TheUniversitas Istropolitana (since the 16th century frequently – but incorrectly – referred to asAcademia Istropolitana) inBratislava (Hungarian:Pozsony /German:Pressburg) was arguably the third university to be found in theKingdom of Hungary and the firstuniversity to be founded in the territory of present-daySlovakia. Despite its brief existence (1465–1491), it features prominently in Slovakhistoriography.
The word "Istropolitana" is taken from theancient Greek name for Bratislava,Istropolis, which means "Danube City".
It was founded in 1465 byPope Paul II on the request of theHungarian kingMatthias Corvinus. It was the only university in theKingdom of Hungary at that time, although historically not the first in the kingdom. Many well-known lecturers from Austria, Italy and elsewhere taught at the school, such asGaleotto Marzio andJános Vitéz.Regiomontanus served as the chair inmathematics while the court astrologer for Corvinus,Marcin Bylica, was the chair inastrology from the university's inception.[1] The university ceased to exist around 1490 after the death of Matthias Corvinus.
When a wealthy local citizen Gmaitl died in 1467 and his real estate became the crown's property, kingMatthias Corvinus decided to use them to house the university that was being established.
Therenaissance university building still stands in Bratislava, currently housing theAcademy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, situated at Ventúrska street 3.
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