Kant Russian State University

Kant Russian State University, formerly known as Königsberg Albertina University (1544-1945) and Kaliningrad State University (1967-2005), is the oldest university in the Russian Federation.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Albertina University was opened in Königsberg in 1544 by Albrecht of Brandenburg, first duke of a Protestant Prussia, as a Lutheran counterpart to the Roman Catholic Jagiellonian University of Krakow. It was the second oldest university in Brandenburg-Prussia and comprised four colleges - of theology, of medicine, of philosophy, and of law. Its first rector was 36-year-old poet Georg Sabinus, son--in-law of Philipp Melanchthon. Subsequent rectors included numerous Prussian royals, who had never been to the university.

Related Topics:
Königsberg - 1544 - Albrecht of Brandenburg - Protestant - Prussia - Lutheran - Roman Catholic - Jagiellonian University - Krakow - Brandenburg-Prussia - Georg Sabinus - Philipp Melanchthon

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the 17th century, the university was known as a home to Simon Dach and his fellow poets. In the 18th century, its rector was Immanuel Kant, who never left Konigsberg and whose grave is located in the university premises. Its magnificent botanical garden was inaugurated in 1811. Two years later, Friedrich Bessel established his outstanding observatory next door to the garden. Other university professors included such giants of world science as the philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1806-07), the biologist Karl Ernst von Baer (1817-34), the mathematicians Carl Gustav Jacobi (1829-42), the mineralogist Franz Ernst Neumann (1828-76), and the physicist Hermann von Helmholtz (1849-55).

Related Topics:
Simon Dach - Immanuel Kant - 1811 - Friedrich Bessel - Johann Gottlieb Fichte - Karl Ernst von Baer - Carl Gustav Jacobi - Franz Ernst Neumann - Hermann von Helmholtz

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the 20th century, the university was most famous for its school of mathematics, associated with the names of Einstein's teacher Hermann Minkowski and David Hilbert, one of the greatest modern mathematicians. In 1944, the university celebrated its 400th anniversary.

Related Topics:
20th century - Einstein - Hermann Minkowski - David Hilbert - 1944

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The following year, however, much of Konigsberg was annihilated by the Red Army. 80% of the university campus was destroyed. The Albertina was closed and replaced with the russophone Kaliningrad Teachers Institute. In 1967, the university was reinstated as Kaliningrad State University. Inside modern buildings, some remains of the old university structures may be seen.

Related Topics:
Red Army - 1967

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During the celebrations of Kaliningrad's 750th anniversary in 2005, Vladimir Putin and Gerhard Schröder announced that the university would be renamed into the Kant Russian State University.

Related Topics:
2005 - Vladimir Putin - Gerhard Schröder

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~