University of Dillingen

The University of Dillingen, at Dillingen an der Donau in southern Germany, existed from 1551 to 1803. It was located in Swabia, then a district of Bavaria.

Its founder was Cardinal Otto Truchsess von Waldburg, Prince-Bishop of Augsburg (1543–1573). He first established it under the title, "College of St. Jerome", and endowed it with the revenues of several monasteries which had been suppressed at the Protestant Reformation. His aim was to provide for the education of the clergy and the protection of the Catholic Faith. He drew up special rules regarding the practice of religion, application to study, and conduct which each student bound himself by oath to observe.

In 1551 Pope Julius III raised the college to the rank of a university and conferred on it the privileges enjoyed by other universities. Emperor Charles V ratified these privileges, and the formal inauguration took place 21 May 1554. Some of the professors, as Peter Endavianus, the first rector of Dillingen, came from Louvain University; others from Spain, among them Pedro de Soto, O.P., afterwards professor at Oxford.

Bishop Otto in 1563 gave the Jesuits, whose provincial at that time was Peter Canisius, charge of the instruction in the university, and authorized them to follow their own rules in all that pertained to organization and administration. As, however, the cathedral chapter of Augsburg would not admit the legality of this complete transfer, disputes often arose on questions of right, especially in regard to episcopal visitation, the foundation of chairs of civil law, and the appointment of professors. Nevertheless the chapter paid regularly the sums stipulated in the original document of transfer, and finally accepted the transfer as arranged June 14, 1606, by Bishop Henry von Knöringen (1598–1646), who for that reason is called the second founder of the university. From this date the chapter guaranteed a fixed contribution for the university and convictus (hall for clerical and some lay students). In 1641 Emperor Ferdinand III ratified the new charter in a special document which recognized the service rendered by the scientific work of the university and by the preparation which it gave young men for their duties toward Church and State.

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