ALEGAMBE, PHILIPPE

Historiographer and bibliographer; b. Brussels, Jan. 22, 1592; d. Rome, Sept. 6, 1652. At the completion of his literary studies, he traveled to Spain where he entered the service of the Duke of Osuna. In 1611 Alegambe accompanied the duke to Sicily. On Sept. 7, 1613, Alegambe was admitted into the Jesuit novitiate at Palermo. He studied theology at the Roman College and was sent to the University of Graz, Austria, to lecture in philosophy and theology. Then, as tutor of the young Prince of Eggenberg, he traveled for five years throughout Europe until he was called to Rome by the Jesuit General Mutius vitelleschi to become secretary to the German assistant. After four years he was relieved of this post and worked on the continuation of the Bibliotheca scriptorum S.J. (Antwerp 1643), begun by P. Ribadeneira, SJ. He also published the Mortes illustres et gesta eorum de S.J. qui in odium fidei… confecti sunt (Rome 1657), Heroes et victimae charitatis S.J. (Rome 1658), and the Compendium vitarum Saints Justini, Felicis, Florentii et Justae… ex manuscript ecclesiae colleg. S. Justae Aquilae.

Bibliography: c. sommervogel et al., Bibliothèque de la Compagnie de Jésus, 11 v. (Brussels–Paris 1890–1932) 1:151–153. e. m. riviÈre, Dictionnaire d'histoire et de géographie ecclésiastiques, ed. a. baudrillart et al. (Paris 1912—) 2:80–81. b. schneider, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche ², ed. j. hofer and k. rahner, 10 v. (2d, new ed. Freiburg 1957–65) 1:302.

[e. d. mcshane]