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How did the University of Cambridge begin after students left Oxford in 1209?

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The University of Cambridge traces its origins to 1209, when a group of scholars migrated from Oxford to Cambridge to escape violent "town and gown" riots between students and local townspeople.12

To maintain order and prevent further hostilities, King Henry III mandated that only scholars studying under the supervision of a master were permitted to remain in the town. By 1231 and 1233, royal and papal documents confirmed that the university had become an organized body with a chancellor at its head.21

The institution’s development was further solidified by the establishment of colleges, which provided structured residences for students. The first of these, Peterhouse, was founded in 1284 by Hugo de Balsham, bishop of Ely, in emulation of the collegiate system at Oxford. By 1318, the university received formal recognition as a studium generale from Pope John XXII.12