The Jesuits came to Prague in 1540 at the invitation of Ferdinand I who wished to re-Catholicise the country. They moved into the former Dominican abbey of St Clement but were not welcomed by the local citizens. Nonetheless, they managed to make their college a place that was much admired by the aristocracy, and their success eventually gave them control of Charles University. The Clementinum, built between the mid-17C and 18C, is Prague’s second largest architectural complex.