 He studied at Erfurt and in Italy, where he took his degree of "doctor utriusque juris" at the University of Ferrara and devoted himself more especially to the study of Greek.Returning to Germany, he became privy councillor to Philip, Elector Palatine, whom he assisted in bringing the University of Heidelberg to the height of its fame.He was instrumental in founding the first chair of Greek, which was filled by his friend Rudolphus Agricola, and he also established the university library and a college for students of civil law.