SORBONNE

educational institution, Paris; founded, 1253, by Robert de Sorbon, chaplain to St. Louis, as society of clergy for study of, but not instruction in, theology; called Domus Sorbonnoe or commonly La Sorbonne; became center of intellectual activity in France; reconstructed by Richelieu in 17th cent.; destroyed during Revolution, 1792; revived by Napoleon, 1808; faculty of theology was removed in 1885; present buildings, La Nouvelle Sorbonne (completed 1889), are the quarters of Faculties of Letters and Science of univ. of Paris; more than 10,000 students.