# Universidad Central

> university in Madrid (1822-1943), former name of Complutense University of Madrid

**Wikidata**: [Q21705070](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21705070)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/universidad-central

## Summary
Universidad Central was a university in Madrid that existed from 1822 to 1943 and was a former name of Complutense University of Madrid. It served as a major higher education institution in Spain before being reorganized in 1943.

## Key Facts
- Founded on October 3, 1822, by Ferdinand VII of Spain and Manuel José Quintana
- Dissolved on July 29, 1943
- Located in Madrid, Spain at coordinates 40.424542, -3.707569
- Replaced Colegio Imperial de Madrid and University of Alcalá
- Was succeeded by University of Madrid in 1943
- Operated as a public higher education institution
- Had an image of Manuel José Quintana's installation speech from November 7, 1822

## FAQs
### Q: What was Universidad Central?
A: Universidad Central was a university in Madrid that existed from 1822 to 1943. It was a major higher education institution in Spain before being reorganized.

### Q: When was Universidad Central founded and dissolved?
A: Universidad Central was founded on October 3, 1822, and was dissolved on July 29, 1943, after 121 years of operation.

### Q: Who founded Universidad Central?
A: Universidad Central was founded by Ferdinand VII of Spain and Manuel José Quintana.

### Q: What is Universidad Central's connection to Complutense University of Madrid?
A: Universidad Central was a former name of Complutense University of Madrid, representing the same institution during its period of operation in Madrid.

### Q: What replaced Universidad Central?
A: Universidad Central was replaced by University of Madrid in 1943 following its dissolution.

## Why It Matters
Universidad Central represents a significant chapter in the history of higher education in Spain. As the main university in Madrid for over a century, it played a crucial role in education, culture, and intellectual development in Spain during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its evolution from the earlier University of Alcalá and its eventual transformation into what would become Complutense University of Madrid demonstrates the shifting priorities and structures of Spanish higher education. The university's existence spanned critical historical periods in Spain, including the transition from absolutism to constitutional monarchy and the turbulent years of the Spanish Civil War, making it an important institution for understanding the relationship between education and political change in Spanish history.

## Notable For
- Being the main university in Madrid during its 121-year existence (1822-1943)
- Founded directly by Spanish monarch Ferdinand VII and noted poet Manuel José Quintana
- Its specific dissolution date of July 29, 1943, marking a transition in Spanish higher education
- Its precise location in Madrid with documented coordinates
- Being the successor to both Colegio Imperial de Madrid and University of Alcalá

## Body
### History
Universidad Central operated in Madrid from 1822 to 1943, serving as the primary university institution in the Spanish capital for more than a century. The institution had multiple aliases including Universidad Central de Madrid, Central University of Madrid, Universidad de Madrid, Universidad Central (Madrid), and université centrale in French.

### Foundation
The university was officially founded on October 3, 1822, by Ferdinand VII of Spain and Manuel José Quintana. This date is documented through an image of Quintana's installation speech on November 7, 1822. The institution replaced both Colegio Imperial de Madrid and University of Alcalá, consolidating higher education in Madrid under a new administrative structure.

### Governance and Identity
Universidad Central was recognized as a public higher education institution and was classified as a replaced entity in Wikidata. It held various identifiers including ISNI 0000000123235062, GND ID 36096-X, VIAF ID 316432654, and Pares ID 40311. The university had 5 sitelinks across different language versions of Wikipedia including Catalan, Commonslanguage, Esperanto, Spanish, and French.

### Location
The university was located in Madrid, Spain, with precise geographical coordinates of latitude 40.424542 and longitude -3.707569. This location placed it in the heart of the Spanish capital, accessible to the broader population of Madrid and contributing to the city's intellectual life.

### Dissolution
Universidad Central was officially dissolved on July 29, 1943, marking the end of its 121-year history. The institution was replaced by University of Madrid as part of reorganization efforts in Spanish higher education following significant political changes in Spain.

### Legacy and Documentation
The university left behind extensive documentation in various library systems including the Library of Congress Authority ID n91103028, Netherlands Central Authority ID ko2003163522, and National Library of Spain SPMABN ID XX133915. Its alumni are documented in the category "Category:Alumni of the Central University of Madrid" on Wikimedia Commons, indicating the institution's lasting impact on Spanish society and education.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Universidad Central
3. [Source](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universidad_de_Madrid)
4. [Source](http://datos.bne.es/entidad/XX133915.html)
5. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
6. HMML Authority File