Francisco de Vargas y Mexia
Encyclopedia
Francisco de Vargas y Mexia (b. Madrid
, date unknown; d. at the Hieronymite
monastery of la Cisla in 1566) was a Spanish diplomat and ecclesiastical writer.
He belonged to an old family of the lower nobility and studied law at the University of Alcalá
, receiving the degree of licentiate in law. He became a government official, and by his energy and education, especially by his knowledge of law, rose to the position of fiscal of the Council of Castile
(Fiscal del Consejos de Castilla), that is, attorney-general. In 1545, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
, sent him to the Council of Trent
. In January, 1548, he protested, as Charles's representative at the council, against its transfer to Bologna
, and in 1551 he congratulated the council on its return to Trent.
During the years 1552-59 he was the Spanish ambassador in Venice
; in 1558 he negotiated at Rome with Paul IV regarding the recognition of Ferdinand I
as emperor, and in references to the founding of new diocese
s in the Netherlands. From 1559 he succeeded Gigueroa as the Spanish ambassador to the Roman Curia
. As such he took an important part in the election of Pius IV. When Pius IV brought suit against the relatives of Paul IV, Vargas exerted himself to save the Caraffa. For some time he was not regarded favorably by the pope, who tried to have him recalled by Spain; however, Vargas again obtained the confidence of Pius IV, and was commissioned by the latter in 1563 to prepare an opinion on the question of the papal jurisdiction, as to which the Council of Trent had become involved in a dispute.
The document Vargas prepared was published at Rome in the same year under the title of De episcoporum jurisdictione et de pontificis maximi auctoritate responsum. In this Vargas speaks as a strict supporter of the papacy. Another theological question that he took up was that of granting the cup to the laity
; to this he was decidedly opposed. His reports and letters contain important information on the doings of the Council of Trent; but he cannot be regarded as an entirely unprejudiced witness, because his interest was that of a diplomat in the service of his king. He was prominent in the affairs of the council for the last time when, in conjunction with the Spanish ambassador at Trent, he tried to postpone the close of the council. After his return to Spain he was made state councillor, but soon resigned all his offices and retired to the Hieronymite monastery of la Cisla near Toledo
, in order to prepare himself for death. His contemporaries praised him as a highly educated man and a patron of learning.
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, date unknown; d. at the Hieronymite
Hieronymites
Hieronymites, or the Order of St. Jerome , is a common name for several congregations of hermits living according to the Rule of St. Augustine, with supplementary regulations taken from the writings of the 5th-century monk and scholar, St Jerome. The principal group with this name was founded in...
monastery of la Cisla in 1566) was a Spanish diplomat and ecclesiastical writer.
He belonged to an old family of the lower nobility and studied law at the University of Alcalá
University of Alcalá
The University of Alcalá is a public university located in Alcalá de Henares, a city 35 km northeast of Madrid in Spain. Founded in 1499, it was moved in 1836 to Madrid. In 1977, the University was reopened in its same historical buildings...
, receiving the degree of licentiate in law. He became a government official, and by his energy and education, especially by his knowledge of law, rose to the position of fiscal of the Council of Castile
Council of Castile
The Council of Castile , known earlier as the Royal Council , was a ruling body and key part of the domestic government of the Crown of Castile, second only to the monarch himself. It was established under Queen Isabella I in 1480 as the chief body dealing with administrative and judicial matters...
(Fiscal del Consejos de Castilla), that is, attorney-general. In 1545, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, sent him to the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
. In January, 1548, he protested, as Charles's representative at the council, against its transfer to Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, and in 1551 he congratulated the council on its return to Trent.
During the years 1552-59 he was the Spanish ambassador in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
; in 1558 he negotiated at Rome with Paul IV regarding the recognition of Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
as emperor, and in references to the founding of new diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
s in the Netherlands. From 1559 he succeeded Gigueroa as the Spanish ambassador to the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
. As such he took an important part in the election of Pius IV. When Pius IV brought suit against the relatives of Paul IV, Vargas exerted himself to save the Caraffa. For some time he was not regarded favorably by the pope, who tried to have him recalled by Spain; however, Vargas again obtained the confidence of Pius IV, and was commissioned by the latter in 1563 to prepare an opinion on the question of the papal jurisdiction, as to which the Council of Trent had become involved in a dispute.
The document Vargas prepared was published at Rome in the same year under the title of De episcoporum jurisdictione et de pontificis maximi auctoritate responsum. In this Vargas speaks as a strict supporter of the papacy. Another theological question that he took up was that of granting the cup to the laity
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
; to this he was decidedly opposed. His reports and letters contain important information on the doings of the Council of Trent; but he cannot be regarded as an entirely unprejudiced witness, because his interest was that of a diplomat in the service of his king. He was prominent in the affairs of the council for the last time when, in conjunction with the Spanish ambassador at Trent, he tried to postpone the close of the council. After his return to Spain he was made state councillor, but soon resigned all his offices and retired to the Hieronymite monastery of la Cisla near Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
, in order to prepare himself for death. His contemporaries praised him as a highly educated man and a patron of learning.