College of Sorbonne
At the time that he founded his college, the University of Paris had already been in existence for half a century, and already had thousands of students.
Obtaining a higher degree in theology could take as long as twenty years, and therefore required considerable financial support.
As the college grew, Sorbon provided a library containing over a thousand volumes by 1292, the largest in the university, and a chapel.
It contained a large amphitheater, reception halls and meeting rooms, the offices of the rector of the University of Paris, and the faculties of arts and sciences.
Robert de Sorbon, a native of Le Réthelois, was a distinguished professor and famous preacher who lived from 1201 till 1274.
The two principal mendicant orders—the Dominicans and the Franciscans—each had colleges at Paris where they delivered lectures which day students could attend without fee.
[5] Robert de Sorbon decided that the university should also provide free instruction, so that it could compete with the religious orders.
His important work was made possible by the high esteem in which de Sorbon was held at Paris, together with his intellectual brilliance, great generosity, and the assistance of his friends.
[5] The constitution of the society as conceived by De Sorbon was simple: an administrator (provisor), associates (socii), and guests (hospites).
The provisor was the head; nothing could be done without consulting him; he installed the members selected by the society, and confirmed the statutes drawn up by it; he had to provide for everything.
From the material and intellectual point of view, they enjoyed the same privileges as the members: board, lodging, books, spiritual and scholastic exercises but they had no votes.
As part of their training for this role, members had to deliver sermons or discussions (collationes) to the community on designated days.
If Claude Héméré (1574–1650, librarian of the Sorbonne) saw in the project the conception of a powerful intellect, "Hoc primus in lycaeo Parisiensi vidit Robertus", its realization became a model college for others.
This equality was always maintained with scrupulous care; the Sorbon repeated as an axiom, Omnes nos sumus socii et aequales, and referred to the college as pauperem nostram Sorbonem.
A high standard of scholarship was maintained and the severity of the actus Sorbonnicus, or examination for degrees, including the defence of the "thesis Robertina", became proverbial.
[5] In 1470, the Sorbonne introduced the art of printing into France by calling to Paris three of Gutenberg's associates, Gering, Friburger, and Crantz.
Among its principal patrons and benefactors was Cardinal Richelieu, who held for a time the office of provisor and who, in 1635, laid the cornerstone of an edifice to be built at his expense for the use of the college.
At the beginning of the 20th century, it was occupied by the Faculty of Humanities and by the various departments of letters and science which formed the École des Hautes Etudes.
