Academic Confinement

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Coimbra > Coimbra > Coimbra > Alta

Location

The Academic Prison is located in the city of Coimbra, in the municipality of Coimbra, situated in the Alta zone, where the imposing University stands. This unique space is housed on the lower floors of the Joanina Library, one of the most emblematic buildings of the university complex. Its central location in the historic area of the university gives it a unique context, integrated into the very structure that once represented its authority.

The University and its Jurisdictional Power

For centuries, the University of Coimbra enjoyed remarkable legal autonomy, known as Academic Jurisdiction. This privilege allowed the institution, the oldest in Portugal, to detain and judge individuals who committed offenses within its jurisdiction. It was not limited to students, but also covered staff, 'lentes' (professors), and even family members visiting there. This prerogative underscores the importance and power the university held in maintaining order and discipline within its academic body and surrounding community, something unusual in the country's legal history.

From the Medieval Prison to the Heart of the Library

The Academic Prison was established in 1593, initially beneath the Sala dos Grandes Atos (Hall of Grand Acts), then known as the Throne Room. In 1773, following the Pombaline reform, the prison was transferred to the lower floors of the Joanina Library, where it remains today. During these works, traces of the original medieval prison were discovered. The prison structure included common cells, a visiting room, and two solitary cells, designated as "Segredos" (Secrets), where the most problematic prisoners were held. A spiral staircase can be observed, which connected these cells to the former house of the Royal Academic Guard, highlighting its integrated functionality.

Life Behind Academic Bars

The reasons for detention in the Academic Prison were varied and peculiar. They included academic infractions such as cheating on exams, missing classes, or falling asleep, but also more serious offenses like stealing books from the valuable Joanina Library. Interestingly, certain women considered "scandalous" could also be detained. The duration of incarceration could vary between a few hours and a maximum of six months, depending on the severity of the offense. A notable aspect is that some detained students continued to attend classes, accompanied by the Royal Academic Guard, returning to prison at the end of the day. After the liberal revolution in 1834, the prison was deactivated and subsequently used as a deposit for books and manuscripts from convents and monasteries, marking a new phase in its long history.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt