The University of Naples and the organisation of official culture

The emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen created the University of Naples in 1224, but we do not have the foundation charter; we have only a circular letter in which he invites students to come to Naples. We do not know, in fact, if there was a formal institutional act or if certain statutes or decrees were issued. In any case, the circular letter of invitation is particularly important for two reasons. The first is that Frederick declares in an absolutely new way that culture generates riches and nobility. The second is that the circular letter is transmitted from the collection of epistles attributed to Petrus de Vinea, the protonotary, head of the imperial chancery. The epistles attributed to Petrus de Vinea were a formidable instrument of propaganda not only because of their vigorously effective ideological content, but also because of their extraordinary style. This style was an impressive “symbol of power” demonstrating to the world Frederick’s renewed imperial authority. At the same time, the University of Naples was able to provide monarchs with a wide choice of people of excellent education, essential for the administration of the state, which was being organized more and more centrally.