Campanus from Wodnian, district of Pisek, studied at the University of Prague and in 1596 obtained the degree of Master of Arts. He then worked for several years as a teacher in Teplice and Hradec Králové. From 1603 he taught Greek and Latin at the Charles University in Prague with lectures on the history of Bohemia. He was often appointed dean, prorector and twice rector of the university. He declared his belief in Utraquism but after the defeat of the Bohemian Confederation after the Battle of the White Mountain near Prague and the restoration of the Habsburgs as Kings of Bohemia in 1622, he converted to Catholicism. However, he had to renounce his academic laureateships on April 30, 1622. Campanus Vodňanský died in December 1622. He probably came from an impoverished noble family of Campanus (also: Campan) in West Bohemia.
