1. Baldassarre Castiglione (Mantua 1478- Toledo 1529)

2. Mantua
Born in 1478 on the family estate in Casatico, near Mantua
His father, Cristoforo, is in the service of the Gozagas
His mother is related to the Gonzagas
His family enjoys the luxuries of court life

3. Maestro della Pala Sforzesca, part
Maestro della Pala Sforzesca, part. della Pala con il ritratto di Ludovico il Moro, Pala Sforzesca, Pinacoteca di Brera, Milano

4. Milan
His relatives hold important positions at the court of the Sforzas
Carries out excellent humanistic studies (Latin and Greek)
Is introduced to the court of Ludovico il Moro, a great centre of art and culture

5. Charles VIII King of France

6. Charles VIII King of France
1494: Charles VIII, King of France, invades Italy
Battle of Fornovo: the French lose the booty but return home
Castiglione’s father, Cristoforo, participates in the battle, is wounded, and dies of his wounds in 1499
Castiglione becomes head of his family

7. Mantua at the service of the Marquis Francesco Gonzaga
1499: the troops of Louis XII, King of France, defeat Ludovico il Moro. Castiglione returns to Mantua
Contrast between the splendours of the great court of the Sforzas and the parsimonious modesty of the Gonzagas’
Castiglione sees Italian princes paying homage to Louis XII: the Marquis of Mantua, Francesco Gonzaga, Cesare Borgia il Valentino, and the Duke of Ferrara Ercole d’Este

8. First diplomatic and military missions
1503: In Rome at the court of the Borgia Pope, Alexander VI, where he is deeply impressed by the spectacle of the city and the Pope’s court
1503: Following the Marquis of Mantua, Lieutenant General of the French army in Italy, he takes part in the military operation aimed at conquering the Kingdom of Naples
First real experience of battle. Operation is a disastrous failure: Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, abandons command and returns home

9. Guidubaldo da Montefeltro (Raffaello, Uffizi)

10. Guidubaldo da Montefeltro
In Rome until April 1504
Fascinated by the archaeological beauties of the city, by the intense intellectual life promoted by the humanists, poets, and prelates of different origins
Meets the Duke of Urbino, Guidubaldo di Montefeltro, who, after the death of Alexander VI and the election of Pope Giulio II, has recovered his state, which in June 1502 had been taken from him by Cesare Borgia
Switches masters from Gonzagas to Montefeltro

11. Mission in England
First half of 1505 lives in Rome with the Duke Guidubaldo
Involved in political dealings and projects regarding the whole Italian situation
Nominated by the Pope to the Order of the Golden Spur
Sent to England on behalf of Guidubaldo to receive the Order of the Garter
Friend Domizio Falcone and brother Gerolamo die
Pope Giulio II favours the adoption by Guidubaldo of his nephew, Francesco Maria Della Rovere
Guidubaldo dies; Castiglione stays in the service of Della Rovere

12. Louis XII King of France

13. League of Cambray- Holy League
Giulio II promotes the League of Cambray to unite the Italian and European states in a coalition against Venice. Baldassarre participates in the battle campaigns in Romagna
1511: Giulio II organises the Holy League in opposition to French hegemony in Italy. Castiglione follows Francesco Maria Della Rovere and the Papal army
Meets Louis XII in Bloys

14. Giovanni de Medici> Pope Leo X

15. Count of Novilara Cardinal Giovanni de’ Medici becomes Pope Leone X
Castiglione publishes a letter to Henry VII of England, De vita et gestis Guidubaldi Urbini ducis
Francesco Maria della Rovere is recognised as legitimate heir of Guidubaldo
Duke Francesco Maria gives Castiglione the ducal and ecclesiastic fiefdom of the princely castle of Novilara, near Pesaro, together with the title of Count

16. Ambassador in Rome
1513: Castiglione becomes Francesco Maria Della Rovere’s ambassador in Rome
Lives in an environment of great international diplomacy
1514: witnesses the spectacular entry into the city of the elephant Annone, sent by the King of Portugal, Don Manuel I
Meets Miguel da Silva, ambassador of the King of Portugal to the Pope (The Courtier is dedicated to Miguel da Silva)
Becomes friend of Pietro Bembo, Iacopo Sadoleto, Bernardo Dovizi da Bibbiena, Raffaello, Michelangelo, Antonio Tebaldeo, Federico Fregoso
Works on the first draft of The Courtier, which he finishes at the end of 1515

