Part 1

As an important creation of legislation initiated and sponsored by Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the Ruler of the Union, the University of Iasi was inaugurated in an atmosphere of elevated patriotic enthusiasm on October 26, 1860. Both Alexandru Ioan Cuza and Mihail Kogalniceanu were present at the event, the latter playing an important part in the accomplishment of this fundamental act of Romanian culture.

The University of Iasi became a symbol of the completed Union also through the mission it was allotted from its beginnings.

The Transylvanians Simion Barnutiu, Petre Suciu, Stefan Micle - and these daring and prolific intellectuals were not alone - brought to the United Principalities the firm decision of the Romanians beyond the Carpathian Mountains to unite with the Homeland, to change their life according to common superior ideals.

In structure, according to the Regulation of 1851, the University contained, at the beginning, three faculties: the Faculty of Philosophy, with three sections: philosophy, literature and science; the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Theology. Conditions were not yet favourable for the foundation of the Faculty of Medicine as stipulated in the Regulation.

The lectures in surgery inaugurated by dr. Negura partly replaced the absence of this faculty which was to be set up later.