The Catholic University of Leuven, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V. During France's occupation of Belgium in the French Revolutionary Wars, the university closed by decree of the French Republic. After Belgium was annexed by the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, the State University of Louvain was founded in 1816, lasting until 1835. In 1834, a few years after Belgium gained its independence, the Catholic University of Leuven was re-founded, taking this new name, and it is identified with the Old University. In 1968, the university split to form two institutions: ⁕Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Dutch-speaking, situated in Leuven; and ⁕Université catholique de Louvain, French-speaking, situated in nearby Louvain-la-Neuve and Brussels. This entry deals with the historic university, 1425–1797 and 1834–1968. For the current successor institutions and their separate development since 1968, see the individual articles linked above. Wikipedia [ - ]

The Catholic University of Leuven, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in... [ + ]