The University of Bordeaux (French: ''Université de Bordeaux'') is a

public university A public university or public college is a university or college that is in owned by the state or receives significant public funds through a national or subnational government, as opposed to a private university. Whether a national universi ...

based in

Nouvelle-Aquitaine Nouvelle-Aquitaine (; oc, Nòva Aquitània or ; eu, Akitania Berria; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Novéle-Aguiéne'') is the largest administrative region in France, spanning the west and southwest of the mainland. The region was created by ...

in southwestern France. It has several campuses in the cities and towns of

Bordeaux Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectu ...

, Dax,

Gradignan Gradignan (; oc-gsc, Gradinhan) is a commune in the Gironde department in southwestern France. It is a suburb of the city of Bordeaux and is located on its southwest side. Thus, it is a member of the Bordeaux Métropole. Population Educat ...

Périgueux Périgueux (, ; oc, Peireguers or ) is a commune in the Dordogne department, in the administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. Périgueux is the prefecture of Dordogne, and the capital city of Périgord. It is also ...

Pessac Pessac (; ) is a commune in the Gironde department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France. It is a member of the metropolis of Bordeaux, being the second-largest suburb of Bordeaux and located just southwest of it. Pessac is also home to ...

, and

Talence Talence (, ; oc, Talança, ; ca, Talença, ) is a commune in the Gironde department, administrative region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. It is the third-largest suburb of the city of Bordeaux, and is adjacent to it on the south side. It is ...

. There are also several smaller teaching sites in various other towns in the region, including in

Bayonne Bayonne (; eu, Baiona ; oc, label= Gascon, Baiona ; es, Bayona) is a city in Southwestern France near the Spanish border. It is a commune and one of two subprefectures in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine r ...

. The University of Bordeaux counts more than 50,000 students, over 6,000 of which are international. It is a member of the ComUE d'Aquitaine university group.

History

Original formation

In 286, a university had been created by the Romans. At this time, the city was an important administrative centre and the school had to train administrators. Only

rhetoric Rhetoric () is the art of persuasion, which along with grammar and logic (or dialectic), is one of the three ancient arts of discourse. Rhetoric aims to study the techniques writers or speakers utilize to inform, persuade, or motivate par ...

and

grammar In linguistics, the grammar of a natural language is its set of structural constraints on speakers' or writers' composition of clauses, phrases, and words. The term can also refer to the study of such constraints, a field that includes doma ...

were taught (including the study of classical texts).

Modern university

The original ''Université de Bordeaux'' was established by

Pope Eugene IV Pope Eugene IV ( la, Eugenius IV; it, Eugenio IV; 1383 – 23 February 1447), born Gabriele Condulmer, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 3 March 1431 to his death in February 1447. Condulmer was a Venetian, and ...

on 7 June 1441 when Bordeaux was an English town. In 1793, during the

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are conside ...

, the

National Convention The National Convention (french: link=no, Convention nationale) was the parliament of the Kingdom of France for one day and the French First Republic for the rest of its existence during the French Revolution, following the two-year Nation ...

abolished the university. The university re-opened in 1896 as a result of the law of 18 July 1896. In 1970, the university was split into three universities: Bordeaux 1, Bordeaux 2, and Bordeaux 3. In 1995, Bordeaux 4 split off from Bordeaux 1. Since 2014, the aforementioned universities have been reunited to form the University of Bordeaux, except for Bordeaux 3, which did not take part in the merger and remains independent of the University of Bordeaux.

Notable alumni

Academia

Geoffrey Keating Geoffrey Keating ( ga, Seathrún Céitinn; c. 1569 – c. 1644) was a 17th-century historian. He was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, and is buried in Tubrid Graveyard in the parish of Ballylooby-Duhill. He became an Irish Catholic priest and a ...

