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University of Coimbra, Portugal

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

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Founded Lisbon, 1288 by the Abbot of Alcobaça, and several priors of convents and parish priests who defrayed the salaries of the doctors and masters from their monasteries and churches; sanctioned by a Bull of Pope Nicholas IV, 1290. In 1308 it was removed to Coimbra where canon and civillaw, medicine, dialectics, and grammar were taught. Theology was taught in the monasteries of the Dominicans and Franciscans. The university was twice removed to Lisbon but was finally settled in Coimbra, 1537, and theology was regularly taught at the beginning of the 15th century. During the reign of John III (1521-1557) important reforms were carried out, the faculties were brought together under one roof and illustrious professors were invited from Castile, among them the theologian Alfonso de Prado, the canonist Martin de Aspilcueta (Doctor Navarrus), and the physician, Francisco Franco. The college of classical languages and literature was confided to the Jesuits and colleges were also founded for the students of the various religious orders. In 1770 the university was reorganized and faculties of mathematics and natural history were created, while the Jesuit college, confiscated at the time of the expulsion of the Society from Portugal, was turned over to the faculty of medicine for its clinics and laboratories. The laboratories of physics, chemistry and natural history were also located there. There are now faculties of theology, law, medicine, mathematics and philosophy, a botanical garden, museum, and observatory. The library contains over 300,000 volumes.