Sleidanus

Sleidanus, JOHANNES, whose proper name was PHILIPPSON, a writer of history, was born at Schleiden, in the neighbourhood of Aix-la-Chapelle, in 1506, and having been trained to the law he entered the service (1537) of Francis I. of France. But becoming a convert to Protestantism he was dismissed (1541); and for the rest of his life he was ambassador of the Protestant princes of Germany, and represented them at the court of England and at the Council of Trent. He died at Strasburg on 31st October 1556. His name lives as the author of a history of the reign of Charles V.—a well-written, impartial work entitled De Statu Religionis et Reipublicæ Caroli V. Cæsare Commentarii (1555; best ed. Frankfort, 1785-86, 3 vols.). Banngarten edited the Letters of Sleidanus (1881) and wrote a Life of him (1878).