VIGLIUS (WIGLE) VAN AYTTA

(1507–1577)

Statesman. Of Frisian origin, Viglius studied law in Louvain and several other Eu ropean universities. He was appointed a judge in the German Reich skammergericht in Speyer in 1535 and professor of law in the Acad emy of Ingolstadt in 1537. In 1541, he was appointed a member of the Privy Council in Brussels, the most important advisory board of the governess, Mary of Hungary, of the Habsburg Netherlands. Viglius became president of the Privy Council in 1549. After the dis missal of Cardinal Granvelle in 1564, Viglius was the most influen tial advisor to the acting regent, Margaret of Parma. His main op ponent was William I of Orange, leader of the Revolt against King Philip II of Spain. Viglius was no hard-liner, but his policy of con ciliation succeeded only partly because of the military developments and the political and religious controversies that had become funda mentally irreconcilable.