Juan de Vega

Who is Juan de Vega?

Juan de Vega y Enríquez, 6th Señor del Grajal, Viceroy of Navarre, Viceroy and Captain General of Sicily, presidente del Consejo de Castilla, was an ambassador of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. He first served as ambassador of Charles V at Rome, where he met Ignatius of Loyola. Esteeming him and Ignatius’ religious order, the Jesuits, when Vega was appointed Viceroy of Sicily he brought Jesuits with him. A Jesuit college was opened at Messina; success was marked, and its rules and methods were afterwards copied in other colleges.

He died on 20 December 1558.

The astronomer Francesco Maurolico tutored two of Vega’s sons, and Vega served as Maurolico’s principal patron.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed.. Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.