Ascanio de' Mori da Ceno (1532-1591) is a little-known but no less important figure in the history of the late Italian Renaissance. Celebrated both for his exploits as captain of the cavalry of Orazio Gonzaga di Solferino and for his poetic and intellectual output, Ascanio embodied the perfect ideal of the Renaissance man, soldier of fortune and sensitive poet, he bravely faced the events of war that inflamed the Italy of his time. Born in Ceno, in the province of Bergamo, Lombardy, Ascanio lived in an extremely turbulent time in Italian history, straddling the Italian wars and the war against the Turks, which ended with the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

Although he did not take part in the Battle of Lepanto, Ascanio's presence is established in a military campaign against the Turks in Hungary, in which he distinguished himself for military valour by fighting alongside the Habsburg imperial troops. In addition to being a valiant soldier, Ascanio also distinguished himself as a learned poet, publishing in 1580 the 'Giuoco Piacevole', a collection combining refined dialogues and poetic compositions in praise of women and romantic love. His literary production was strongly influenced by Petrarchism and the poetics of Torquato Tasso, of whom Ascanio became an intimate friend during his stay at the Gonzaga court in Mantua. Another famous work of his was the Novelle, published in 1585 and inspired by Boccaccio. These tales, with a distinctly Renaissance courtly theme, reflected his personal experiences amidst the intrigues and romantic plots of the Mantuan court.

Ascanio's life was intense and eventful, but unfortunately also marked by family bereavements, such as the death of his son Africano. Nevertheless, the author managed to maintain a lively intellectual activity until his death in 1591. His legacy still lives on in the Ceni Toniatti family of Milan and Mantua, and I, the author of this short pill, together with my brother, am the last descendant of Ascanio, whose literary legacy remains alive in our memory as a symbol of the richness of the Italian Renaissance.