The Family history

The Castiglione (or Castiglioni) family is an old noble family from Lombardy which counts many illustrious personalities among its members: popes, cardinals, army captains and senators. The Mantuan branch descends from Cristoforo Castiglioni (1345-1425) jurisconsult, nicknamed "the Monarch of Laws". He had six children with Antonia da Baggio, including Baldassare. Baldassare went on to become a mercenary captain and progenitor of the Mantua branch of the Castiglione family: his son Cristoforo had a son, Baldassare (1478-1529).

Author of "The Book of the Courtier", an iconic sixteenth-century work, Baldassare was a member of the cultural and aristocratic elite of the era. He resided in some of the most important Italian courts, including those of Francesco II Gonzaga in Mantua, Guidobaldo da Montefeltro in Urbino and Ludovico il Moro in Milan. Appointed Apostolic Nuncio, he was ambassador of Pope Leo X and Clement VII at the Spanish court of King Charles V. He became a friend of Raphael, who painted his portrait which is now found in the Louvre, next to the Mona Lisa.