On This Day

Establishment of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, the Catholic University of the Philippines, the old

Establishment of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, the Catholic University of the Philippines, the oldest existing university in Asia and the largest Catholic university in the world

The University of Santo Tomas (UST; Filipino: Unibersidad ng Santo Tomás), officially the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines or colloquially as Ustê, is a private Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Miguel de Benavides, third Archbishop of Manila, it has the oldest extant university charter in Asia and is one of the world's largest Catholic universities in terms of enrollment found on one campus. It is the main campus of the University of Santo Tomas System that is run by the Order of Preachers.

UST was granted the title Royal by King Charles III of Spain in 1785. Pope Leo XIII made UST a pontifical university in 1902.

Historical Significance

The University of Santo Tomas (UST; Filipino: Unibersidad ng Santo Tomás), officially the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines or colloquially as Ustê, is a private Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines.

Events Before

  1. Galileo Galilei discovers the first three moons of Jupiter: Io, Europa and Ganymede

    There are 97 known moons of the planet Jupiter. This number does not include a number of meter-sized moonlets thought to be shed from the inner moons, nor hundreds of possible kilometer-sized outer…

  2. First Dutch settlers arrive from New Jersey to colonize Manhattan Island

    First Dutch settlers arrive from New Jersey to colonize Manhattan Island

  3. John Guy sets sail from Bristol with 39 other colonists for Newfoundland

    John Guy sets sail from Bristol with 39 other colonists for Newfoundland

  4. Polish King Wladyslaw IV Vasa claims crown as King of Russia (disputed)

    Władysław IV Vasa or Ladislaus IV (9 June 1595 – 20 May 1648) was King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania and claimant of the thrones of Sweden and Russia.

  5. Henry IV of France dies

    Henry IV of France dies

Events After

  1. Mughal prince Khurram, future Emperor Shah Jahan (20), marries Arjumand Banu Begum (19), the future Mumtaz Mahal, for wh

    Mughal prince Khurram, future Emperor Shah Jahan (20), marries Arjumand Banu Begum (19), the future Mumtaz Mahal, for whom he later built the Taj Mahal

  2. Anne Hutchison, nee Marbury, marries William Hutchison in London

    Anne Hutchison, nee Marbury, marries William Hutchison in London

  3. German astronomer Simon Marius is the first to observe the Andromeda Galaxy through a telescope, describing it as "like

    German astronomer Simon Marius is the first to observe the Andromeda Galaxy through a telescope, describing it as "like a candle seen at night through a horn"

  4. First observation of Neptune - Galileo observes and records a "fixed star" without realizing it is a planet

    First observation of Neptune - Galileo observes and records a "fixed star" without realizing it is a planet

  5. Bermuda officially becomes part of the Englisg Colony of Virginia

    Bermuda officially becomes part of the Englisg Colony of Virginia

More from the 1610s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on April 28, 1611?
The University of Santo Tomas (UST; Filipino: Unibersidad ng Santo Tomás), officially the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines or colloquially as Ustê, is a private Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines. Founded on April 28, 1611, by Spanish friar Miguel de Benavides, third Archbishop of Manila, it has the oldest extant university charter in Asia and is one of the world's largest Catholic universities in terms of enrollment found on one campus. It is the main campus of the University of Santo Tomas System that is run by the Order of Preachers.
Why is Establishment of the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, the Cath... significant?
The University of Santo Tomas (UST; Filipino: Unibersidad ng Santo Tomás), officially the Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas, The Catholic University of the Philippines or colloquially as Ustê, is a private Catholic research university in Manila, Philippines.

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