257) by Robert de Sorbon (1201–1274), after whom it was named.

The Sorbonne was disestablished by decree of 5 April 1792, after the French Revolution, along with the other Paris colleges. It was restored in 1808, then closed finally in 1882.

Overview

right|thumb|250px|The chapel of the Sorbonne, Paris, in a 17th-century engraving

Robert de Sorbon was the son of peasants from the village of Sorbon in the Ardennes, who became a master of theology, a canon of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, and the confessor and chaplain of King Louis IX (Saint Louis). At the time that he founded his college, the University of Paris had already been in existence for half a century, and already had thousands of students. Obtaining a higher degree in theology could take as long as twenty years, and therefore required considerable financial support. Students who belonged to the religious orders of the Franciscans and Dominicans, or from the large monasteries of Cluny or Citeaux, received housing and board from their religious orders, but independent students did not. Sorbon founded his college to provide housing and board for poorer students of theology who did not have such support.

Sorbon purchased several houses on Rue Coupe-Gueule (now Rue de la Sorbonne) and made them into lodging for students. The college was founded in 1253. Louis IX confirmed the foundation in 1257. Initially the college has about twenty students, called socii. As the college grew, Sorbon provided a library containing over a thousand volumes by 1292, the largest in the university, and a chapel.

The Sorbonne was closed to students in 1791 during the French Revolution. For a brief time, under Robespierre, the chapel became a Temple of Reason. Napoleon turned the college buildings into studios for artists. In 1822, it became the home of the faculties of letters, sciences and theology of the University of Paris. In 1885, as part of the Third Republic policy of separation of church and state, the Faculty of Theology was officially closed. The old buildings of the Sorbonne, with the exception of the chapel, were demolished and the new Sorbonne building, designed by Henri Paul Nénot, opened in 1889, the centenary of the French Revolution. It contained a large amphitheater, reception halls and meeting rooms, the offices of the rector of the University of Paris, and the faculties of arts and sciences. The chapel was no longer used for religious services, but only for official ceremonies and exhibitions.

Robert de Sorbon decided that the university should also provide free instruction, so that it could compete with the religious orders. Further, he believed the society of professors should follow the practices of the cenobitic life, except in vows. His important work was made possible by the high esteem in which de Sorbon was held at Paris, together with his intellectual brilliance, great generosity, and the assistance of his friends. The foundation dates from 1257 or the beginning of 1258. Guillaume de Saint-Amour, Gérard d'Abbeville, Henry of Ghent, Guillaume des Grez, Odo of Douai, Chrétien de Beauvais, Gérard de Reims, Nicolas de Bar were among the most illustrious scholars connected either with the first chairs in the Sorbonne, or with the first association that constituted it. These savants were already attached to the university staff.

  • Hardouin de Beaumont de Péréfixe, Bishop of Rodez
  • Pope Clement VI
  • Jean-Baptiste Dubos, historian and critic, Perpetual Secretary of the Académie Française
  • Philippe de Gamaches, theologian, first Chair of Theology at the Sorbonne
  • Jérôme-Claude Gandolphe, delegate to the National Constituent Assembly
  • Charles Gobinet, religious writer and teacher, early principal of the Collège du Plessis
  • Jean Gobinet, theologian, early principal of the collège du Plessis
  • Joseph Hook
  • Jacques Lescot, Bishop of Chartres, principal of the Collège de Dainville
  • Gabriel de Nail, Great bard of Amiens
  • Louis-Antoine de Noailles, Archbishop of Paris
  • Jean-Jacques Olier, founder of the Society of Saint-Sulpice
  • Nicole Oresme, Old master of the Collège de Navarre
  • Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu, Cardinal de Richelieu and chief minister to Louis XIII
  • Edmond Richer
  • Pierre Sigorgne, High vicar of the Diocese of Macon, correspondent for the Institute
  • Pierre-François Tinthoin
  • Madame Wei Tao-Ming (Chen Yu-Hsiu)
  • Thomas of Ireland, author of the popular florilegium Manipulus florum.
  • Moises Bahamon, creator of LISA: the SHIPWRECKED
  • Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus

See also

  • Sorbonne
  • Sorbonne University
  • Medieval university

References

  • Satellite image from Google Maps