The historic University of Paris (French: Université de Paris) first appeared in the second half of the 12th century, but was in 1970 reorganised as 13 autonomous universities (University of Paris I–XIII). The university is often referred to as the Sorbonne or La Sorbonne after the collegiate institution (Collège de Sorbonne) founded about 1257 by Robert de Sorbon, but the university as such is older and was never completely centred on the Sorbonne. Of the 13 current successor universities, the first four have a presence in Sorbonne, and three include Sorbonne in their names.
The 13 universities still stand under a common chancellor, the Rector of the Académie of Paris, with offices in the Sorbonne. As of 2006, the Rector of the Academy of Paris and Chancellor of the Universities of Paris is Maurice Quénet. The Vice-Chancellor of the Universities of Paris is Pierre Gregory. .
The University of Paris remains one of the most famous and prestigious of universities in the worldcitation needed], having produced Nobel Prize winners from its faculty and student body,citation needed] as well as a number of highly regarded intellectuals, political theorists, scientists, physicians, theologians, and artists of the Western tradition and canon. citation needed]