(Celje, first half of the 15th century – Vienna, November 29, 1505)

Eight-time dean and two-time principal

Briccius Preprost of Celje (de Cilia) enrolled the University of Vienna in 1457. Between 1468 and 1485 he taught at the faculty of arts. In 1485, he became the canon with St. Stephen; in the winter semester of the same year, he was appointed dean of the faulty of arts for the third time. In this regard, the few sources preserved to this day offer an interesting story.

In the spring of 1486, he refused to testify at a session at the faculty of theology against his compatriot, doctor of medicine and presbyter of the Diocese of Aquileia Jurij of Celje (Georgius de Cilia). As a result, he was simply expelled. The issue at hand were writings by the said Jurij in which the faculty authorities found "offensive, indecent, indeed heretical thoughts and things calling to a breach of public morale, and recommending moral laxity." Needless to say, the faculty and the inquisitor ordered the writings to be immediately destroyed.

After the unfortunate event, Briccius continued his studies at the University of Padua. However, the affair was soon resolved and in 1491, he returned to the faculty of theology in a big way: the dean was ordered by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III to convene a session with a single agenda item: reinstatement of Briccius as full-time professor. Intervention by the Emperor into internal matters of the faculty was a highly unusual affair for the time. Most likely, it was the result of the influence of Briccius' protector in the imperial court, Slovenian compatriot Bernard Perger, who was the university superintendent at the time. However, the position of a full-time professor required the title of doctor of theology, yet Briccius was merely a licentiate. Thus, the faulty, again upon request by the Emperor, convened again in early 1492 to eliminate this administrative obstacle. Thereafter, Briccius was a professor at the faculty until his death. He was appointed dean eight times, and principal twice (1491 and 1497).

Notable Celje natives in Europe:

Notable Europeans in Celje:

SHARE