The college, originally called
Collège des Aicelins, was founded in 1314 by
Gilles I Aycelin de Montaigu,
Archbishop of Narbonne and
Archbishop of Rouen. It changed its name after it had been restored in 1388 by his relative
Pierre Aycelin de Montaigut,
Bishop of Nevers and Laon. In 1483,
Jan Standonck became Master of the College and made it prosper. Under his leadership and that of his disciple
Noël Béda, Montaigu was one of the leading theological colleges of Paris. Students at the college included
Erasmus of Rotterdam,
John Calvin, and
Ignatius of Loyola (before moving to
Collège de Sainte-Barbe). Other notable students were the influential Portuguese teacher and diplomat
Diogo de Gouveia. At least four Scots also attended: philosopher
John Mair (who went on to teach
theology there), historian
Hector Boece, royal advocate Patrick Paniter and Reformer
John Knox. Another Scot, George Dundas, may have also attended. Architect and educator
Jean-Nicolas-Louis Durand attended before turning to architecture. In his
Colloquies Erasmus left a memoire of his time at the College under
Standonck. Erasmus was a privileged paying student, but his memories were not pleasant. In 1792, some of the buildings were converted into a hospital and a military prison. The prison was closed in 1836, and pulled down in 1842. In 1844–1850, the
Sainte-Geneviève Library was constructed on the site. ==References==