Its origins date back to the 1555 decision to create a university for the unified duchies at the Lower Rhine that were later to be merged into Prussia.
The university had four faculties: Theology, Medicine, Law and Arts.
During its period of activity it was one of the central and leading universities of the western provinces of Prussia.
In the time the university existed many famous men graduated (listed in the German version of this article).
It existed until 1818, when it was closed by King Frederick William III of Prussia.