CELTES (Celtis), Conrad. — Humanist (his real surname was Pickel), born at Wipfeld near Würzburg on 1 February 1459, died at Vienna on 3 February 1508. He was one of the foremost promoters of paganizing humanism in the German lands. He made extensive travels, especially in Italy (1486), Poland, and Hungary; in 1487 he received the title of poeta laureatus; he founded humanist literary societies (Sodalitas rhenana, Hungarorum, Danubiana), was professor at Ingolstadt (1492), and was summoned to Vienna by Emperor Maximilian (1497). His merit lies in having given a strong impetus to classical studies and to universal and local history (noteworthy is the first publication of the comedies of Hroswitha of Gandersheim, 1501).
Works: Ars versificandi, Leipzig 1486; Libri amarum, Nuremberg 1502; Odoe, Vienna 1513; etc.