(c. 1569–c. 1644), Irish historian * Léon Duguit (1859–1928), French scholar of public law * Henri Moysset (1875–1949), French historian and politician *

Jacques Ellul Jacques Ellul (; ; January 6, 1912 – May 19, 1994) was a French philosopher, sociologist, lay theologian, and professor who was a noted Christian anarchist. Ellul was a longtime Professor of History and the Sociology of Institutions on ...

(1912–1994), French philosopher, sociologist, lay theologian, and professor * James Joll (1918–1994), British historian and university lecturer * Julio Cotler (1932–2019), Peruvian anthropologist and sociologist * Théophile Obenga (b. 1936), Congolese Egyptologist *

Spencer C. Tucker Spencer C. Tucker is a Fulbright scholar, retired university professor, and author of works on military history. He taught history at Texas Christian University for 30 years and held the John Biggs Chair of Military History at the Virginia Milita ...

(b. 1937), American military historian * Charles Butterworth (b. 1938), American political philosopher * Helene Hagan (b. 1939), Moroccan–American anthropologist and Amazigh activist *

Pascal Salin Pascal Salin (born May 16, 1939) is a French economist, professor ''emeritus'' at the Université Paris-Dauphine and a specialist in public finance and monetary economics. He is a former president of the Mont Pelerin Society (1994 to 1996). Biog ...

(b. 1939), French economist and professor * Marie-France Vignéras (b. 1946), French mathematician *

Alfredo Co Alfredo Pimentel Co (; born on November 30, 1949) is a Filipino Sinologist and philosopher.
.' ...

(b. 1949), Filipino Sinologist *

Idowu Bantale Omole Idowu Bamitale "Tale" Omole (born September 1954) is a Nigerian professor of international relations, educational administrator, and former Vice-Chancellor (education), Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Early life ...

(b. 1954), Nigerian professor and academic administrator * Abderrahmane Hadj-Salah (1928–2017), Algerian linguist * Roger Naslain (b. 1936), professor of chemical and physical science at the University of Bordeaux

Activism

* Aubrey Willis Williams (1890–1965), American social and civil rights activist *

Jean-Claude Bajeux Jean-Claude Bajeux (17 September 1931 – 5 August 2011) was a Haitian political activist and professor of Caribbean literature. For many years he was director of the Ecumenical Center for Human Rights based in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince ...

(1931–2011), Haitian political activist and professor * Louis Clayton Jones (1935–2006), African-American international attorney and civil rights leader

Business

* Mireille Gillings (b. 1971), French Canadian neurobiologist and entrepreneur * Olivier Le Peuch (born 1963/1964), French businessman, CEO of Schlumberger

Law

* Thomas Barclay (c. 1570–1632), Scottish jurist and professor *

Ba Maw Ba Maw ( my, ဘမော်, ; 8 February 1893 – 29 May 1977) was a Burmese lawyer and political leader, active during the interwar and World War II periods. Dr. Ba Maw is a descendant of the Mon Dynasty. He was the first Burma Premier ...

(1893–1977), Burmese politician *

James Marshall Sprouse James Marshall Sprouse (December 3, 1923 – July 3, 2004) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Education and career He was born in Williamson, West Virginia and graduated from Williams ...

(1923–2004), United States Circuit judge

Literature and journalism

François Mauriac François Charles Mauriac (, oc, Francés Carles Mauriac; 11 October 1885 – 1 September 1970) was a French novelist, dramatist, critic, poet, and journalist, a member of the'' Académie française'' (from 1933), and laureate of the Nobel Prize ...

(1885–1970) French novelist, dramatist, critic, poet, journalist and Nobel Laureate * Saint-John Perse (1887–1975), French poet-diplomat *

Lucien Xavier Michel-Andrianarahinjaka Lucien Xavier Michel-Andrianarahinjaka (30 December 1929 – 11 November 1997) was a Malagasy people, Malagasy writer, poet, and politician. He was born in Fianarantsoa, and studied at the Bordeaux Montaigne University, University of Bordeaux 3 ...

