is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

pre-school, primary,

secondary school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., b ...

, and

college-preparatory school A college-preparatory school (often shortened to prep school, preparatory school, college prep school or college prep academy) is a type of secondary school. The term refers to state school, public, Independent school, private independent or p ...

, colonial of

Plateresque Plateresque, meaning "in the manner of a silversmith" (''plata'' being silver in Spanish language, Spanish), was an artistic movement, especially Architecture, architectural, developed in Spanish Empire, Spain and its territories, which appeared ...

style building, located in the Santa Fe district of

Bogotá Bogotá (, also , , ), officially Bogotá, Distrito Capital, abbreviated Bogotá, D.C., and formerly known as Santa Fe de Bogotá (; ) during the Spanish Imperial period and between 1991 and 2000, is the capital city, capital and largest city ...

, Cundinamarca,

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

. The co-educational school was founded on 27 September 1604 by the Archbishop of Bogota Bartolomé Lobo Guerrero"St. Bartholomew at 400 years" in ''El Tiempo'', Bogotá, 26 September 2004. and the Jesuits José Dadey, Martín de Funes, Juan Bautista Coluccini, Martín de Torres, Bernabé de Rojas, and Diego Sánchez. The school is managed by the

Society of Jesus The Society of Jesus (; abbreviation: S.J. or SJ), also known as the Jesuit Order or the Jesuits ( ; ), is a religious order of clerics regular of pontifical right for men in the Catholic Church headquartered in Rome. It was founded in 1540 ...

. Sometimes called the National College of Saint Bartholomew, the College of Saint Bartholomew, and the College of the Society of Jesus, the school is the oldest Colombian school in continuous operation, with a 400-year history since its founding in 1604. The Pontifical Xaverian University in the colony grew out of it in 1623. At St. Bartholomew, in 1826, the Central University of the Republic was founded, predecessor of the

National University of Colombia The National University of Colombia () is a national public research university in Colombia, with general campuses in Bogotá, Medellín, Manizales and Palmira, and satellite campuses in Leticia, San Andrés, Arauca, Tumaco, and La Paz, ...

, which brought together the

National Library of Colombia The National Library of Colombia () is a national library located in Bogota, Colombia. The library is a dependency of the Ministry of Culture (Colombia), Colombian Ministry of Culture. Founding and history The National Library of Colombia is g ...

, the College of San Bartolomé, and the university itself. It has been administered sometimes by the State and sometimes by the Jesuits, in whose hands it is today. , throughout its long history has made significant contribution to Colombian society, particularly during the independence process. Many of its students and alumni played key roles in the struggle for emancipation. Twenty eight presidents of Colombia have graduated from the school, among other figures of national importance. In 2016 the school had approximately 1500 students. Its baccalaureate building is a cultural and national monument by Decree 1584 of 11 August 1975, and is located diagonally across from the southeast corner of Bolivar Square in Bogota. This building along with the Church of St.Ignatius and the Museum of Colonial Art in Bogota are part of the Jesuit block, which has been under restoration by the Society of Jesus and the Colombian Ministry of Culture.

History

1604-1766

On 23 September 1604 six Jesuits came to Santafé from Cartagena to found the College of the Society of Jesus with support from the Archbishop of Bogota Don Bartolomé Lobo Guerrero. The school was established on 27 September 1604 with a royal document authorizing its foundation. It opened on 1 January 1605 with 70 students. The educational institution, although it was originally called the College of the Society of Jesus in Santa Fe, today is called the St. Bartholomew Major College, a name inherited from the seminary of the city re-founded by the Archbishop Don Bartolomé Lobo Guerrero on 18 October 1605 and located in what is now the Palacio de San Carlos. This seminary was run by the Jesuits. The seminarians and the borders both took their classes in the College of the Society of Jesus in Santa Fé, and called it the School and Seminary of St. Bartholomew. By a bull of

Gregory XV Pope Gregory XV (; ; 9 January 1554 – 8 July 1623), born Alessandro Ludovisi, was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 February 1621 until his death in 1623. He is notable for founding the Congregation for the ...

and by a royal document from

Felipe IV Philip IV (, ; 8 April 160517 September 1665), also called the Planet King (Spanish: ''Rey Planeta''), was King of Spain from 1621 to his death and (as Philip III) King of Portugal from 1621 to 1640. Philip is remembered for his patronage of the ...

issued in 1622, the College established itself as Xaverian University. Classrooms were in the current Museum of Colonial Art, which was part of the school building. In 1704 the College which competed with the Rosary College took the name Royal Major College and Seminary of St. Bartholomew. The Jesuits of St. Bartholomew brought the first printing press to Colombia.

