The first documented use of the word Riesling appears in a 1552 Latin herbal authored by Hieronymus Bock. Born in 1498 in the Prince-Bishopric of Speyer village of Heidelsheim, Bock served as a pivotal figure in shifting botanical study from medieval tradition toward a scientific worldview based on observable plant resemblance.
Academic and Professional Foundation
Bock matriculated at Heidelberg University in 1519. His career path was varied, encompassing roles as a teacher, physician, and Christian minister. After spending nine years working as a schoolteacher in Zweibrücken, he served the count palatine as a physician and curator of the royal kitchen garden. In 1533, he transitioned to a lifelong position as a Lutheran minister in Hornbach, where he remained until his death in 1554.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →The Kreutterbuch and Botanical Systematics
In 1539, Bock published the first edition of his major work, Kreutterbuch, which originally appeared without illustrations. Departing from the prevailing reliance on the classical authority of Dioscorides, he established a classification system for 700 plants based on his own field observations of their characteristics and regional distribution. A subsequent 1546 edition included illustrations provided by the artist David Kandel.
Scientific Legacy and Nomenclature
Bock's research extended into entomology, with his observations on oak apples recorded in scientific databases. His influence on botanical nomenclature remains visible through genera named in his honor, including Tragus, established by Haller in 1768, Tragia, classified by Plumier ex Linnaeus in 1753, and Tragiella, designated by Pax and K. Hoffmann in 1919. In botanical literature, his contributions are denoted by the standard author abbreviation H.Bock.
Fast facts
- Born: 1498, Heidelsheim
- Died: 1554, Hornbach
- Religion: Lutheranism
- Educated: Heidelberg University
- Occupations: Teacher, physician, minister, botanist, entomologist
- Primary Work: Kreutterbuch (1546)
- Botanical Author Abbreviation: H.Bock
Questions readers ask
What system did Hieronymus Bock use to classify plants?
Instead of relying on traditional authorities like Dioscorides, Bock developed his own system based on the relation or resemblance between plants.
When was the name Riesling first documented?
The modern word Riesling was first documented in 1552 within a Latin herbal written by Bock.
Achievements
- Educated at Heidelberg University
- Fields of research: botany
