University and Royal Power in Spain in 16 century (on evolution of relations)

The article deals with the relations of the royal government and theuniversity in Spain in the early modern times. Since the reign of the Catholic kings, there is a strengthening of control over theUniversity of royal power and the weakening of the influence of Popes in this area. On the example of Salamanca University, the mainsource of manpower for the Royal Authority, shows how throughout the 16th century. active participation of Spanish monarchs insolving the problems of university life. During the reign of Charles V, a drop in power of the chancellor of the university as arepresentative of the ecclesiastical authority becomes noticeable. Changes occur in the status of the rector, traditionally representing thestudent section of the university community in Salamanca. The Royal Council solves problems and conflicts of the inner university lifethat were related to issues of vacant posts, the issue of licenses for activities of certain professors outside the university, etc. The mostobvious way the strengthening of the influence of secular power in the university life of the country took place through the royalinspection, personified the direct control of the university. With Philip II an epoch of maximum involvement of royal power in theaffairs of the university begins. The visits of the royal inspectors completely replace the almost forgotten Pope's initiatives on thefunctioning of the university, in the first place, compliance with its statutes. By the results of the royal inspections the university reformsof D. Almansa (1560), D. Covarrubias (1561) and J. Zuniga (1594) were conducted. In terms of conflict of interest between variousgroups of the University Corporation monarchy was regarded as a kind of referee. The University begins to perceive the power ofmonarchy as the power authorizing its activities. Moreover, almost all decisions of the university community are subject to royalapproval. The University appeals to the royal authority as a guarantor of observing university privileges as well. Thus, there is a clearevolution in the relations of university and government structures, whereby the university community in Spain is a sphere of influenceand patronage of secular power.

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