1767-1886

The year 1767 saw the expulsion of the Jesuits by the pragmatic sanction of Carlos III, and St. Bartholomew passed into the hands of the government. The library of the college became a founding part of the

. By order of the Junta Virreinal de Temporalidades in 1772 the Seminary College was moved to the College of St. Bartholomew and Xaverian University, and it assumed all the educational functions. In 1823, the State handed over to the Archdiocese the old convent of the Capuchins and chapel of San José for use of the Conciliar Seminary. Since 1826 the university studies continuing there assumed the name First District University or Central University, now the

, inaugurated on 25 December 1826 in a ceremony at the church of St. Ignatius of the College of St. Bartholomew. In 1842, the university and the college, together with the museum and the national library, were under the government control and directed by a single superior, who was rector of the University and of the College of St. Bartholomew. By 1844, under President

Pedro Alcantara Herran Pedro is a masculine given name. Pedro is the Spanish, Portuguese, and Galician name for ''Peter''. Its French equivalent is Pierre while its English and Germanic form is Peter. The counterpart patronymic surname of the name Pedro, meaning ...

, the Jesuits returned and took charge of the Seminary. But six years later, on 18 May 1850, they received a decree of expulsion from

Jose Hilario Lopez Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. Given name Mishnaic and Talmudic periods * Jose ben Abin *Jose ben Akabya *Jose the Galilean *Jose ben Halafta * ...

and left

Santa Marta Santa Marta (), officially the Distrito Turístico, Cultural e Histórico de Santa Marta (), is a port List of cities in Colombia, city on the coast of the Caribbean Sea in northern Colombia. It is the capital of Magdalena Department and the fou ...

. In 1857 under the government of President Mariano Ospina Rodriguez the Jesuits returned and on 8 January 1859 took charge of the College of St. Bartholomew. Two and a half years later, on 26 July 1861,

Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera Tomás Cipriano Ignacio Maria de Mosquera y Figueroa Arboleda Salazar, Prieto de Tovar, Vergara, Silva, Hurtado de Mendoza, Urrutia y Guzmán (September 26, 1798 – October 7, 1878) was a Colombian general, political figure, and slaveholder ...

returned and decreed the banishment of the Jesuits; the school became a public school. By 1865, its administration was given to the

Cundinamarca Department Department of Cundinamarca (, ) is one of the departments of Colombia. Its area covers (not including the Capital District) and it has a population of 2,919,060 as of 2018. It was created on August 5, 1886, under the constitutional terms pre ...

and in 1866 nationalized. By 1882, under

Rafael Núñez Rafael Wenceslao Núñez Moledo (September 28, 1825 – September 18, 1894) was a Colombian author, lawyer, journalist and politician, who was elected president of Colombia in 1880 and in 1884. Núñez was the leader of the so-called " Regener ...

's presidency, the Jesuits returned to Panama and to

Pasto, Colombia Pasto, officially San Juan de Pasto (; "Saint John of Pasto"), is the capital of the department of Nariño, in southern Colombia. Pasto was founded in 1537 and named after indigenous people of the area. In the 2018 census, the municipality ...

1887 to 1928

In 1887 the Company of Jesus returned to Bogota and the National School of St. Bartholomew was again put under their direction. In 1891 the first baccalaureate took place. In the year 1902, President Jose Manuel Marroquín and Archbishop

Bernardo Herrera Restrepo Bernardo is a given name, possibly derived from the Germanic Bernhard. It may refer to: People * Bernardo the Japanese (died 1557), early Japanese Christian convert and disciple of Saint Francis Xavier * Bernardo Accolti (1465–1536), Italian ...

