Polykarp Leyser II

Polykarp Leyser II (20 November 1586, Wittenberg - 15 January 1633, Leipzig) was a German Lutheran theologian and superintendent in Leipzig.

Lesyer became Professor of Theology at Wittenberg in 1610; he stayed there for three years, then became Professor of Theology at Leipzig, a post which he held until his death.

Life

Provenance His father Polykarp Leyser the Elder, was a theologian. His mother was Elisabeth, daughter of the painter Lucas Cranach the Younger.

Family He was the father of nine recorded children, most of whom became theologians. His son, , was also a theologian, but found himself cut off from his family for his controversial defense of polygamy. One of Polykarp's sons, however, Michael Leyser became a physician and anatomist, making important contributions to documenting the medical advances of the time, notably in respect of the Lymphatic system.

His grandson Polykarp Leyser III and his great-grandson Polykarp Leyser IV were all also theologians.