{{Other uses|King's College (disambiguation)}} {{short description|College of University of Aberdeen}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} {{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
[[File:King's College, Aberdeen (4315559621).jpg|alt=|thumb|290x290px|King's College]]
'''King's College''' in [[Old Aberdeen]], [[Scotland]], the full title of which is '''The University and King's College of Aberdeen''' (''Collegium Regium Aberdonense''), is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and now an integral part of the [[University of Aberdeen]]. Its historic buildings are the centrepiece of the University of Aberdeen's Old Aberdeen campus, often known as the King's or King's College campus. [[File:King's College, Old Aberdeen - - ABDAG002677.jpg|thumb|[[c:File:King's_College,_Old_Aberdeen_-_-_ABDAG002677.jpg|King's College, Old Aberdeen - ABDAG002677]]]] The focal point of the college, as well as its oldest building, is the late 15th century King's College Chapel. A number of other historic buildings remain, with others being subject to renovation and rebuilding in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the early 20th century, a great deal of expansion saw the university buildings increase around the historic college buildings. In the later 20th century, the university expanded dramatically in size, dominating Old Aberdeen and expanding out from the High Street with a number of modern buildings.
==History== [[File:AberdeenKingsCollegeChapel 2013-08.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|250x250px|King's College quad]] King's College was the first university in [[Aberdeen]], the third in Scotland and the fifth in the [[British Isles]]. In 1495, [[William Elphinstone]], the relatively newly appointed [[Bishop of Aberdeen]], petitioned [[Pope Alexander VI]] on behalf of [[James IV of Scotland|King James IV]] to create the facility to cure the ignorance he had witnessed within his parish and in the north generally. The [[papal bull]] ''[[List of papal bulls#Fifteenth century|Primo Erectio Universitatis]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foundation Bull of the University of King's College, Aberdeen. Digital image. Transcript. |url=https://abdn.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/delivery/44ABE_INST:44ABE_VU1/12214255770005941 |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=abdn.primo.exlibrisgroup.com}}</ref> was issued by [[Pope Alexander VI]] on 19 February 1495 (10 February 1494 [[Old Style and New Style dates|O.S.]])<ref>[https://www.abdn.ac.uk/about/campus/old-aberdeen/kings-college/"King's College Chapel"], University of Aberdeen website</ref>, founding the university; a [[royal charter]] later that year recognised Aberdeen's status as equal to that of Scotland's two existing universities at [[University of Glasgow|Glasgow]] and [[University of St Andrews|St Andrews]]. As a former professor at the [[University of Paris]], Elphinstone modelled the university on the continental European tradition. [[Hector Boece]], a fellow professor at Paris, was awarded the status of first principal of the new institution.
It would not be until 1509, with the issuance of a charter by Elphinstone, that university life at King's truly began. Construction of the chapel began in 1498; it was consecrated in 1509 and dedicated to [[St Mary]]. By 1514, the university had some forty-two members, counting both staff and students.<ref name="noblecollege">{{cite web|url=http://www.abdn.ac.uk/noblecollege/building.htm|title=The Noble College- Building on the European Tradition|access-date=2007-07-30|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508105123/http://www.abdn.ac.uk/noblecollege/building.htm|archive-date=8 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Following the [[Scottish Reformation|Reformation]], King's College was purged of its Roman Catholic staff but remained largely resistant to change in its methods. [[George Keith, 5th Earl Marischal|George Keith]], the fifth [[Earl Marischal]], however was a moderniser within the college and supportive of the reforming ideas of [[Peter Ramus]].<ref name="noblecollege"/> In April 1593 Keith founded a second university in the city, [[Marischal College]]. Initially, Marischal offered the principal of King's College a role in selecting its academics, however this was refused by the authorities of King's, a move which was cited as the first blow in their future rivalry.
In common with Marischal, King's College supported the [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] cause, and following the defeat of the [[1715 rising]], both were largely purged of their academics and officials.
