Legal Definitions - matricula

A matricula refers to a formal register, list, or certificate that records enrollment or membership in an organized group, institution, or official body. Historically, it was used to document individuals within public offices or various societies.

• Example 1: Official Register of Professionals

  Imagine a medieval European city where various guilds governed specific trades, such as the Guild of Goldsmiths. To become a recognized master goldsmith with the right to operate a workshop and train apprentices, an individual had to be formally admitted to the guild. The guild would maintain a matricula, which was a meticulously kept ledger listing every master goldsmith, their date of admission, and sometimes their lineage or notable works. This document served as the official record of qualified professionals within that trade, granting them specific rights and responsibilities within the city's economic structure.

  This example illustrates a matricula as a formal register of individuals who are part of an organized professional body, documenting their official status and membership.

• Example 2: University Enrollment Certificate

  Consider a student in the 16th century seeking to enroll in a prestigious university. Upon successful admission, the student would not only have their name entered into the university's main enrollment book (also a form of matricula) but might also receive a personal certificate, also called a matricula. This certificate would formally confirm their status as an enrolled student, granting them access to lectures, libraries, and other university privileges. It served as proof of their official affiliation with the academic institution.

  Here, the matricula functions both as the official record of enrolled students within an institution and as a personal certificate confirming an individual's enrollment and membership.

• Example 3: Register of Public Servants

  In certain historical city-states, specific public offices, such as city scribes or tax collectors, were highly regulated. The governing council would maintain a comprehensive matricula, which was a detailed roster of all individuals currently holding these public service positions. This register would include their names, appointment dates, and perhaps their specific duties or districts. It was essential for accountability, succession planning, and ensuring that only authorized individuals performed critical public functions.

  This example demonstrates a matricula as a formal register of public officials, highlighting its role in documenting and legitimizing individuals within an organized governmental structure.