University of Salamanca

Description

The University of Salamanca traces its origins to 1218, when Alfonso IX of León founded the scholas Salamanticae. Later, Alfonso X established the statutes governing the university. Courses were offered in law, medicine, grammar, music, and logic, all taught in Latin. During the 15th and 16th centuries, it experienced a golden age, becoming a leading institution. Later, under the reign of Charles III, it was one of the main centers of the Enlightenment in Spain. The abolition of the university colleges by Charles IV in 1798 affected the university’s assets. Furthermore, as a result of the War of Independence, some buildings belonging to the university were destroyed. Today, some of the assets that belonged to the institution are scattered. The following may be cited as examples: San Miguel and San Francisco by Juan de Flandes (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York) and Tabulae ad meridianum Salamantinum (Bodleian Library, Oxford).

Bibliography

• ALONSO RODRÍGUEZ, Bernardo (1991): "Juan y Diego Alfonso de Benavente, catedráticos de cánones en la Universidad de Salamanca", vol. 3, en Primer Congreso de Historia de Zamora, Instituto de Estudios zamoranos "Florián de Ocampo", Zamora.
• GARCÍA, Antonio (1962): "Los canonistas de la Universidad de Salamanca en los siglos XIV-XV", vol. 17, nº 41, Revista Española de Derecho Canónico.
• GÓMEZ-MORENO, Manuel "La capilla de la Universidad de Salamanca", vol. VI, en Boletín de la Sociedad Castellana de Excursiones.