| |
|
The University of Heidelberg was established in the town of Heidelberg in the Rhineland in 1386. It was founded at the behest of the Count Palatinate and Elector of the Holy Roman Empire, Ruprecht I, in order to provide faculties for the study of philosophy, theology, jurisprudence, and medicine. The Great Schism in 1378, which split European Christendom into two hostile groups, was initiated by the election of two popes after the death of Pope Gregory XI in the same year. One successor was in Avignon (elected by the French) and the other in Rome (elected by the Italian cardinals). The German secular and spiritual leaders voiced their support for the successor in Rome, which had far reaching consequences for the German students and teachers in Paris: they lost their stipends and had to leave. Palatine Elector Ruprecht I recognized the opportunity and initiated talks with the Curia, which ultimately lead to the creation of the Papal Bull of Foundation which can be considered the establishment of the University of Heidelberg. On October 18, 1386 a ceremonial fair commemorated the opening of the doors of the university. As a motto for the seal, Marsilius von Inghen, the first Rector of the university chose "Semper apertus" - the book of learning is always open. At this point in time the city of Heidelberg could not have had more than 3500 inhabitants and in the first year of existence the university had almost 600 enrolled. On October 19, 1386 the first lecture was held.
The university's official title is Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg ('Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg') or its latin equivalent: Ruperto Carola Heidelbergensis.
Among the prominent thinkers to have been associated with the university are Georg Hegel,, the Atheist Ludwig Feuerbach, the existentialist philosopher-psychologist Karl Jaspers, the political theorist Hannah Arendt, the philosopher of hermeneutics Hans-Georg Gadamer, the critical theorist and philosopher Jürgen Habermas, and the philosopher of discourse ethics Karl-Otto Apel. Famous scientists in the faculties of Heidelberg include chemist Robert Bunsen, physicists Gustav Kirchhoff and Philipp Lenard, as well as contemporary personalities like Otto Haxel or 2001 Nobel Laureate Wolfgang Ketterle. The University attracted literates like Eichendorff, [Jean_Paul|Jean Paul]] and Goethe.
During the 1960s and 70s, the university developed slowly but ultimately to one of the core cells for the political rumors among students (see Student_protests), eventually even creating connections to the Red Army Faction. In 1975, a massive police force arrested the complete studentical parliament ("AStA"). Shortly thereafter, the "Collegium Academicum", a progressive college in immediate vicinity to the universities main grounds was stormed by over 700 policemen and closed once and for all. Although political actions of Heidelberg students have become seldom since then, the student body has kept a rather left-wing orientation and the city still has one of the highest ratios of policemen per capita in germany.
Today, about 25000 Students are enrolled for studies at the Ruperto Carola. More than 15000 academics and over 400 Professors make it one of germany's larger universities.
See also: Mediaeval university