, officially consecrated the nation to the

Sacred Heart of Jesus The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus () is one of the most widely practised and well-known Catholic devotions, wherein the heart of Jesus Christ is viewed as a symbol of "God's boundless and passionate love for mankind". This devotion to Christ is p ...

on June 22.

1928 to 1941

In 1928 the

National Congress National Congress is a term used in the names of various political parties and legislatures. Political parties *Ethiopia: Oromo National Congress, original name of the Oromo People's Congress *Guyana: People's National Congress Reform *India: **In ...

recognized the autonomy of the College by Law 44. It ceded the use of the building that was considered national property and it became a private school with the name of Colegio San Bartolomé. In 1930 Xaverian University was reestablished in the College. In 1937, the National Congress by Law 110 claimed the building, forcing the Jesuits to construct a new building on the grounds of La Merced"St. Bartholomew, a Golden Wedding" in ''El Tiempo'', Bogotá, 16 February 1991. while appealing to the

Supreme Court In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...

on ownership of the building. In 1937 the high school students formed a football team that in 1946 became the current

Millonarios Fútbol Club Millonarios Fútbol Club, known simply as Millonarios, is a Colombian professional football club based in Bogotá, that competes in the Categoría Primera A, top flight of football in Colombia. It is one of the most successful and iconic clubs ...

, the squad with the most professional football titles in the country.

1941 to 1952

With the possibility of expropriation of the school building, the Jesuits built a new one on La Merced farm. They continued the College under the name of St. Bartholomew La Merced College, without renouncing the rights they had on the Colegio de San Bartolomé on Bolivar Square. Construction was subsidized by the sale of part of the farm land, for a neighbourhood in La Merced. In 1941 classes began in the new school, and the old building was appropriated by the nation and run as a public school with the name of Colegio Nacional de San Bartolomé. On 10 January 1951, Laureano Gomez, president and graduate of St. Bartholomew secondary school, returned the national school to the Jesuits with a five-year contract, by which they undertook to educate free 900 day pupils and 200 workers in night school. The government paid $25,000 pesos a month and ceded the building. File:Plaza Bolívar and cathedral Bogotá 1840 José Santos Figueroa.jpg, Plaza de Bolívar (and the Colegio de San Bartolomé to the right) in 1840 by José Santos Figueroa File:Plaza de Bolívar Bogotá 1844 Santiago Castillo Escallón.jpg,

Plaza de Bolívar A town square (or public square, urban square, city square or simply square), also called a plaza or piazza, is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings. Relat ...

in 1844, oil by Santiago Castillo Escallón. The Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé is pictured at far right. File:Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé in 1868.jpg, The Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé in 1868 File:Colegio de San Bartolomé in 1894.jpg, Torreón de la Bandera in 1894, photographed by G. Cuéllar File:Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé Bogotá 1896.jpg, Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé in 1896. File:Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé 1933 Bogotá.jpg, Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé in 1933.

Notable alumni

* Indalecio Liévano Aguirre *

Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo (born 27 January 1933) is a Colombian billionaire and the second wealthiest man in Colombia, with a net worth of US$6.6 billion, as of December 2024, estimated by Forbes, that derives from the banking conglomerate Gr ...

* Julio Garavito Armero *

Justo Arosemena Justo Arosemena Quesada (August 9, 1817 – February 23, 1896) was a statesman, writer, lawyer and politician from what is now Panama who lived during the period of union with Colombia. He dedicated his life to the cause of the autonomy of the Is ...

García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos García de Medrano y Álvarez de los Ríos, Lord of San Gregorio (Valladolid, 20 July 1604 – 3 September 1683) was a prominent Spanish Nobility, nobleman, Politician, statesman and jurist from the House of Medrano, holding numerous high-ranking ...

* García de Medrano y Mendizábal *

Ricardo Acevedo Bernal Ricardo Acevedo Bernal (4 May 1867 – 7 April 1930) was a Colombian portrait painter, composer and photographer. Biography He was born in Bogotá and attended the "Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé", where he studied with Father Santiago Pá ...

