A venerable academic institution like the University of Salamanca in Madrid that has been in continuous operation for 
793 years deserves respect as the fifth oldest university in the world. This masterpiece of Moorish-style architecture was commissioned by King Alfonso the 9th of Spain in 1218, and was recognized a scant 36 years later by Pope Alexander the 4th as one of the Top Four universities in the world. In the course of almost 8 centuries many famous names have walked its corridors and no doubt skylarked as students do – these include none less that Miguel de Cervantes, Hernando Cortes and Christopher Columbus.
In 1254 the Spanish King assured the political independence of the University of Salamanca by moving authority over it from state to the church. From henceforth, it was to be regulated by the local bishop, dean and chancellor who would pay regular salaries to its professors. At its peak in 1854 it boasted 
6,778 students – this dropped to 412 in 1822, and even further later.
From Medieval through to early 20th Century times the fifth oldest university in the world in Salamanca continued to be financed by royal and papal grants. Faculties in canon law, civil law, theology, medicine, the arts and philosophy were progressively added, and then in humanities, languages, mathematics and music too.
In 1854, the Spanish government announced its first comprehensive public education plan known as the moyano law 
that moved the locus of control over Salamanca University back from church to state. By 1868 its faculties had shrunk to Law, Philosophy and Arts, although the Town Council of Salamanca did support Chairs in Medicine and Sciences as well between 1869 and 1904, when improved state funding was introduced.
Today things are going better at the fifth oldest university in the world which currently boasts a student body approaching 30,000 young people clamoring for places in its programs that include Law, Liberal Arts, Sciences, Medicine and Spanish language courses. These students are still adding names on University of Salamanca walls, by writing their initials traditionally there in ink made of bull’s blood, olive oil and herbs.
