Buglio, Giovanni Antonio, Baron Del Buglio

BUGLIO, GIOVANNI ANTONIO, barone del BUGLIO. — An eminent diplomat of the Holy See (in the documents: Jo. Ant. Pulico, or also Belleonix, baro Burgii; in Pastor: Puglioni), born at Mineo (Sicily) at the end of the fifteenth century, died in Palermo between 1545 and 1548. Passing through Rome, he was invited by the Pope into his service and, in 1523, sent as nuncio to Hungary with Cardinal Vio, legate to the two courts of Germany and Hungary, to promote the union of the Christian princes against the Turk. In 1524, Clement VII sent him back as special nuncio to Hungary, divided by the disputes of the nobles and threatened by the Turkish invasion. B. won the esteem and affection of that nation to such an extent that he was regarded there as a compatriot, working in every way to save it from the extreme danger, though in vain. After the unfortunate battle of Mohács (29 August 1526), in which King Louis II fell, he was recalled to Rome and appointed general commissioner of the forces against the Colonna. In 1527 he was once again in Hungary; in 1529, nuncio to the court of Sicily. In 1530 he was sent to the court of Henry VIII, where he remained for three years in that difficult post. Steph. Ehses (Römische Dohum. zur Gesch... Heinrichs VIII V. England, Paderborn 1893) regrets that he was unable to find B.’s reports on this nunciature. From 1534 he was again appointed nuncio to the court of Sicily, continuing to enjoy the full confidence of Paul III. Particularly noteworthy is B.’s patriotism: he advised Clement VII to remain neutral in the disputes between Charles V and Francis I (“lassi rumpere le teste a li Barbari”), while seeking to fortify Italy, which he desired to be independent of every foreign influence and united in a single confederated state, with the Pope at its head.