University of Palencia
Spain · Europe
About
The University of Palencia was the first university of Spain. It was founded by Alfonso VIII at the request of Tello Téllez de Meneses. It was the model upon which the University of Salamanca was patterned.
Study began to flourish in Palencia and men notable for their virtue and science came from its schools, among them Julian of Cuenca, Dominic de Guzmán, and Peter González; hence the adage: "En Palencia armas y ciencia" (In Palencia arms and science).
The university was founded about 1212, shortly after the aforesaid victory in the Battle of Navas de Tolosa (others say in 1208), and the king summoned from France and Italy noted teachers of various arts and sciences, retaining them in Palencia on large salaries.
Dominic de Guzmá, the founder of the Dominican Order, regarded Palencia as his alma mater, having been mentored there by Diego de Acebo.
The death of the founder in 1214, the minority of Henry I, and the growth of its fortunate rival, Salamanca, caused the decay of Palencia, many of whose professors and students went to Salamanca, whence the erroneous belief of a transfer of the university to the latter place.
Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.