BIGLIA, MELCHIORRE. – Apostolic nuncio, born in Milan, died in Prague in April 1571. From an ancient and noble family, he was a friend of Cardinal Gian Angelo de’ Medici, later Pope Pius IV, and a close associate of St. Charles Borromeo. After spending some time with Cardinal Cristoforo Madruzzo of Trent, he came to Rome in 1562 and was appointed Apostolic protonotary. On 31 August 1565, he was sent, in place of Zaccaria Delfino, who had been created a cardinal, as legate to Germany with the special mission of delivering to the emperor the necessary subsidies for the war against the Turks in Hungary.
Departing from Rome on 21 September, he demonstrated great zeal in this legation, though he compromised himself with the emperor by making promises beyond the intentions of the Holy See. Nevertheless, though he desired to return home and had requested it from Rome upon the death of Pius IV, he was confirmed in his legation by Pius V on 20 April 1566, especially due to the strong recommendations of Cardinal Commendone, the extraordinary legate in Germany who held him in high regard. In that same year, he participated in the Diet of Augsburg with Commendone, where he succeeded in obtaining several concessions in favor of Catholics from the emperor. His extensive correspondence with the Holy See is preserved in the Ambrosian Library.