Editing College of Sorbonne (section)

==Foundation==
[[Robert de Sorbon]], a native of [[Le Réthelois]], was a distinguished professor and famous preacher who lived from 1201 till 1274. Sorbon found that there was a defect in the primitive organization of the University of Paris. The two principal [[mendicant]] orders—the [[Dominican Order|Dominicans]] and the [[Franciscans]]—each had [[college]]s at Paris where they delivered lectures which day students could attend without fee.<ref name="Catholic" />

Robert de Sorbon decided that the university should also provide free instruction, so that it could compete with the religious orders. Further, he believed the society of professors should follow the practices of the [[cenobitic]] life, except in vows.  His important work was made possible by the high esteem in which de Sorbon was held at Paris, together with his intellectual brilliance, great generosity, and the assistance of his friends.  The foundation dates from 1257 or the beginning of 1258. [[Guillaume de Saint-Amour]], [[Gérard d'Abbeville]], [[Henry of Ghent]], [[Guillaume des Grez]], [[Odo of Douai]], [[Chrétien de Beauvais]], [[Gérard de Reims]], [[Nicolas de Bar]] were among the most illustrious scholars connected either with the first chairs in the Sorbonne, or with the first association that constituted it.  These [[Expert|savants]] were already attached to the university staff.<ref name="Catholic" />