# "King Ferdinand I" University

> university in Romania

**Wikidata**: [Q18548907](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18548907)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/king-ferdinand-i-university

## Summary
King Ferdinand I University was an academic institution located in Cluj, Romania, that operated from its inception in 1919 until its dissolution in 1948. It served as a higher education hub in the region, succeeding the Carol II University and eventually being replaced by the Victor Babeș University. The institution is historically significant as a Romanian university that functioned during the interwar period before being abolished in the mid-20th century.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name**: Universitatea Regele Ferdinand I din Cluj (active from October 1927 to May 1948).
- **Inception Date**: Founded on May 12, 1919.
- **Dissolution Date**: Abolished on May 1, 1948.
- **Location**: Cluj, Romania (Coordinates: 46.767683° N, 23.591111° E).
- **Predecessor**: Replaced the Carol II University.
- **Successor**: Replaced by the Victor Babeș University.
- **Classification**: Academic institution and university.
- **Aliases**: Known historically as "King Ferdinand University."
- **Wikidata Sitelinks**: Holds 3 language sitelinks (Commons, Hungarian, Romanian).
- **Identifiers**:
  - VIAF ID: 128190795
  - Library of Congress Authority ID: no2004005095
  - Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/11b6ggh6kr
  - Yale Lux ID: group/b388a3c1-2d92-4d95-acd0-1722e2f40af7
  - NL CR Authority IDs: ko2004236387 (as "Universitatea 'Regele Ferdinand I'") and ko2004236388 (as "Universitatea din Cluj").
- **Media**: Image available at `https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/KolozsváriTudományegyetem.JPG`.
- **Commons Category**: Universitatea Regele Ferdinand I. din Cluj.

## FAQs
**What was the operational lifespan of King Ferdinand I University?**
The institution was established on May 12, 1919, and ceased operations on May 1, 1948, functioning for approximately 29 years. Its official name, "Universitatea Regele Ferdinand I din Cluj," was specifically used between October 1927 and May 1948.

**Which institutions succeeded or preceded this university?**
King Ferdinand I University was founded to replace the earlier Carol II University. Upon its abolition in 1948, it was succeeded by the Victor Babeș University, continuing the academic legacy in Cluj.

**How is this university identified in international library and authority databases?**
It is cataloged under multiple authority IDs, including the VIAF ID 128190795 and the Library of Congress Authority ID no2004005095. The Czech National Library also maintains records for it under two distinct authority numbers depending on the name variation used.

## Why It Matters
King Ferdinand I University represents a critical chapter in the history of Romanian higher education, bridging the gap between the pre-World War I era and the post-1948 communist restructuring of academia. Its existence marked the reorganization of the educational landscape in Cluj, transitioning from the Carol II University to a new national institution named after the reigning monarch. The university's dissolution in 1948 signifies a major historical shift, as it was replaced by the Victor Babeș University, reflecting the political and ideological changes occurring in Romania at the time. As a geolocatable entity with specific coordinates and a defined operational timeline, it serves as a key data point for historians and researchers studying the evolution of Romanian academic institutions.

## Notable For
- **Historical Continuity**: Successfully replaced the Carol II University to maintain academic operations in Cluj during a period of national transition.
- **Royal Patronage**: Named directly after King Ferdinand I, reflecting the monarchy's direct involvement in higher education during the interwar period.
- **Specific Naming Period**: Held the specific official title "Universitatea Regele Ferdinand I din Cluj" for nearly two decades (1927–1948) before its abolition.
- **Geographic Precision**: Maintains precise geolocation data (46.767683, 23.591111), allowing for exact historical mapping of the academic site.
- **Multilingual Documentation**: Maintains active presence and descriptions in Romanian, Hungarian, and English (Commons) language communities.

## Body

### History and Timeline
The institution was founded on May 12, 1919, emerging as a successor to the Carol II University. It operated under the general designation of "King Ferdinand University" before adopting the formal official name "Universitatea Regele Ferdinand I din Cluj" in October 1927. This specific official name remained in use until the institution's dissolution. The university ceased to exist on May 1, 1948, when it was officially abolished and replaced by the Victor Babeș University. This timeline marks a distinct era in Cluj's academic history, spanning nearly three decades of operation.

### Institutional Identity and Classification
King Ferdinand I University is classified fundamentally as an academic institution and a university. It is a geolocatable entity situated in Romania. The entity is recognized in Wikidata with a description explicitly stating it is a "university in Romania." It holds a sitelink count of 3, indicating its documentation across Wikimedia Commons, Hungarian Wikipedia, and Romanian Wikipedia. The institution is associated with the category "Universitatea Regele Ferdinand I. din Cluj" on Wikimedia Commons.

### Geographic and Physical Presence
The university was located in Cluj, Romania, with specific geographic coordinates recorded at latitude 46.767683 and longitude 23.591111. Visual documentation of the institution exists, with an image file hosted on Wikimedia Commons at `https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/KolozsváriTudományegyetem.JPG`. This image serves as the primary visual reference for the entity in digital archives.

### Authority Records and Identifiers
The university is tracked by several major international and national authority files. The Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) assigns it the ID 128190795. The Library of Congress Authority File lists it under the ID no2004005095. Google's Knowledge Graph identifies the entity with the ID /g/11b6ggh6kr. Yale University's Lux system catalogues it under the group ID group/b388a3c1-2d92-4d95-acd0-1722e2f40af7. The National Library of the Czech Republic (NL CR) maintains two distinct authority records: ko2004236387, referencing the name "Universitatea 'Regele Ferdinand I'", and ko2004236388, referencing "Universitatea din Cluj". These records were last updated or referenced in 2020 and 2023 respectively.

### Succession and Legacy
The institutional lineage of King Ferdinand I University is clearly defined by its predecessor and successor. It replaced the Carol II University upon its inception in 1919. Upon its abolition in 1948, the academic functions and legacy were transferred to the Victor Babeș University. This succession chain highlights the continuous evolution of higher education in the region, despite the political changes that led to the university's closure.

## References

1. Czech National Authority Database