Nation_(university_corporation)

A nation (Latin: natio meaning being bornCharlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, (1879). A Latin Dictionary. Entry for natio. Online at [1]Harper, Douglas (November 2001). Nation. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved on 2007-11-08..) was regional corporation of students at a medieval university. They were four in numbers according to the cardinal directions. These students who were all born within the same region, usually spoke the same language and expected to be ruled by their own familiar law.

In the University of Paris there were the French, Normans, Picards, and the English, later Alemannian nation. Jean Gerson was twice elected procurator for the French natio (i.e. the French-born students at the University) in 1383 and 1384, while studying theology at Paris. On the other hand, in Paris, Germans and Scotsmen were grouped in a single natio Germanorum et Scotorum.Miscellanea Scotica.: A Collection of Tracts Relating to the History [2]Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland, and of the Border Raids [3]

It is a precursor of the modern nation, but could refer to smaller subdivisions, even cities, like Natio MisnensiumAbhandlungen der sächsischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Leipzig [4] to students from Meissen at the University of Leipzig, established in 1409, where other nationes were these of the Saxonum, Bavarorum, and Polonorum.[5] A similar division of students had been adopted at the Charles University in Prague, where from its opening in 1347 the studium generale was divided among Bohemian, Bavarian, Saxon and Polish nations. When there was not "natio" of given nationality, students were choosing other nation. In Italy Poles were customary signing into "northern" or "German" nations. For example, at the University of Bologna, Nicolaus Copernicus in 1496 enrolled into the natio germanorum (Natio of the Germans).Nicolaus Copernicus Gesamtausgabe [6] Arthur Koestler, The Sleepwalkers [7] Pierre Gassendi, Oliver Thill, The Life of Copernicus (1473-1543) [8]

See also

• Landsmannschaft (Studentenverbindung)

References

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