BIGLIA, MELCHIORRE. - Apostolic nuncio, b. in Milano, d. in Praga in Apr. 1571. Of an ancient and noble family, he was a friend of Card. Gian Angelo de' Medici, later pope under the name Pio IV, and an intimate of St. Carlo Borromeo. After spending some time with Cristoforo Madruzzo, cardinal of Trento, he came to Rome in 1562 and was appointed apostolic protonotary. On 31 Aug. 1565 he was sent, in place of Zaccaria Delfino, who had been created cardinal, as legate to Germany with the specific mission of delivering to the emperor the subsidies required for the war against the Turks in Hungary.
Having departed from Rome on 21 Sept., he displayed the greatest zeal in this legation, though compromising himself with the emperor by promises exceeding the intentions of the Holy See. Nevertheless, although he wished to return to his homeland and had requested this from Rome upon the death of Pio IV, he was confirmed in his legation by Pio V on 20 Apr. 1566, especially owing to the strong recommendations of Commendone, cardinal and extraordinary legate in Germany, who greatly valued his collaboration. In the same year he took part, together with Commendone, in the Diet of Augusta, where he succeeded in obtaining various concessions from the emperor in favour of the Catholics. His abundant correspondence with the Holy See is preserved in the Ambrosiana Library.