This name change occurred as a result of religious phenomena during his time.

Urban Rieger (1489-1525)

He was the son of a priest and his mistress near Lake Constance. He would become educated at the Latin school in Lindau. Later, he attended Ingolstadt University and become a poet laureate by Emperor Maximilian.

After becoming a priest, he was intrigued by the teachings of the Protestant Reformation shortly after.

Urbanus Henricus Rhegius (1525-1541)

He would Latinize his own name in order to be in keeping with the Protestant Reformers who did the same. Rhegius would then publishing his Protestant views under this name and marry, which was done in the Protestant fashion.

Sources

  • \”Urbanus Rhegius.\” Wikipedia.