Princely Academy from Iasi
Encyclopedia
The Princely Academy of Iași was an institution of higher learning, active in the 18th and 19th centuries.
(capital of the Principality of Moldavia
) by the Prince Antioh Cantemir
in 1707, the Academy symbolically continued the Academia Vasiliană
, although no direct link exists between the two similar institutions. The main reformer of the Academy was Grigore III Ghica
(1776), who modernised it as to compete with the European universities. The studies were done in Greek, and for the better part of the 18th century they were basically Aristotelian. Beginning with the 1760s a series of enlightened directors introduced into the Academy the study of mathematics, natural sciences and modern philosophy, translating and adapting European handbooks. In 1814 Gheorghe Asachi
lectured for the first time in Romanian at the Academy, training a class of engineers, until 1819. In 1821 the Academy was disestablished by order of the Sultan, following the activity of the Greek patriotic organization, Filiki Eteria
. Political circumstances caused that another Academy did not exist until 1835, when the Mihaileana Academy was established. The new institution had some professors from the ancient one, so that we can trace a direct lineage between the two Academies. The Princely Academy did not offer standard academic degrees, but only diplomas that certified that the possessor was worthy of “the name of learned man”. This name gave to the bearer the possibility to hold diverse administrative offices within the Ottoman Empire
and Romanian Principalities.
History
Founded in IașiIasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
(capital of the Principality of Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
) by the Prince Antioh Cantemir
Antioh Cantemir
Antioh Cantemir , son of Constantin Cantemir and older brother of Dimitrie Cantemir , was a Moldavian Voivode between December 18, 1695 and September 12, 1700, and again from February 23, 1705 to July 31, 1707.-Reigns:He and Dimitrie successfully plotted against Prince Constantin...
in 1707, the Academy symbolically continued the Academia Vasiliană
Vasilian College
The Vasilian College or Vasilian Academy was an institution of higher learning in the Principality of Moldavia, founded by Prince Vasile Lupu in 1640....
, although no direct link exists between the two similar institutions. The main reformer of the Academy was Grigore III Ghica
Grigore III Ghica
Grigore III Ghica was twice the Prince of Moldavia between 29 March 1764 – 3 February 1767 and September 1774 – 10 October 1777 and of Wallachia: 28 October 1768 – November 1769....
(1776), who modernised it as to compete with the European universities. The studies were done in Greek, and for the better part of the 18th century they were basically Aristotelian. Beginning with the 1760s a series of enlightened directors introduced into the Academy the study of mathematics, natural sciences and modern philosophy, translating and adapting European handbooks. In 1814 Gheorghe Asachi
Gheorghe Asachi
Gheorghe Asachi was a Moldavian-born Romanian prose writer, poet, painter, historian, dramatist and translator. An Enlightenment-educated polymath and polyglot, he was one of the most influential people of his generation...
lectured for the first time in Romanian at the Academy, training a class of engineers, until 1819. In 1821 the Academy was disestablished by order of the Sultan, following the activity of the Greek patriotic organization, Filiki Eteria
Filiki Eteria
thumb|right|200px|The flag of the Filiki Eteria.Filiki Eteria or Society of Friends was a secret 19th century organization, whose purpose was to overthrow Ottoman rule over Greece and to establish an independent Greek state. Society members were mainly young Phanariot Greeks from Russia and local...
. Political circumstances caused that another Academy did not exist until 1835, when the Mihaileana Academy was established. The new institution had some professors from the ancient one, so that we can trace a direct lineage between the two Academies. The Princely Academy did not offer standard academic degrees, but only diplomas that certified that the possessor was worthy of “the name of learned man”. This name gave to the bearer the possibility to hold diverse administrative offices within the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and Romanian Principalities.
Notable academics
- Nikephoros TheotokisNikephoros TheotokisNikephoros Theotokis or Nikiforos Theotokis was a Greek scholar and theologian, who became an archbishop in the southern provinces of the Russian Empire...
(1764-1765; 1776-1777) - Iosipos Moisiodax (1765 – 1776)
- Nicolaos Zerzoulis (Cercel) (1766 – 1722)
- Daniel PhilippidisDaniel PhilippidisDaniel Philippidis was a Greek scholar, figure of the modern Greek Enlightenment and member of the patriotic organization Filiki Etaireia. He was one of the most active scholars of the Greek diaspora in the Danubian Principalities and Western Europe...
(1784-1786; 1803 – 1806) - Stephanos Doungas (1813 – 1816)
- Dimitrios Panayotou Govdelas (1808-1811; 1816-1821)
Notable alumni
- Alecu Beldiman
- Costachi Conachi
- George Săulescu
- Daniil Scavischi
- Scarlat Sturdza
- Vasile Vârnav
See also
- Princely Academy of Bucharest
- Academia VasilianăVasilian CollegeThe Vasilian College or Vasilian Academy was an institution of higher learning in the Principality of Moldavia, founded by Prince Vasile Lupu in 1640....
- Academia MihăileanăAcademia MihaileanaAcademia Mihăileană was an institution of higher learning based in Iași, Moldavia, and active in the first part of the 19th century. Like other Eastern Europeean institutions of its kind, it was both a high school and a higher learning institute, housing several faculties.-History:Academia...
- Alexandru Ioan Cuza UniversityAlexandru Ioan Cuza UniversityThe Alexandru Ioan Cuza University is a public university located in Iaşi, Romania. The University of Iaşi, as it was named at first, is the oldest higher education institution in Romania, founded one year after the establishment of the Romanian state, by an 1860 decree of Prince Alexandru Ioan...
Sources
- Bârsănescu, Ștefan, Academia Domnească din Iași. 1714 - 1821, București : Editura de Stat Didactică și Pedagogică, 1962
- Camariano-Cioran, Ariadna, Les Academies princières de Bucarest et de Jassy et leurs professeurs, Thessaloniki : Institute for Balkan Studies, 1974