(1929–1997), Malagasy writer, poet and politician *

Annie Ernaux Annie Thérèse Blanche Ernaux (; born 1 September 1940) is a French writer, professor of literature and Nobel laureate. Her literary work, mostly autobiographical, maintains close links with sociology. Ernaux was awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize ...

(b. 1940), Nobel Prize-winning(2022) French writer and professor of literature. * Esther Seligson (1941–2010), Mexican writer, poet, translator, and historian *

Lee Mallory William George "Lee" Mallory (January 10, 1945 – March 21, 2005) was a singer, songwriter and guitarist who was part of bands including The Millennium (band), The Millennium and Sagittarius (band), Sagittarius. His most successful single was ...

(b. 1946), American poet, editor and academic *

Marc Saikali Marc Saikali ( ar, مارك صيقلي (born 1965) is a French-Lebanese journalist. He has been the Director of the international news television network France 24 since 2012. Biography Saikali comes from a Lebanese family. He studied journalism ...

(b. 1965), Lebanese–French journalist *

Sarah Ladipo Manyika Sarah Ladipo Manyika is a British-Nigerian writer of novels, short stories and essays and an active member of the literary community, particularly supporting and amplifying young writers and female voices. She is author of two well received nove ...

(b. 1969), British Nigerian writer

Performing arts

* Luc Plissonneau (b. 1961), French screenwriter and film director * Morteza Heidari (b. 1968), Iranian TV presenter

Politics

* Jean Baptiste Gay, vicomte de Martignac (1778–1832), French statesman *

Jean Ybarnégaray Michel Albert Jean Joseph Ybarnégaray (; 16 October 1883 – 25 April 1956) was a French Basque politician and founder of the International Federation of Basque Pelota. Jean Ybarnegaray was born in Uhart-Cize, Department of Pyrénées-Atlan ...

(1883–1956), Basque–French politician * Jean-Fernand Audeguil (1887–1956), French politician *

(1893–1977), Head of State of

Burma Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...

Michel Kafando Michel Kafando (born 18 August 1942) is a Burkinabé diplomat who served as the transitional President of Burkina Faso from 2014

(b. 1942), Burkinabé diplomat *

Xavier Darcos Xavier Darcos (born 14 July 1947) is a French politician, scholar, civil servant and former Minister of Labour. An ''agrégé'' professor in literature and general inspector of the National Education system, he has been Mayor of Périgueux, ...

(b. 1947), French politician, scholar, civil servant and former Minister of Labour *

Jean-Paul Gonzalez Jean-Paul Joseph Gonzalez (born August 28, 1947) is a French virologist. He graduated from the Medical School of Bordeaux University (M.D., Internal Medicine) France. Research career Gonzalez is a virologist whose main fields of research encom ...

(b. 1947), French virologist *

Mario Aoun Mario Aoun (born 1951) is a Lebanese physician and politician. He was a member of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) led by Michel Aoun. He was the minister of social affairs between 2008 and 2009. Early life and education Aoun was born into a ...

(b. 1951), Lebanese politician * Alain Vidalies (b. 1951), the French Secretary of State for Transport, the Sea and Fisheries *

Nagoum Yamassoum Nagoum Yamassoum (born 1954) is a Chadian politician who was Prime Minister of Chad from 1999 to 2002 and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2005. He is from the district of Grande Sido in the region of Moyen Chari. Early life ...

(b. 1954), Chadian politician and former Prime Minister of Chad *

Anicet-Georges Dologuélé Anicet-Georges Dologuélé (born 17 April 1957) is a Central African politician who was Prime Minister of the Central African Republic from 4 January 1999 to 1 April 2001. Subsequently, he was President of the Development Bank of Central African St ...

(b. 1957), Central African politician *

Reza Taghipour Reza Taghipour Anvari (born 1957, in Maragheh) is an Iranian conservative politician who was the Minister of Communications from 2009 to 2012. He was elected as a member of Tehran City Council in 2013 local elections. Censorship Taghipour w ...

