The foundation of the University of Vilnius
The foundation of the University of Vilnius was shaped by the struggle between the Reformation and the Catholic Reform. The idea of a Vilnius College was initiated by the Jesuits in 1565. The first Jesuits came to Vilnius in 1569 and started preparing the ground for the foundation of a college. Officially, the college was opened on July 17, 1570. It was not easy to transform a college into a higher school; it required a lot of funds and a sufficient number of qualified teachers. In 1577, Pope Gregory XIII as well as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Stephanus Bathoreus gave their approval to the idea of establishing a university in Vilnius. The official name of the University was Academia et Universitas Vilnensis Societatis Jesu (Vilnius Academy and University of the Society of Jesus).
Jesuit College
The Great Courtyard, nowadays called also by the name of Petrus Skarga, the first Rector of the University of Vilnius, represents Jesuit period of the University. The Great Courtyard was called Academy Courtyard in Jesuit times. Here one can see a plaque with the inscription Academia et Universitas Vilnensis Societatis Jesu, and a portrait of Valerianus Protasevicius (1504-1579), Bishop of Vilnius, the founder of the Jesuit College in Vilnius. In the Observatory courtyard there is the oldest building of the University (Jasinsky House), donated to the Jesuit College in 1569.
The structure of the Jesuit University
The University of Vilnius was founded following the example of the Jesuit College in Rome with only two faculties (Philosophy and Theology), in contrast with the classical structure of the universities with four faculties, including the Faculties of Law and Medicine. In Vilnius the Faculty of Law was founded only in 1641, funded by the Vice-chancellor of Lithuania Casimirus Leo Sapieha and called Schola Sapiehana. Regardless of the privilege granted in the same year, the Faculty of Medicine was founded only during the time of the later reforms of Enlightenment (1781). Jesuit Petrus Skarga (1536-1612) was the first Rector of the University of Vilnius (1579-1584). He was the initiator of the foundation of Jesuit colleges in Polotsk, Riga and Tartu.
The University of Vilnius and the Age of Enlightenment
In 1773, the Jesuit order was dissolved in Europe and the University was taken under the authority of the State Educational Commission. Educational Commission started the reorganisation of the basic structures of the University. In 1781 it was given a new name, the Principal School of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Schola Princeps MagniDucatus Lithuaniae). After including into its curriculum medical, natural and legal sciences, in addition to the traditionally strong humanities, the University structure now corresponded to the organisation of the best European universities. Experiment and practice became the main tools of the scientific thought at the University of Vilnius.
Imperial University of Vilnius
Even after the abolition of the State in 1795, the University of Vilnius maintained the same rapid pace of intellectual life and continued promoting new ideas in natural sciences. Having become the Imperial University in 1803, the University of Vilnius preserved its autonomy. For over three decades until 1832, despite pressure from the tsarist authorities, the University was a herald of scientific thought and political freedom, the centre of the Lithuanian Enlightenment. In the early 19th century, the University of Vilnius was the largest in the Russian Empire according to its number of students and University departments. The life of the University was closely related to the activities of Adam Jerzy Czartoryski, curator of Vilnius educational district.
Closing University of Vilnius
Because of the support expressed by many professors and students of the University to the ideas of the uprising of 1831, Tsar Nicholas I issued a decree closing the University in 1832. After the closing, the Medical Faculty was reorganized into the Academy of Medicine and Surgery. Until 1842, the Academy was located in the former buildings of the University and in 1844 it was transferred to Kiev. The Faculty of Theology was reorganized into the Theological Academy and transferred to St. Petersburg in 1842. The Veterinary Institute, the Botanical Garden, the Medical and Geographical Societies and the Astronomical Observatory continued functioning in Vilnius. The famous Observatory of Vilnius University, which functioned until 1883, was put at the disposal of the observatory of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences. In 1867, a Public Library was opened in the former premises of the University, which functioned until 1919 and became the basis for the library of the re-established University.
University of Stephanus Bathoreus
Since the declaration of the reestablishment of the State of Lithuania on February 16, 1918, the idea to restore the University of Vilnius was consistently supported by public institutions and the Lithuanian State Council. In April 1919, Vilnius was occupied by the Polish Army and the opening of the Polish University of Stephanus Bathoreus was legitimized. It functioned until 1939.
In the Turmoil of 1939-1940
By the Treaty of October 10, 1939, the Soviet Union returned Vilnius to Lithuania at a very high price, and on December 15th of the same year, the Lithuanian University of Vilnius was re-established on the basis of the resolution by the Lithuanian Parliament. In 1940, Lithuania was annexed by the Soviet Union. The University of Vilnius was reorganised again, according to the model of Soviet universities. Studies were brutally made Soviet. The dismissal of several professors was politically motivated. Thus, lecturers, students and office employees became actively involved in the anti-Soviet resistance movement.
Closing University of Vilnius in 1943
At the beginning of the Nazi occupation in June 24, 1941, all Jewish professors and students were dismissed from the University by order of the occupiers. The activities of the University were restricted in a number of ways: there was a ban on maintaining a thesis for a degree and on the issuance of diplomas of higher education and research was limited. With the youth boycott of the call-up by the Nazi organised Lithuanian SS league, the University, just like other higher education institutions of Lithuania, was closed and plundered on March 17, 1943. The buildings of the University were taken over by barracks and military hospitals.
University in the Soviet Period
With the seizure of Vilnius by the Red Army in the summer of 1944, Lithuanian society lost its hope to regain the independent State. The connivance of Western allies enabled the Soviets to start a second occupation. The Sovietisation of Lithuania was carried out by employing brutal Stalinist instruments: the economy was restructured, national culture was devastated and so was universally acclaimed values, a strange mode of life and morality was introduced. The State University of Vilnius was turned into a standard Soviet school of higher education.
Anniversary of the University in the Soviet period
Under the severe circumstances of stagnation, the University lived up to its 400th anniversary. The organisers of the celebration had to overcome the unwillingness of the authorities to recognize that the University of Vilnius was older than the University of Moscow. Despite rigorous ideological supervision, scientific conferences were organised and the gallery commemorating prominent professors was extended. For the first time in the post-war years, the buildings of the old University were restored (in 1985 a European golden medal was awarded for preserving this unique piece of architecture).
University of Vilnius – faithful to the European science tradition
After the restoration of Lithuania’s independence in 1990, a new period of the University history began. Perhaps for the first time in the 20th century, the University of Vilnius ceased to be a university faithful to one national or totalitarian ideology. In 1994, a memorial plaque was laid in the University of Vilnius to commemorate its founder, Stephanus Bathoreus, King of Poland and a Grand Duke of Lithuania of Hungarian extraction. One of the most prominent Polish historians, professor Juliusz Bardach said on this occasion: “there is a spirit of Europe in the University of Vilnius”.
Vilnius University representing Lithuania in the European Park of Miniatures
Recognition of the University of Vilnius culminated in 2006. Model of the university was opened on the 6th of July, 2006 in the in the European Park of Miniatures in Brussels representing Lithuania. Lithuania was the only country presenting university as the country’s achievement.