===Principals of Note=== {{See also|List of principals of the University of Aberdeen}} *[[Alexander Arbuthnot (poet)]] 1569 to 1583 *Rev Dr [[David Rait]] from 1598 to 1632 *[[William Leslie (theologian)|William Leslie]] one of the [[Aberdeen Doctors]] *[[William Guild]] 1640 to 1651 *[[John Row (Principal)|John Row]] 1652 to 1661 *[[Roderick MacLeod (minister)|Roderick MacLeod]] 1800 to 1815 *[[William Jack (principal)|William Jack]] 1815 to 1854
==College buildings== [[File:Newkingsaberdeen.jpg|thumb|right|New Building, King's College]] The building work on the main buildings of the college began in April 1500<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aberdeentoday.co.uk/landmark6.htm |title=Aberdeen Today, The Granite City; Kings College |access-date=2007-07-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927045240/http://www.aberdeentoday.co.uk/landmark6.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> on marshy land, supported by large oak beams. The chapel is topped with an [[imperial crown]], i.e. a closed crown, which appears to make a claim to imperial status for the Scottish monarchy. The original was lost in a storm in 1633, and the present crown is a recreation. King's College chapel retains more medieval woodwork than any other Scottish church, including the choir stalls and screen.
The Cromwell Tower was a building built during the 1650s-60s during the period of the [[Commonwealth of England|Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland]], although finished after [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] had been reinstalled as King. It was used for accommodation and had an observatory in an ornate turret at its top.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abdn.ac.uk/physics/astro/cto/histcrom.htm |title=History of the Cromwell Tower Observatory |access-date=2007-07-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610190014/http://www.abdn.ac.uk/physics/astro/cto/histcrom.htm |archive-date=10 June 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cromwell Tower Observatory |url=https://www.abdn.ac.uk/ncs/departments/physics/about/facilities/cromwell-tower-observatory/ |website=www.abdn.ac.uk |access-date=27 January 2025}}</ref>
[[File:Universität Aberdeen.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|250x250px|[[Elphinstone Hall]]]] The 1930 construction of the [[Elphinstone Hall]] effectively created a two-quadrangle arrangement, connected to the original King's buildings. The Hall's front faces outwards, with its lawn effectively creating a central open space now bordered on the other sides by [[Old Aberdeen]]'s High Street and the New Building ("New King's"), constructed in 1913.
King's College is now within the university's main [[Old Aberdeen]] campus and retains its original and historic quadrangle which houses a large conference centre and the university's chapel. Elphinstone Hall is used for functions, dining, and examinations. The rear of King's College is now used as a [[King's Pavilion|sports pavilion]]. Notably the old college buildings now provide a focal point to the wider university campus. While small in comparison with some of the newer constructions and areas, the building maintains a great deal of importance.
==King's College Chapel== {{Main|King's College Chapel, Aberdeen}} [[File:King's College Chapel, University of Aberdeen.jpg|thumb|King's College Chapel]] King's College Chapel is the main chapel used by the University of Aberdeen. Forming the north side of the original quadrangle of King's College, construction of the chapel began in 1498 and ended with the [[consecration]] of the building in 1509.<ref>{{cite web|title=Building on the European tradition|url=http://www.abdn.ac.uk/noblecollege/building.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227213352/http://www.abdn.ac.uk/noblecollege/building.htm|archive-date=February 27, 2007}}</ref> The most notable architectural feature of the Chapel is its Crown Tower, which has become an icon of the university as a whole.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abdn.ac.uk/chaplaincy/chapel/ |title=King's College Chapel |publisher=University of Aberdeen |access-date=21 November 2013}}</ref> The chapel is [[Dedication (ritual)|dedicated]] to the Trinity and the Blessed [[Virgin Mary]] in her Nativity,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abdn.ac.uk/about/chapel-history.php |title=History | The University of Aberdeen |publisher=Abdn.ac.uk |date=2013-09-05 |access-date=2013-11-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012001844/http://www.abdn.ac.uk/about/chapel-history.php |archive-date=12 October 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Madonna Plaque|url=http://www.abdn.ac.uk/noblecollege/plaque.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004225128/http://www.abdn.ac.uk/noblecollege/plaque.htm|archive-date=October 4, 2012}}</ref> yet also commemorates a number of Scottish and British monarchs, as well as the patrons and founders of the university. The name particularly recalls the College's main patron, King [[James IV of Scotland]].<ref name="abdn.ac.uk">{{cite web|title=Crowning achievement of Scottish Renaissance|url=http://www.abdn.ac.uk/noblecollege/crowning.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109044633/http://www.abdn.ac.uk/noblecollege/crowning.htm|archive-date=January 9, 2009}}</ref>
