VIGILANTIUS, Publius, an author who flourished in the

latter part of the fifteenth and beginning of the sixteenth centuries, was a native of Strasburg. He pursued his studies at Frankfort-on-the-Oder, where he subsequently became professor of poetry. He is said to have been a man of considerable genius, and was distinguished as well for his philosophical knowledge and talents for oratory as for his devotion to the muse. After spending a number of years in the discharge of his professional duties, his zeal for the study of Greek literature led him to travel into foreign countries for the purpose of procuring ancient MSS. His final intention was to introduce the study of the Greek authors into the university of Frankfort; but he never had the good fortune to return home, having been murdered by a band of miscreants between Wimpna and the citadel of Ravensburg, in Suabia, in July, 1512. The poets of the time lamented his death in verse. Rudolph Agravius of Hamburg wrote his epitaph, while a monument to his memory was erected by his sorrowing disciples. Vigilantius was author of a number of poems and epigrams, and of the following works in prose—"Pro gymnastica Marchionis Joachimi;" "De situ et conditione urbis Francophordianæ, et academiæ ejusdem;" "Scriptorum qui in academiis Lipsiensi, Wittembergensi, Francofurtensi ad Oderam floruerunt, centuria ab anonymo concinnata, a Joachimo Joanne Madero edita," Helmstadt, 1660.—R. M., A. VIGILIUS, Pope, a Roman by birth, and of a consular family, was appointed nuncio at Constantinople by Boniface II. When the Empress Theodora wished to depose Pope Sylverius, who had incurred her displeasure, Vigilius was intriguing for the dignity. Belisarius, in conformity with his instructions from the empress, stripped Sylverius of his pontifical robes, and banished him to Patara. He then ordered the Roman clergy to elect another pope in his place, and suggested Vigilius, whom they chose accordingly in 537. The latter went to Rome, and was there inducted. But his election is looked upon as unlawful till Sylverius' death in 538. It is said that Sylverius was starved to death by order of Vigilius; and that Theodora was paid a large sum of money for the election of the latter. In 545 he left Rome for Sicily, whence he furnished the capital with provisions while it was besieged by the Goths. He went to Constantinople, 547, at the request of Justinian, and remained there for several years; but having opposed the views of the emperor respecting the three chapters, he was at length compelled to flee to Chalcedon in 552. In 553 a general council was summoned by Justinian at Chalcedon to decide upon the three chapters. As Vigilius refused to concur in the condemnation of them, he was banished to the island of Proconnesus. He was recalled, however, at the entreaty of Narses, Justinian's general. Vigilius now sanctioned the condemnation of the three chapters decreed by the council, and the emperor allowed him to return to Italy. On his way to Rome he landed at Syracuse, where he died in 555, after a reign of sixteen and a half years.—S. D. VIGILIUS, Bishop of Trent, flourished in the latter part of the fourth and the beginning of the fifth century. He was ordained by St. Ambrose, and laboured with great zeal and perseverance for the conversion of the inhabitants of the Alpine valleys. In this pious work he was associated with Sisinus Martyrius and Alexander—zealous missionaries who, having come from Cappadocia to Milan, were sent into the mountains to assist Vigilius, and who ere long fell victims to the idolatrous bigotry of the pagan shepherds. Vigilius wrote an account of their martyrdom, as their death was styled, in a letter either to Simplician of Milan or to another bishop of the same name. Three years afterwards he visited the scene of their murder, and broke in pieces the idol of the place—an act which so enraged its worshippers that they stoned Vigilius to death. This event happened probably in the year 405.—R. M., A. VIGILIUS, Bishop of Tapsus, in Africa, flourished in the latter part of the fifth century. This bishop, as Baronius, Possevin, Vossius, and others justly complain, was frequently confounded with the preceding during the middle ages. In 484 he was summoned to appear at Carthage before Hunneric, the Arian king of the Vandals, to give an account of his faith. He professed with great boldness his attachment to the orthodox creed, but the persecution which was subsequently raised against him necessitated his departure from Africa. He retired to Constantinople, whence after some years he migrated to Italy, where the greater number of his works were composed. He wrote a work in five books against Eutychus the heretic. The fourth and fifth contain a defence