17. Francis I King of France

18. Francis I and Leo X
Leo X wants to increase his family’s power and gain a dominant position across the whole of Italy
Frances I wants to re-conquer Milan, with the help of the Republic of Venice
The state of Urbino, and Castiglione with it, is trapped between two forces
At Marignano, French-Venetian troops are victorious over the armies of Milan, Switzerland, and the Pope
Frances I became the arbiter of diplomatic equilibrium in Italy

19. Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici (by Cristofano dell’Altissimo, Uffizi)

20. Lorenzo di Piero de’Medici
Leo X wants to obtain King Frances’ support to oust Francesco Maria Della Rovere and hand the state of Urbino to his nephew Lorenzo de’ Medici, master of Florence
Castiglione uses all his skills to prevent this
1515: Writes a prologue to Libro del Cortegiano containing a paean to the King of France aimed at ingratiating himself and the cause of Urbino
Goes to Bologna, where Frances I and Leone X had met, to find an agreement regarding the fate of Duke Francesco Maria
Leo X gives Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici (to whom Machiavelli had dedicated The Principe) the title of Duke of Urbino
Castiglione is forced to follow his masters into exile in Mantua

21. Federico Gonzaga (by Tiziano)

22. Federico Gonzaga 1516: Castiglione marries Ippolita Torelli
Completes the second draft of the Libro del Cortegiano
1517 –1520: He has a son, Camillo, and two dauthers, Anna and Ippolita
1519: After the death of Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, and of Lorenzo de’ Medici, Duke of Urbino, Castiglione is sent to Rome to further the interests of the young Marquis Federico and to secure the reintegration of Francesco Maria Della Rovere
Castiglione re-establishes good relations for the Gonzags
Leo X refuses to return the state of Urbino to the ousted Duke
Castiglione releases himself from Francesco Maria Della Rovere to enter into the service of Federico Gonzaga

23. Raffaello Sanzio ( )

25. Raffaello and his wife Ippolita die in 1520
In Mantua, Castiglione is deeply moved and perturbed by the premature death of a friend and his wife Ippolita, not yet 20 years old
1521: Castiglione takes the minor order of tonsure, which gives him an ecclesiastic status, combining it with militancy for the Church
Castiglione realises that the Pope is the only authority that can deal as an equal with the great European monarchs

26. Pope Adriano VI 1521 Adriano VI is elected Pope
Castiglione participates actively in the secret dealings aimed at redefining the political and military alliances among the various Italian states
Defends the Marquis Federico from the accusations of the pro-French cardinals
Defends his cousin, Francesco II Sforza, who is weak and ill

27. Clemente VII ( )

28. Cardinal Giulio de’ Medici>Clemente VII
The Church is again in the hands of the Medicis
Castiglione is ambassador in Rome for Federico Gonzaga
Tries to convince the Pope to adopt a pro-Empire strategy against Frances I of France
Papal ambassador, Nuncio pontificio, in Spain
Clemente VII makes secret agreements with Frances I without telling Castiglione

29. Frances I King of France

30. Charles V (by Titian, Munich, Alte Pinacoteke)

31. Madrid 1525: the French, led by Frances I, re-conquer Milan
Imperial troops of Charles V retreat to Pavia
French troops lay siege to the city, but are defeated
Frances I is captured and taken to Madrid
Castiglione congratulates Charles V on the victory at Pavia
Presents an official document in which the Pope apologises for his recent alliance with the French

32. League of Cognac
Castiglione warns the Pope not to offer his support to both parties
1526: the Treaty of Madrid, Frances I is set free
All the Italian territories in dispute go to Charles V
Frances I promotes an anti-imperial alliance, the League of Cognac, that in May 1526 unites against France, Rome, Venice, and Florence

33. The Courtier is printed-Sack of Rome 1527
1528: The Courtier is printed in Venice. Castiglione sends instructions for its distribution including to men of letters, princes, gentlemen, and dames of the courts of Renaissance Europe
6 May 1527: imperial troops stationed in Italy enter Rome and loot the city
The Pope is forced to flee to Castel Sant’Angelo
Clemente VII sends Castiglione a severe reprimand, accusing him of not having warned the Pope in good time
Castiglione replies, demonstrating his fidelity and loyalty, listing the specific reasons that had made the sack of Rome possible

34. Sack of Rome 1527

35. Dies in Toledo 1529
Charles V offers Castiglione the bishopric of Avila
Castiglione does not accept because of the troubles between the Emperor and the Pope
January 1529: Clemente VII gives permission and Castiglione is invested
Baldassarre dies, struck by violent fevers, on 8th February, little more than 50 years old