Nemesio Camacho Nemesio Camacho Macías (November 1869 — 7 May 1929) was a Colombian businessman and politician. The Stadium Nemesio Camacho in Bogotá is named after him. He was the manager of the Bank of the Republic, the Colombian Train of the Pacific ...

Jaime Castro Castro Jaime Castro Castro (28 March 1938) is a Colombian lawyer and politician, who served as Mayor of Bogotá from 1992 to 1994. A Liberal Party politician, he served as Minister of Government under President Belisario Betancur Cuartas, and as Mi ...

Rufino José Cuervo Rufino José Cuervo Urisarri (Bogotá, Colombia) was a Colombian writer, linguist, and philologist. Biography He was the youngest son of María Francisca Urisarri Tordecillas and Dr. Rufino Cuervo y Barreto, a politician, lawyer, journalist ...

Laureano Gómez Laureano Eleuterio Gómez Castro (20 February 1889 – 13 July 1965) was a Colombian politician and civil engineer who served as the 18th President of Colombia from 1950 to 1953. In November 1951 poor health led him to cede presidential pow ...

Álvaro Gómez Hurtado Álvaro Laureano Miguel Gómez Hurtado A.K.A. Álvaro Gómez Hurtado (May 8, 1919 – November 2, 1995) was a Colombian lawyer, politician, painter, writer, journalist and former active member of the Colombian Conservative Party. Gómez was fou ...

Carlos Holguín Mallarino Carlos María Holguín Mallarino (11 June 1832 – 19 October 1894) was a Colombian lawyer, journalist, and politician, who became Acting President of Colombia between 1888 and 1892, acting in the absence of President Rafael Núñez.Gobern ...

Manuel María Mallarino Manuel María Mallarino Ibargüen (18 June 1808 – 6 January 1872) was the List of Vice Presidents of Colombia, 8th Vice President of Colombia, Vice President of Republic of New Granada, New Granada, and as such served as Acting President from ...

José Manuel Marroquín Jose Manuel Cayetano Marroquín Ricaurte (August 6, 1827 – September 19, 1908) was a Colombian political figure and the 44th President of Colombia. Life José Manuel Marroquín was born in Bogotá, on August 6, 1827. Marroquín studied lit ...

Antonio Nariño Antonio Amador José de Nariño y Álvarez del Casal (April 9, 1765 – December 13, 1823),Hector, M., and A. Ardila. Hombres y mujeres en las letras de Colombia. 2. Bogota: Magisterio, 2008. 25. Print. was a Colombian ideological wiktionary:p ...

Misael Pastrana Misael Eduardo Pastrana Borrero (14 November 1923 – 21 August 1997) was a Colombian politician and lawyer who served as the 23rd President of Colombia from 1970 to 1974. He was also the father of the 30th President Andrés Pastrana Arango. B ...

* Jose Miguel Pey * Antonio Ricaurte *

Custodio García Rovira José Custodio Cayetano García Rovira (March 2, 1780 – August 8, 1816) was a Neogranadine general, statesman and painter, who fought for the independence of Viceroyalty of New Granada, New Granada from Spain, and became President of Colombia, ...

* Miguel Samper *

Francisco de Paula Santander Francisco José de Paula Santander y Omaña (April 2, 1792 – May 6, 1840) was a Neogranadine military and political leader who served as Vice-President of Gran Colombia between 1819 and 1826, and was later elected by Congress as the President ...

* Hernando Tovar *

Rafael Urdaneta Rafael José Urdaneta y Farías (October 24, 1788 – August 23, 1845) was a Venezuelan General and hero of the Spanish American wars of independence. After overthrowing President Joaquín Mosquera in a 1830 military coup, he served as Pre ...

References

External links

{{commons category, Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé (Bogotá)
Colegio Mayor de San Bartolomé website

Association of Jesuit Schools incolombia (ACODESI)
Jesuit secondary schools in Colombia Jesuit primary schools in Colombia Educational institutions established in the 1600s 1600s establishments in South America