of the council of Chalcedon. At the beginning of the fifth book he makes mention of a work which he had written on the different constitutions of councils, and on the novelty of some of the terms which had been introduced by the fathers in their writings against heresies. This book, however, is no longer extant. The twelve books on the Trinity, in the form of dialogues, which usually passes under the name of St. Athanasius, was probably also written by Vigilius. It is at least certain that he wrote many of his works under borrowed names, and especially under that of Athanasius, in order to conceal himself from his persecutors. His treatise, for instance, against Varimadus the Arian purports to be written by Idacius Clarus, while that against Felician, another Arian, is written in the name of St. Augustine. Vigilius is likewise thought by many writers to be the author of the celebrated Athanasian Creed. It was at any rate most certainly not written by Athanasius. The extant works of this ancient bishop were first published as his by Chifflet, at Dijon, in 1664.—R. M., A. VIGINTIMILIUS, Berlingher, was born at Palermo in the latter half of the sixteenth century. He belonged to a noble family, the honours of which were greatly enhanced by his talents and learning. He was chosen a member of the Academy of the Reaccensi, and possessed the favour of the Popes Clement VIII., and Urban VIII. Vigintimilius was distinguished for all such accomplishments as became his gentle birth. He died at his native city on the 24th of November, 1639. He was author of a "Paraphrasis in Psalterium Davidis, in Epistolas divi Pauli ad "Romanos, ad Corinthios, ad Timotheum," &c.—R. M., A. VIGINTIMILIUS, Carolo, was born at Palermo on the 20th August, 1576, and died on the 25th of March, 1662. He had the reputation of being deeply skilled in theology, philosophy, and indeed in all kinds of learning; and he lived on terms of intimacy with the learned and the great. After having filled various official posts, he was appointed viceroy of Sicily. He was author of a "Dissertatio de stella crinita quæ anno 1610 apparuit;" "Tractatus de Horologiis;" "Antiquæ et Novæ Siciliæ Typographia Exactissima;" "Commentaria Absolutissima in Cantica Canticorum;" "Tractatus de Astrologia;" and of a number of other works written in the vernacular.—R. M., A. VIGINTIMILIUS, Giovanni, a celebrated poet and orator, was descended from an ancient and noble family, and was born at Messina in 1624. He was a member of several academies and learned institutes in Naples and Sicily. In his younger years he had travelled extensively in Italy, always looking round him with a quick and cultivated eye. On returning home, he applied himself with great ardour to the study of philosophy and the mathematics, and to an investigation of the antiquarian treasures of Sicily. He died at Palermo on the 3rd of October, 1665, at the premature age of forty-one. He was author of a volume of poems, and of the following works—"De' Poëti Siciliani Lirici libro secondo; De Poeti Siciliani Eroïci libro terzo;" "Delle Parentela de' Mamertini e Romani," &c.—R. M., A. VIGNIER, Pierre-François, a learned oriental scholar, was born at Besançon on the 20th of July, 1745. Having entered the congregation of St. Lazarus, he was in 1772 sent by his superiors to Algiers, where he greatly honoured himself and his order by his exertions for the enlargement of christian slaves. He was subsequently appointed apostolical prefect of Constantinople, and departed for that city in 1783. After spending sixteen years in the East, where he laboured with great zeal for the maintenance of the Roman catholic faith, he returned to France and was intrusted with the direction of the sisters of charity. He died at Paris on the 7th of February, 1821. Vignier was author of "Elements de la Langue Turque," Constantinople, 1770; De la distinction primitive des Pseaumes en monologues et en dialogues," &c., &c.—R. M., A. VIGNOLA, Giacomo Barozzi da, an eminent Italian architect, was born in 1507 at Vignola in Modena, whither his father, a gentleman of Milan, had retired with his mother, a German lady, from the troubles in Milan. Vignola when a youth learned painting at Bologna, but, dissatisfied with his progress, he proceeded to Rome in order to study architecture. There he made admeasurements and drawings of the principal architectural remains. These being seen by Primaticcio, who had returned to Rome to collect antiquities for Francis I., he engaged Vignola to take moulds from the principal ancient statues and rilievi, and to accompany him to France to superintend the casting of them in bronze. Vignola made several designs of buildings for Francis, but the disturbed state of affairs prevented their execution.