Conrad Celtes

Conrad Celtes
Epitaph of Conrad Celtes, woodcut by Hans Burgkmair, 1507
Born	1 February 1459 Wipfeld, Franconia, Germany
Died	4 February 1508(1508-02-04) (aged 49) Germany
Occupation	Humanist, scholar, poet

Conrad Celtes (German: Konrad Celtes; Latin: Conradus Celtis (Protucius); 1 February 1459 – 4 February 1508) was a German Renaissance humanist scholar and Neo-Latin poet.

Born at Wipfeld, near Schweinfurt in Lower Franconia under his original name Konrad Bickel or Pyckell (modern spelling Pickel), Celtes pursued his studies at the University of Cologne (1477–1479; B.A., 1479) and at the University of Heidelberg (1484). While at Heidelberg, he received instruction from Dalberg and Agricola. As customary in those days for humanists, he Latinized his name, to Conradus Celtis. For some time he delivered humanist lectures during his travels to Erfurt, and Leipzig. His first work was titled Ars versificandi et carminum (The Art of Writing Verses and Poems, 1486). He further undertook lecture tours to Rome, Florence, Bologna and Venice.

The elector Frederick of Saxony approached the emperor Frederick III, who named Conrad Celtes Poet Laureate (Honored Poet) upon his return. At this great imperial ceremonial gathering in Nuremberg, Celtes was at the same time presented with a doctoral degree. Celtes again made a lecturing tour throughout the empire.