MEMORY OF THE WORLD REGISTER The Archives of the University of Leuven (1425-1797) : University Heritage of Global Significance (Belgium) 2012-37 1 SUMMARY Universities, known and recognized as the most important institutions for higher education and research, are worldwide organized according to the same model, characterized by its subdivision in faculties. They originated in Western Europe during the 12th-13th centuries, further developed during the Western Middle Ages, and spread over the colonies of European states from the 16th century onwards (first in the Americas: Santo Domingo (1538); first in Asia: Manila (1611)) and have been adopted worldwide since the 19th century. Universities are by far the most influential modellers of the intellectual heritage of the world. th In the 16 century, Leuven was the largest university after Paris, north of the Alps. The presence of prominent savants such as Desiderius Erasmus, Gerard Mercator and Justus Lipsius attracted much international attention. The foundation of the Collegium Trilingue in 1517 was a milestone in the history of humanism. Leuven also played a major international role in the earliest developments of typography and cartography, and in the introduction of the Catholic reformation. While the well preserved architectural patrimony is a very visible reminder of the impact of the old University of Leuven (Louvain) (1425-1797), the most convincing testimony of its larger meaning and importance for society can be found in the almost 200 linear metres of university records. They are – despite their eventful history – one of the most homogenous university archives from the Ancien Régime. These archives provide a thorough insight into the reality of an early modern university in a manner only very few archives can do, be it at intellectual, social, religious or cultural level. Not only do they offer insight into classical university infrastructures, such as the colleges, the anatomical theatre and the botanic garden, but also into the university tribunals and the administration of the university beer and wine cellar, which all bequeathed well ordered homogenous archives. These not only show the functioning of the university, but also demonstrate the interactions between students, professors and the broader society 2 DETAILS OF THE NOMINATOR 2.1 Name (person or organisation) State Archives in Belgium (Leuven) KU Leuven (University of Leuven), University Archives and Art Collections Archives of the Université catholique de Louvain 2.2 Relationship to the documentary heritage nominated The State Archives in Belgium (Leuven) and the KU Leuven (University of Leuven) preserve the archives of the medieval and early modern University of Leuven. The Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) and the KU Leuven (University of Leuven) are the legal successors of the old (medieval and early modern) university (1425-1797). 1 2.3 Contact persons Dr. Eddy Put State Archives in Belgium (Leuven) Prof. Dr. Mel Collier KU Leuven (University of Leuven), University Archives and Art Collections Prof. Dr. Paul Servais Archives of the Université catholique de Louvain 2.4 Contact details Dr. Eddy Put State Archives in Belgium (Leuven) Vaartstraat 24 B - 3000 - Leuven T +32 16 31 49 54 F +32 16 31 49 61 [email protected] Prof. Dr. Mel Collier KU Leuven (University of Leuven), University Archives and Art Collections Mgr. Ladeuzeplein 21, post box 05591 B - 3000 - Leuven T +32 16 32 46 01 F +32 16 32 46 91 [email protected] Prof. Dr. Paul Servais Archives of the Université catholique de Louvain Place Montesquieu 3 L 2.06.03 B - 1348 - Louvain-la-Neuve T +32 10 47 48 84 F +32 10 47 90 57 [email protected] 3 IDENTITY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE 3.1 Name and identification details of the items being nominated The archives of the old University of Leuven (1425-1797) are partly preserved at the State Archives in Belgium (Leuven) and partly in the Archives of the KU Leuven (University of Leuven). State Archives in Belgium (Leuven), Archives of the old University of Leuven BE-RAL 517-37 (171 linear metres) (furthermore abbreviated as RAL, OUL) KU Leuven (University of Leuven), University Archives and Art Collections, Oude Universiteit Leuven (1425-1797), Archives of the Old University from 's-Hertogenbosch BE/212934/OU/M (8 linear metres and ca. 375 charters) (furthermore abbreviated as UAL/OU/M) 2 KU Leuven (University of Leuven), University Archives and Art Collections, Oude Universiteit Leuven (1425-1797), Archives of the Old University in possession of Jan Frans Van de Velde BE/212934/OU/G (11 linear metres) (furthermore abbreviated as UAL/OU/G) 3.2 Description IN GENERAL The archives of the medieval and early modern University of Leuven had an eventful history. When the French