Landsmannschaft (Studentenverbindung)
Encyclopedia
A Landsmannschaft is a German fraternity
of several fraternity forms called (Studentenverbindung
).
The older forms of Landsmannschaften were part of corporations
and are closely alinged with the beginnings of universities
in medieval times of the 12. and 13. century.
The newer form of Landsmannschaften are a kind of reform corps and most Landsmannschaften are members of the Coburger Convent
.
it needs to be known that the first universities in Europe
were established in the 12th and 13th century in Paris
(France
), Bologna
and Padua
Italy
, and later also in Oxford
and Cambridge
(England
). Students joined groups in regards to region in order to have protection as well as support in being heard in their interests. The two early forms were called nations
(Nationes) or college
s (Collegien) and organized not only the work but also social life and had major influence in universities as they elected the head of a university (magister) in some areas.
Landsmannschaften formerly had the character of guild
s. They were loosely organized bodies of students from the same region or nation naturally enough drawn together by their longings for companionship. A good example is the Mosellanerlandsmannschaft of the University of Jena. It contained members from the Rhineland
, Palatinate, Swabia
, and Alsace
. The purpose of the organizations in general was: (1) to encourage friendship; (2) to compel the adjustment of difficulties arising among members; (3) to protect a “brother member” against slander or other attack from outsiders; (4) to share in social enjoyments; (5) to perform friendly services for one another; (6) to yield to the will of the majority; (7) to obey the president as long as he directs for the best interests of the organization. By 1786 this code had grown to 86 paragraphs.
Fraternity
A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
of several fraternity forms called (Studentenverbindung
Studentenverbindung
A Studentenverbindung is a student corporation in a German-speaking country somewhat comparable to fraternities in the US or Canada, but mostly older and going back to other kinds of...
).
The older forms of Landsmannschaften were part of corporations
Corporation (university)
Corporation refers to different kinds of student organizations worldwide.Generally, universities in the various European countries have student organizations called corporations. The name is derived from the Latin corporatio meaning a body or group...
and are closely alinged with the beginnings of universities
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in medieval times of the 12. and 13. century.
The newer form of Landsmannschaften are a kind of reform corps and most Landsmannschaften are members of the Coburger Convent
Coburger Convent
The Coburger Convent der akademischen Landsmannschaften und Turnerschaften is an association of 100 German and Austrian Studentenverbindungen, all of which are based on the principle of tolerance...
.
History
In order to understand the history of German fraternitiesStudentenverbindung
A Studentenverbindung is a student corporation in a German-speaking country somewhat comparable to fraternities in the US or Canada, but mostly older and going back to other kinds of...
it needs to be known that the first universities in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
were established in the 12th and 13th century in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
), Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
and Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and later also in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
and Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
(England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
). Students joined groups in regards to region in order to have protection as well as support in being heard in their interests. The two early forms were called nations
Nation (university)
Student nations or simply nations are regional corporations of students at a university. Once widespread across Europe in medieval times, they are now largely restricted to the ancient universities of Sweden and Finland...
(Nationes) or college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s (Collegien) and organized not only the work but also social life and had major influence in universities as they elected the head of a university (magister) in some areas.
Landsmannschaften formerly had the character of guild
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
s. They were loosely organized bodies of students from the same region or nation naturally enough drawn together by their longings for companionship. A good example is the Mosellanerlandsmannschaft of the University of Jena. It contained members from the Rhineland
Rhineland
Historically, the Rhinelands refers to a loosely-defined region embracing the land on either bank of the River Rhine in central Europe....
, Palatinate, Swabia
Swabia
Swabia is a cultural, historic and linguistic region in southwestern Germany.-Geography:Like many cultural regions of Europe, Swabia's borders are not clearly defined...
, and Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
. The purpose of the organizations in general was: (1) to encourage friendship; (2) to compel the adjustment of difficulties arising among members; (3) to protect a “brother member” against slander or other attack from outsiders; (4) to share in social enjoyments; (5) to perform friendly services for one another; (6) to yield to the will of the majority; (7) to obey the president as long as he directs for the best interests of the organization. By 1786 this code had grown to 86 paragraphs.