Petrus Lotichius Secundus

Petrus Lotichius Secundus was born “Peter Lotz” in 1528 in Niederzell, today a district of Schlüchtern (Hesse).

In his childhood he attended convent school in Schlüchtern (1535/1537), which was founded by his uncle, the abbot Petrus Lotichius (Peter Lotz).

In the winter of 1546/47, he served as a soldier in the Schmalkaldic War on the Protestant side in Magdeburg.

Towards the end of 1551 he commenced the study of medicine and botany at the Montpellier which he continued in late 1554 in Padua and later received his doctorate at the University of Bologna in 1556.

He was appointed by Elector Otto Henry as professor of medicine and botany at the University of Heidelberg in 1557, where he quickly attracted a circle of young poets around him.