History of the University of Paris

The Histoire of the University of Paris is a book written at the 17th century by César Egasse of Boulay. This work covers the supposed period of foundation of the Université of Paris at the time of Charlemagne, in 800, until 1600.

The Book

It was initially only one species of factum which appeared in French under this title:

Shortened history of the university and concerning its origin, its parts and its government in favor of the four nations of arts, entrusts three other faculties , 1656, in-4°.

This summary was accommodated very favorably, at least by the faculty of arts, and made impatiently await the great work on the same subject that it announced there like having to form 6 volumes, and that it had prepared for several years. The first two volumes finally appeared in 1665, in-fol., under this title:

Notœ AD censuram editam nominates facultatis Parisiensis theologicœ in opus quod inscribilur: Historia Universitatis Parisiensis , 1667, in-4°.

The police chiefs of the king in charge of the examination of the work found there nothing which could prevent the continuation of it. Encouraged by their declaration, of Boulay gave three more volumes, 1668.

Historia Universitatis Parisiensis, ipsius fundationem, nationes, facultates, magistratu, issued, etc, cum instrunientis, publicis and authenticis has Carolo Mr. AD will nostra will tempora processes chronologico completens ( Histoire of the University of Paris, since 800 until 1600 , written in Latin) (1665, 6 volumes), Paris, F. Christmas and P. of Bresche, 1665 - 1673.

The faculty of theology published a censure of these the first three volumes:

Censured facultatis théologi Cæ Parisiensis , 1667, folio, or by overzealousness, or jealousy against an author who refused to him the first rank in the composition of the university.

Of Boulay answered this censure by a work entitled:

Notæ AD censuram… . It is an answer to the following work: Excerptae ex Historia Universe Ita tis Pariensis E.C. Bullaei and in camwood Censum . Paris, 1667.

The sixth volume and the last stop with the end of the 16th century, at the time of the reformation of the university by Henri IV. It is the term which it had been prescribed right from the start: it is there too that Jean-Baptist-Louis Crévier stops which hardly did nothing but shorten it.

The work of of Boulay is written in Latin. It is less one regular composition which a collection of essays and supporting documents, bubbles, edicts, stops, letters and conclusions of the university or various faculties, dependant whole by a short account which facilitates the intelligence.

It was said that the majority of the originals of which had made use of Boulay had been thrown to fire as become useless. It is certain that in 1684, six years after the death of the author, the university was in lawsuit against his/her brother to recover these original parts. It is probable however that a great part at least was restored; because despite everything what could be stray since fifty years in consequence of abrupt and multiplied displacements that the files of the old university underwent, it still remains with the ministry for the state education and the files of the kingdom a rather great number of original parchments.

In addition to the complaints whose history of the university was the object on behalf of higher faculties which were believed injured in their rights; in addition to criticisms to which it gave place, and of which one of principal is a manuscript in-fol., often quoted and fought by Crevier, and who exists with the Bibliothèque of the Sorbonne, under this title:

Universitatis Parisiensis until facultatum quartet, Origo will vera, adve Rs custom confabulated ac fabulatores vindicata ; the composition and the publication of its history caused with of Boulay of the enemies to the center even of the faculty of arts and the nation of France, from which it had become like oracle for thirty years.

Remi Duret, named critic of this nation in 1675, brought to him, with the name even nation, a lawsuit where he showed it extortions with regard to the candidates with the control be-arts, and other not very regular means, to provide for the expenditure which its great work required.

In a factum entitled:

Collection of several conclusions and other acts concerning the nation of France , 1676, in-4°.

It reproaches him for having undertaken this history without being authorized there; to give itself the title of historiographer of the university; to have made support with the only nation of France the expenses of a history of the four nations and all the university; finally to be itself acquired 10.000 books of revenues out of grounds and incomes, though it had neither inheritance, nor benefit, etc One does not see that of Boulay answered victoriously, with all these reproaches.

The king, educated of these contentions, evoked the business with his private council; but the death of of Boulay, in 1678, the October 16th, left this great quarrel without result.

At all events of its work, collection it is true a little formless and often incomplete of materials to implement, it is the richest repertory to consult for the thorough study of a use, of an unspecified important fact of the old French university.

In 1934, Sebastien Charléty, vice-chancellor of the university of Paris, called its wishes a “ Histoire and a Memorial ” to replace this whimsical test outlined at the 17th century (...)

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