Polykarp Leyser II



Polykarp Leyser II (20 November 1586, Wittenberg - 15 January 1633, Leipzig) was a German Lutheran theologian and superintendent in Leipzig. He was professor of theology since 1613.

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.