Jean de Bourgogne (John IV, Duke of Brabant), founder of the University of Louvain in 1425: Primus Academiae Conditor fuit Ioannes Quartus, Lotharingiae, Brabantiae, et Limburgiae Dux, Marchio Sacri Imperii.[2]
Portrait of the Pope Martin V, author of the bulla confirming on December 9, 1425, the creation of the University of Louvain: à Johanne IV. Brabantiae Duce An. 1425. fundata et à Martino V. P. M.[pontifex maximus]An. seq. 5. Id. dec. Confirmata (Founded by John IV, Duke of Brabant, the year 1425 and confirmed by Martin V, Supreme Pontiff, the 5th day of the Ides of December following).[3]
Albertus Risaeus (1510–1574), participated in the pro-Protestant movement at the University of Louvain. He fled to the United Provinces.
Michel de Bay (Michaël Baius) (1513–1589), professor and rector of the University of Louvain, founder of the doctrine of "Baïanisme", precursor of Jansenism.
Cornelius Jansen, the father of Jansenism and a rector and professor of the old University of Leuven.
Charles Lambrechts (1753–1825), professor of canon law (1777), rector of the University of Louvain in 1786 and freemason member of the lodge "the true and perfect Harmony" in Mons and Minister of Justice of the French Republic from 3 Vendémiaire year VI to 2 Thermidor year VII (24 September 1797 – 20 July 1799).[4][5]
The name was in medieval Latin Studium generale Lovaniense[6] or Universitas Studii Lovaniensis,[7] in humanistical LatinAcademia Lovaniensis,[8] and most usually,[9]Universitas Lovaniensis,[10] in Dutch Universiteyt Loven[11] and also Hooge School van Loven.[12]
It is commonly referred to as the University of Leuven or University of Louvain, sometimes with the qualification "old" to distinguish it from the Catholic University of Leuven (established 1835 in Leuven). This might also refer to a short-lived but historically important State University of Leuven, 1817–1835.