In 1386, before the establishment of Heidelberg University, German students had to go to France to study. Later, due to religious conflict, students united and returned to Germany. On behalf of these students, the Grand Duke Karl Friedrich of Baden made it the first university in the State of Baden in 1803.
在一三八六年海德堡大學誕生之前，德國人都到法國念大學；後來因為宗教信仰的爭執，在法學生集體返回德國，當時擁有海城主權的神聖羅馬帝國巴拉汀主權國大諸侯盧伯特，就為他們創立了海大。