Drunkenness, theft, debauchery, brawls and xenophobic antics. Probably this was not what Casimir the Great expected when he founded the first Polish university in Krakow ...
During the Middle Ages, students often got into trouble. There were many reasons. A large part of students who went to Krakow for education from distant places, having a taste of freedom, indulged in entertainment that was condemned or forbidden at that time.
Perhaps the most common fault of the students was drunkenness . In medieval Krakow, wineries and taverns sprang up like mushrooms after the rain. It was said in the educated circles that they were the hotbed of all evil.
Students staying in taverns faced severe penalties, but it did not deter them from drinking alcoholic beverages. It had much worse consequences - young people often drank money spent on education. In such a situation, more than one student indulged in gambling while not avoiding cheating.
Drunkenness - the biggest bane of medieval students.
Also theft were common. The copies of the books in the dormitories were even ordered to be chained to the desktops in order to prevent their "mysterious" disappearance. Students not only stole, but were also robbed themselves:whether in taverns, when drunk or in dormitories.
Along with drunkenness and theft, debauchery flourished . As women were not allowed to study at the Krakow Academy, they were also not allowed into student dormitories. Although their inhabitants tried to "smuggle" representatives of the fair sex into boarding schools, it was more common for a student to go to a woman's house.
Another plague was the brawls . Even before Casimir the Great founded the Academy of Krakow in 1364, there were complaints about drunk youth enrolled in cathedral schools. Conflicts broke out against a variety of backgrounds, but usually ended in the same way - a brawl. Rich students often provoked the poorer by approaching the windows of the poor dormitory and insulting its inhabitants. They did not remain indebted and one night they demolished the dormitory of the rich.
Medieval Krakow witnessed many student excesses.
The conflicts were also caused by aversion towards students of other nations . Polish youth often made fun of their colleagues from Masuria. There was also dislike towards Lithuanians, Ruthenians, and most of all Germans.
The article is based on the book "Nauk przemożnych pearl" by Feliks Kiryk
A certain Stanisław Lis from Jarosław, hit by a German student, beat him first in the walls of the university, and then, more severely, on the street. The Hungarians also hated the Germans - there were clashes that ended in the devastation of the dormitory.
Hungarians also clashed with Poles. Apart from regular fights, there is a known case when one of the Polish students affixed a note with insults to the door of a Hungarian dormitory.
The Magyars complained to the rector, who ordered the student to issue an apology. As you can see, Polish students did not always live in "brotherhood" with Hungary, contrary to the well-known saying. As a rule, however, the clashes were not as brutal as in the conflicts with Germany.
Source:
Trivia is the essence of our website. Short materials devoted to interesting anecdotes, surprising details from the past, strange news from the old press. Reading that will take you no more than 3 minutes, based on single sources. This particular material is based on:
- Feliks Kiryk, The Teachings of Mighty Pearl , Krakow 1986.