[[File: + 1495 wurde das King´s College in Aberdeen gegründet. 28.jpg|thumb|Interior]]
Particularly notable within the chapel are the [[choir stalls]] and [[rood screen]], which date back to around 1509. These form the most complete mediaeval church interior in Scotland.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Choir stalls and Rood screen|url=http://www.abdn.ac.uk/noblecollege/choir.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207064209/http://www.abdn.ac.uk/noblecollege/choir.htm|archive-date=February 7, 2006}}</ref> Since 1928, the [[antechapel]] has been used as the university's [[war memorial]]: five hundred and twenty-four students of the university are commemorated on its walls, having fallen in the [[Great War|First]] and [[Second World War]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title='We will remember them'|url=http://www.abdn.ac.uk/noblecollege/remember.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317021539/http://www.abdn.ac.uk/noblecollege/remember.htm|archive-date=March 17, 2010}}</ref>
[[Bishop Elphinstone]], the College's founder, and [[Hector Boece]], its first Principal, were buried at the foot of the [[chancel]], although a larger tomb to Elphinstone is located outside the college.<ref name="abdn.ac.uk"/> However, a later renovation of the chapel found the Bishop's body to be missing, its ultimate fate unknown. The design of the chapel, as well as its date of construction, were designed to evoke [[Solomon's Temple]].<ref name="abdn.ac.uk"/>
==The King's College Centre== The King's College Conference Centre is a conference and events space within the King's College building, established in 1991 within the former university library, yet maintaining many of the original features of the buildings. The conference centre housed the [[Scottish Parliament]] between 28 and 30 May 2002 whilst the [[General Assembly of the Church of Scotland]] took over its usual annual residence at [[New College, University of Edinburgh|New College]], [[Edinburgh]] (the assembly hall of which it had lent the Scottish Parliament during the time of the construction of the new parliament building in Holyrood).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-09-11 |title=Aberdeen successful in bid to host Scottish Parliament in May 2002 |url=https://www.abdn.ac.uk/news/21589/ |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=www.abdn.ac.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> During this time, the parliament was addressed by [[Elizabeth II|The Queen]] as part of her [[Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II|Golden Jubilee]] tour of the United Kingdom.
==Modern campus== The university owns much of the land and buildings on the campus, but others are in private ownership as private houses, shops and businesses. Many of these serve the university community. There are also extensive lawns, trees and large displays of flowers. These green spaces are popular places to sit in summer for students and staff.
The original buildings and High Street form the heart of the modern campus and are still used for teaching, to house academic departments, and other university activities. During the 20th century, the university purchased land around these buildings and constructed new ones to enable expansion. These buildings generally reflect the prevailing architecture of their period.
The most recent building is the [[Science Teaching Hub]]. Completed in 2021 and first used for teaching in 2022, the building contains laboratories for subjects including biological sciences, chemistry, geosciences and medical sciences.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Science Teaching Hub {{!}} Study Here {{!}} The University of Aberdeen |url=https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/student-life/sth.php |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=www.abdn.ac.uk}}</ref>
==References== {{Commons category|King's College, Aberdeen}} {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}}
{{University of Aberdeen}} {{Theatres, galleries, museums and historical buildings in Aberdeen}} {{authority control}} {{Coord|57.1639|-2.1012|display=title}} [[Category:1495 establishments in Scotland]] [[Category:1860 disestablishments in Scotland]] [[Category:Category A listed buildings in Aberdeen]] [[Category:Listed educational buildings in Scotland]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Aberdeen]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Aberdeen]] [[Category:Renaissance architecture in Scotland]] [[Category:University of Aberdeen]]