Universität Wien An Historical Tour of the University of Vienna

  
Archiv der Universität Wien
 Contents 

THE DENOMINATIONAL AGE

At the beginning of the Reformation university study went into a rapid decline. The University, as a "papal institution" had suffered a considerable loss of prestige. Moreover the denominational conflicts were accompanied by negative influences from outside: the Turkish siege of Vienna (1529), a succession of epidemics, an overwhelming fire in the city (1525), the economic decline of the city, together with an increase in the cost of living and a growth in competition between universities. Ferdinand I put the University of Vienna on a sound material basis and attempted to develop it as a Catholic bulwark and to make it politically accountable to him. The increased need for catholic priests, doctors and civil servants in the early absolutist development of the nation was to be met. In 1551 the Prince summoned the Jesuit order to Vienna and entrusted them with two chairs of Theology at the University. Soon there were major disagreements between the partly Protestant University, that saw its privileges being encroached upon, and educationally highly successful Jesuits. The battle raged until 1623, when Emperor Ferdinand II incorporated the Jesuit College into the University, thereby giving the priests the upper hand for the next 150 years. The Catholic nature of the University was underpinned by the later Cardinal Melchior Khlesl as chancellor to the University. After 1579 all graduands were required to take an oath of acceptance of the Tridentine creed.

Lit.: Kurt Mühlberger, Zu den Krisen der Universität Wien im Zeitalter der konfessionellen Auseinandersetzungen In: Bericht über den achtzehnten österreichischen Historikertag in Linz vom 24. bis 29. September 1990 (=Veröffentlichungen des Verbandes Österreichischer Geschichtsvereine 27, Wien 1991) 269-277; Ders., Bildung und Wissenschaft. Kaiser Maximilian II. und die Universität Wien. In: Kaiser Maximilian II. Kultur und Politik im 16. Jahrhundert, hg. v. Friedrich Edelmayer und Alfred Kohler (= Wiener Beiträge zur Geschichte der Neuzeit 19, Wien 1992) 203-230.

 

King Ferdinand I, 1556

This portrait shows Ferdinand I (1503-1564) as Holy Roman Emperor with a view of Vienna in the background. At the beginning of his rule in Austria he marginalised the established opposition movement through a number of draconian legal rulings (1522). He viewed the University of Vienna, whose existence was threatened by a crisis in student numbers, as a tool in the struggle against Protestantism. A number of reforms, culminating in the Reformatio Nova of 1554, combined to guarantee the continued existence of the University of Vienna. (Original engraving by H. S. Lautensack, Vienna, Albertina)

 

The Jesuit priest Wilhelm Lamormaini, 1570-1648

After entering the order in 1590 he studied Theology in Vienna from 1593-97, taught in Hungary, Prague and Graz and returned in 1622 to Vienna where he became Rector of the Jesuit College. He played a decisive role in the incorporation of the Jesuit College into the University and in the reconstruction of the University district. As a confessor he enjoyed the particular trust of the Emperor Ferdinand II. (Photo in the Archive of the University of Vienna)

 

Petrus Canisius S. J. (Pieter Kanijs), 1521-1597.

This theologian, from Nijmegen in the Netherlands, was one of the most influential pioneers of the Counter-reformation in the German-speaking world. From 1552-1556 he was a regular preacher in St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna and in many other churches, he taught in the University, was confessor to the Habsburg Princes, was an educator and administrator of the diocese of Vienna. He gave the Jesuit College in Vienna a clear identity. He spoke severely against "heretical" scholars. He gained great influence through his three catechisms: Summa doctrinae christianae (1555) for students, Catechismus minimus (1556) for young children, and the Parvus catechismus catholicorum (1558) for grammar school pupils. Canisius was canonised in 1925 and proclaimed a 'teacher of the Church'. (Photo in the Archive of the University of Vienna)

 

The Rector's Oath to the Immaculate Mother of God, 1693

In 1647 Emperor Ferdinand III had declared the Immaculate Mother of God to be the Patron of the Archduchy of Austria below the River Enns, and had ordered the University to draw up a statute to the effect that no-one could be admitted to the University, graduate, or hold academic office before he had attested his belief in the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady. According to this statute the rector and the deans made this oath every year in St. Stephen's Cathedral to the University Chancellor and Cathedral provost. The oath was abolished in 1782 on the order of Emperor Joseph II. (Engraving by Theodor Bonnano: Archive of the University of Vienna)