The iter italicum, the peregrinatio academica to prestigious Italian universities, holds a special place in the history of late-medieval universities. Students from all over Europe flocked to the studia on the peninsula, including several well-known - but how many more unknown? scholars and humanists from the Northern Netherlands. Nevertheless, this group of adventurous students has not yet been honoured with a monograph.This volume fills that gap. It provides the first comprehensive analysis of the nature of the iter italicum from the Northern Netherlands in the late-medieval period. Through a systematic investigation of the academic activities, background, and careers of 640 many hitherto unknown - students, the author unravels the character of the iter italicum and its place in, and contribution to, society and culture in this transitional period for the Low Countries.

List of Tables, Graphs, Figures and Maps ... ix Preface ... xv Chapter One Introduction ... 1 Context: University History ... 5 Methodology and Sources ... 14 Outline of the Book: Themes and Questions ... 19 Chapter Two Dutch Students and Italian Universities (1425-1575): Their Curriculum Studiosorum ... 25 2.1. Introducing the Population ... 25 2.2. The University Itinerary: How Many Went Where? ... 32 2.3. Choice of Faculty: The Lawyer and the Doctor ... 85 2.4. The Measure of Success: Graduation ... 99 2.5. Students' Age and Duration of Study ... 121 2.6. Summary ... 139 Chapter Three Geographical Origin ... 143 3.1. Seven Provinces: Not Yet United. Their Numbers ... 143 3.2. General Tendencies: The Catchment Areas of Italian Universities ... 178 3.3. Batavus, Frisius, Belga? University Sources as a Mirror of Identity ... 184 Chapter Four Social Background ... 195 4.1. Social Status in Universities ... 195 4.2. Students and Social Stratification in the Netherlands 208 4.3. Financing of University Studies ... 219 4.4. Social Background and Family Tradition ... 233 4.5. Summary ... 236 Chapter Five The Student in Society: Careers, Networks and Social Mobility ... 239 5.1. The Career Path Examined ... 240 5.2. Climbing the Ladder: Social Mobility and Networks 304 5.3. Summary ... 343 Chapter Six Epilogue: The Iter Italicum and Its Place in the Culture of the Late-Medieval and Early Modern Netherlands ... 347 6.1. Renaissance and Reformation, State Formation and Revolt: An Italian Connection? ... 347 6.2. Conclusion ... 370 Appendix: Additional Tables and Graphs ... 379 Bibliography ... 413 Consulted Archives and Unedited Sources Edited Sources and Secondary Literature Index