troops approached the city in 1794, large parts of the archives were brought to safety abroad, as far as Denmark. What remained in Leuven was confiscated by the French after the dissolution of the university in 1797 and stored at the State Archives in Brussels. The records that were taken away by Jan Frans Van de Velde, professor in theology, librarian and archivist of the university, underwent a real odyssey. The French discovered one part and added it to the confiscated archives in Brussels. A second part made its way to a seminary at 's-Hertogenbosch, where it remained hidden until about 1909; in 1983, it became property of the University of Leuven again thanks to an exchange. A third part ended up in the archives of the Seminary of the Diocese of Gent and was deposited at the KU Leuven (University of Leuven) in 2001. The archival fonds preserved at the State Archives mainly contain administrative records: the documents of the activities of the central administration, the faculties, the colleges, and other institutional units. The archives of the rector contain among others administrative affairs relating to the students, the accounts and the decisions of the academic council. Other records have been created by the five faculties (theology, canon law, civil law, medicine and the Artes) and the more than 60 colleges where students resided and studied. The exercise of certain privileges regarding immunity, right of appointment and tax exemption led to the creation of extensive archival series. In the course of the 19th century, this fonds was complemented by the acquisition of various archival documents that had gone astray, among which were documents from the collection P.F.X. De Ram. All these archives have been opened up for research in 1927 thanks to the famous inventory by Henri De Vocht (see below). When a State Archives repository was set up in Leuven in 2001 (in one of the former university colleges), the archives were transferred from Brussels. The Archives service of the KU Leuven (University of Leuven) preserves the largest part of the charter treasure (approx. 375 charters) and other archival material which mostly originates from the central administration, the faculty of theology and some colleges. In 1909 the diocese of ‘s- Hertogenbosch returned the bull of foundation it preserved since 1794. Only a few years later, when the Germans invaded Leuven in August 1914, this bull was lost in the blaze of the university library. In order to make this – scattered - picture complete, we should remark that some discrete items of limited volume are still preserved elsewhere, for instance at the Belgian Royal Library in Brussels (Manuscripts no. 22172, 22192, 22197, 22199, II 187, II 199). SIGNIFICANT RECORDS The value and homogeneity of these archives is perhaps more reflected by the beautiful backbone series rather than by isolated items: - In the registers of enrolment (RAL, OUL, no. 22-29), the rectors personally recorded the names of the thousands of students who studied at the alma mater in Leuven in the course of the Ancien Régime. Reusens, Wils and Schillings published these registers. Bibliography: Matricule de l'Université de Louvain, eds. Edmond Reusens, Joseph Wils and Arnold Schillings, Brussels, 1903-1980; Leo Van Buyten, ‘De Leuvense 3 Universiteitsmatrikels (16de-18de eeuw). Kritische beschouwingen’, in: Arca Lovaniensis, 3, 1974, 9-35; Peter Vandermeersch, ‘The Reconstruction of the Liber Quintus intitulatorum Universitatis Lovaniensis (1569-1616). An Application: the Theologians 1562-1578’, in: Lias, 12, 1985, 1-80. - The acta universitatis, the minutes of the academic council (1432-1793, RAL, OUL, no. 51-88), and the acta of particular faculties have an important research value (theology: 1608-1796, RAL, OUL, no. 387-391; Artes: 1427-1791, RAL, OUL, no. 710-725). They bear witness to the actions of the academic council and of the faculty administration. The first two volumes of the minutes of the academic council (1432-1455) have been published (see 4.1) - The collection of charters contains almost all papal and princely privileges, granted to the university between 1425 and 1797. These charters constituted the legal basis on which the Alma Mater was able to act. The exercise of these privileges was time and again contested and the documents on which they were based have often been used. For instance, we can mention: - The (burnt) bull of foundation and the related privileges (the four papal bulls of 9 December 1425 and three bulls of 9 September 1427) (UAL/OU/M 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 34) Bibliography: Marc Nelissen a.o., De stichtingsbul (see 4.1); Erik Van Mingroot, Sapientie immarcessibilis (see 4.1). - The appointment privilege of Leo X for the Artes faculty, 19 September 1513,