Oxford is a unique and historic institution. Asthe oldest English-speaking university in the world, it lays claim to eightcenturies of continuous existence. There is no clear date of foundation, butteaching existed at Oxford in some form in 1096 and developed rapidly from1167, when Henry II banned English students from attending the University ofParis.
In 1188, the historian, Gerald ofWales, gave a public reading to the assembled Oxford dons and in 1190 thearrival of Emo of Friesland, the first known overseas student, initiated theUniversity‘s tradition of international scholarship. By 1201, the Universitywas headed by a magister scolarum Oxonie, on whom the title of Chancellor wasconferred in 1214, and in 1231 the masters were recognized as a universitasor corporation.
In the 13th century, rioting betweentown and gown (students and townspeople) hastened the establishment ofprimitive halls of residence. These were succeeded by the first of Oxford’scolleges, which began as medieval ‘halls of residence’ or endowed houses underthe supervision of a Master. University, Balliol and Merton Colleges,established between 1249 and 1264, were the oldest.
Less than a century later, Oxford hadachieved eminence above every other seat of learning, and won the praises ofpopes, kings and sages by virtue of its antiquity, curriculum, doctrine andprivileges. In 1355, Edward III paid tribute to the University for itsinvaluable contribution to learning; he also commented on the services renderedto the state by distinguished Oxford graduates.
Oxford early on became a centre for livelycontroversy, with scholars involved in religious and political disputes. JohnWyclif, a 14th-century Master of Balliol, campaigned for a bible in thevernacular, against the wishes of the papacy. In 1530, Henry VIII forced theUniversity to accept his divorce from Catherine of Aragon. During theReformation in the 16th century, the Anglican churchmen Cranmer, Latimer andRidley were tried for heresy and burnt at the stake in Oxford. The Universitywas Royalist in the Civil War, and Charles I held a counter-Parliament inConvocation House.
In the late 17th century, the Oxfordphilosopher John Locke, suspected of treason, was forced to flee the country.The 18th century, when Oxford was said to have forsaken port for politics, wasalso an era of scientific discovery and religious revival. Edmund Halley,Professor of Geometry, predicted the return of the comet that bears his name;John and Charles Wesley‘s prayer meetings laid the foundations of the MethodistSociety.
The University assumed a leading rolein the Victorian era, especially in religious controversy. From 1811 onwardsThe Oxford Movement sought to revitalise the Catholic aspects of the AnglicanChurch. One of its leaders, John Henry Newman, became a Roman Catholic in 1845and was later made a Cardinal. In 1860 the new University Museum was the siteof a famous debate between Thomas Huxley, the champion of evolution, and BishopWilberforce.
From 1878, academic halls wereestablished for women, who became members of the University in 1920. Since1974, all but one of Oxford’s 39 colleges have changed their statutes to admitboth men and women. St Hilda‘s remains the only women’s college.
In the years since the war, Oxford hasadded to its humanistic core a major new research capacity in the natural andapplied sciences, including medicine. In so doing, it has enhanced andstrengthened its traditional role as a focus for learning and a forum forintellectual debate.
Pictures:
top: Map of Oxford dated 1644
bottom: The University Church in 1726