These were sometimes established
"with all the privileges of Paris and Bologna," or "all the privileges
of any other university."
The authorities who granted privileges were the sovereigns of Various
countries,--the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, the kings of France,
England, the Spains--feudal lords, municipalities, and the Pope or his
legates. They usually conferred them upon special universities, or upon
the masters and students in specified towns, and sometimes only for a
definite term of years. Minor privileges differed greatly in different
localities, but the more important ones--indicated above--were possessed
by nearly all universities.
The documents which follow illustrate both the variety of privileges and
the variety of authorities who granted them.
(a) _Special Protection is granted by the Sovereign_
I. The earliest known privilege of any kind connected with the history
of mediaeval universities is the _Authentic Habita_. It was granted by
Frederick Barbarossa (Frederick I), Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, at
the Diet of Roncaglia, Italy, in 1158; probably through the influence
of Doctors of Law from Bologna. These men were doubtless familiar with
the fact that similar privileges had been given to teachers and scholars
by various Roman emperors, some of which were preserved in the Code of
Justinian (see p. 54). The _Authentic Habita_ may be regarded as the
revival of an ancient Roman custom.
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