Research Abstract |
This research aims to clarify the relation between European medieval universities and its society, by considering the career of archbishops of Rouen, of Reims and of Besancon, and bishops of Amiens, of Agen, of Rodez, of Angers, of Mende and of Sees, recruited during the year from 1200 to 1500. We tried to survey, among them, how many enjoyed university education, when they acceded to the see, what kind of discipline they learned, what kind of degree-doctor, licentiatus, baccalairus-they obtained in university, and also what universities they attended. After the analyses of their personal career, we reached the following results. (1)From 1200 to 1500, we found 218 archbishops and bishops, and among them, 97, i.e. 44% enjoyed university education. But the proportion changes following the time ; during the 13th Century, it shows 28%, and, 68% from the beginning of 14th to the end of 15th Century. Especially, from the year 1361 to 1460, we can say that 80% of those who entered on archbishopric or bishopric during these years, were trained at university. So we May call the period "the golden age of university trained archbishop and bishop". (2)On the academic degree they obtained, it is clear that the degree concerning "law", i.e. canon law and civil law, and in utroque jure, is preponderant ; of those who acquired the degree, 76% were holders of the legal studies, in comparison with this percentage, we give only 10% to the holder of theological degree. (3)As to the universities attended future archbishops and bishops, they, the university of Paris comes first, and comes next the university of Orleans outruns. There were few who went to study at universities outside of France. In conclusion, from the 14th Century on, university trained archbishops and bishops were often recruited as archbishop and bishop. For them, the legal studies were most attractive of all the disciplines, and the university of Paris was preponderant as the universities they attended.
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