The Collegiates of the College "Zur Himmelspforte" in the older Erfurt university

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Ulman Weiß
• Subject Area: History of Science ; Early Modern History ; Medieval History
• Term: from 2018 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 386494944

In 1412, Amplonius Ratingk de Berka founded the College Zur Himmelspforte (Collegium ad Portam Coeli, also called Collegium Aplonianum), it existed until the closure of the older Erfurt University in 1816. During this time, 322 collegiates were living in the College. According to the foundation, nine collegiates were appointed by the Council of the City of Rheinberg, two collegiates by the Council of the Cities of Erfurt and Erpel, one collegiate by the Council of the Cities of Herford and Soest. In 1503, a new collegiate was erected, which was appointed by the Council of the City of Herborn. All college students had to be bachelor, the Rheinberg collegiates had to be at least 15 years. After the graduation in medicine, law or theology, in any case after ten years, they had to resign from the collegiate. Each collegiate had free accomodation and free food. In the late Middle Ages, the college had a great reputation throughout the empire, the library was one of the largest in Western Europe. The aim of the project ist the completion of the list of the collegiates, as well as the registration of their biographical data and their publications. The most important source is the Liber statutorum with the incomplete list of collegiates. All biographical data must be obtain from other archival sources in several archives and libraries in Duisburg, Erfurt, Herborn, Rheinberg, Soest. The publications of the collegiates will be found in bibliographies like Gesamtkatalog der Wiegendrucke, VD 16, VD 17, VD 18, further in KVK and catalogues of small and old libraries. The biographical-bibliographic-oriented project will be enrich the knowledge about the Collegium Amplonianum, offering reliable material for further research. For the first time, quantitaive and qualitative statements about the profile of the collegiates in a long period, their academic careers, networks are possible. Due to the significance of the College, the findings are also of great value in comparative perspective. The project corresponds to the goal pursued by the Repertorium Academicum Germanicum.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants