VIGLIUS, the name taken by WIGLE VAN AYTTA VAN ZUICHEM ( I 50 7-15 7 ) , Dutch statesman and jurist, a Frisian by birth, who was born on Oct. 19, 1507. He studied at various universities—Louvain, Dole and Bourges among others—devot ing himself mainly to the study of jurisprudence, and afterwards visited many of the principal seats of learning in Europe. His great abilities attracted the notice of Erasmus and other celebrated men, and his renown was soon wide and general. Having lectured on law at the universities of Bourges and Padua, he accepted a judicial position under the bishop of Mi.inster which he resigned in 1535 to become assessor of the imperial court of justice (Reichskamrnergericht). For five years he was professor at Ingolstadt. In 1542 the official connection of Viglius with the Netherlands began. At the emperor's invitation he became a member of the council of Mechlin, and some years later presi dent of that body. He was soon one of the most trusted of the ministers of Charles V., whom he accompanied during the war of the league of Schmalkalden in 1546. He was generally regarded as the author of the edict against toleration issued in 1550; a charge which he denied. When the emperor abdicated in 1555 Viglius was anxious to retire also, but at the instance of King Philip II. he remained at his post and was rewarded by being made coadjutor abbot of St. Bavon, and in other ways. In 1559, when Margaret, duchess of Parma, became regent of the Nether lands, Viglius was an important member of the small circle who assisted her in the work of government. He was president of the
privy council, member, and subsequently president, of the state council, and a member of the committee of the state council called the consulta. In 1565 he was allowed to give up the presi dency of the state council, but was persuaded to retain his other posts. However, he had lost favour with Margaret, who accused him to Philip of dishonesty and simony, while his orthodoxy was suspected. When the duke of Alva arrived in the Netherlands Viglius at first assisted him; but he subsequently opposed the duke's scheme of extortion. He died at Brussels on May 5, 1577.
He wrote a Tagebuch des Schmalkaldischen Donaukriegs, edited by A. von Druffel (Munich, 1877), and some of his lectures were published under the title Commentarii in decem Institutionum titulos (Lyons, 1564). His Vita et opera historica are given in the Analecta Belgica of C. P. Hoynck van Papendrecht (the Hague, 1743). See L. P. Gachard, Correspondance de Philippe II. sur les affaires des Pays-Bas (Brussels, ; and Correspondance de Marguerite d'Autriche, duchesse de Purme, avec Philippe II. (Brussels, 1867-8z) ; and E. Poullet, Correspondance de cardinal de 0.anvelle (Brussels, 1877-81).