(b. 1957), Iranian conservative politician * Thierry Santa (b. 1967), French Polynesian politician in New Caledonia *

Germaine Kouméalo Anaté Germaine Kouméalo Anaté (born June 15, 1968 in Kazaboua, in Sotouboua Prefecture) is a Togolese government minister, scholar and writer. On 17 September 2013 she was appointed Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Civic Education in the ...

(b. 1968), Togolese government minister, scholar and writer *

Olivier Falorni Olivier Falorni (born 27 March 1972) is a French politician. He was elected to the French National Assembly on 17 June 2012, representing La Rochelle in the 1st constituency of the department of Charente-Maritime. He was re-elected in 2017 and a ...

(b. 1972), French politician *

Myriam El Khomri Myriam El Khomri (born 18 February 1978) is a former French politician of the Socialist Party (PS) who served as Minister of Labour in the government of Prime Minister Manuel Valls from 2015 to 2017. Early life and education El Khomri was b ...

(b. 1978), French politician

Sciences

* Joseph-Ignace Guillotin (1738–1814), French physician, politician and freemason and namesake of the

guillotine A guillotine is an apparatus designed for efficiently carrying out executions by beheading. The device consists of a tall, upright frame with a weighted and angled blade suspended at the top. The condemned person is secured with stocks at t ...

* Célestin Sieur (1860–1955), French physician *

Charles-Joseph Marie Pitard Charles-Joseph Marie Pitard, name sometimes given as Charles-Joseph Marie Pitard-Briau (30 October 1873 – 29 December 1927) was a French pharmacist and botanist. In 1899 he obtained his doctorate in natural sciences at the University of Bordeau ...

(1873–1927), French pharmacist and botanist * Pierre-Paul Grassé (1895–1985), French zoologist *

Émile Peynaud Émile Peynaud (June 29, 1912 – July 18, 2004) was a French oenologist and researcher who has been credited with revolutionizing winemaking in the latter half of the 20th century, and has been called "the forefather of modern oenology". Biogra ...

(1912–2004), French oenologist * Laure Gatet (1913–1943), French pharmacist, biochemist and spy * Basile Adjou Moumouni (1922–2019), Beninese physician * Roland Paskoff (1933–2005), French geologist *

Jean-Marie Tarascon Jean-Marie Tarascon FRSC (born September 21, 1953) is Professor of Chemistry at the Collège de France in Paris and Director of the French Research Network on Electrochemical Energy Storage (RS2E). Education Tarascon was educated at the University ...

(b. 1953), French chemist and professor *

Bruno Vallespir Bruno Vallespir (born 1960) is a French engineer, and Professor of Enterprise Modelling at the University of Bordeaux, working in the fields of production management, performance evaluation and enterprise modeling.Ejub Kajan eds. (2011) ''Electroni ...

(b. 1960), French engineer and professor

Sports

Jean-Pierre Escalettes Jean-Pierre Escalettes (born 29 May 1935 in Béziers) is the former president of the French Football Federation having served in the role from 12 February 2005 to 2 July 2010. He was awarded the presidency after winning the ball with 92.56% of th ...

(b. 1935), French retired footballer * Karounga Keïta (b. 1941), Malian football official and former coach and player *

Bixente Lizarazu Bixente Jean-Michel Lizarazu (, born 9 December 1969) is a French former professional footballer who played as a left back for Bordeaux and Bayern Munich, among other teams. He also had 97 caps for the France national team. In a twelve-year ...

(b. 1969), Basque–French retired footballer

Visual arts

* Charles James (1906–1978), English-American fashion designer

Winemaking

* Emma Gao

References

Literature

''International Dictionary of University Histories''
Routledge, 2013, pp. 429–431. {{DEFAULTSORT:Bordeaux 0, University Of

University of Bordeaux The University of Bordeaux (French: ''Université de Bordeaux'') is a Lists of universities in France, public university based in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in Southern France, southwestern France. It has several campuses in the cities and towns of Bor ...

Educational institutions established in the 15th century 1441 establishments in Europe 1440s establishments in France Forestry education Universities and colleges formed by merger in France