The Count was born at Casatico, in the Mantuese, on the 6th of December, 1478.[*36] His education, besides including the various studies and accomplishments usual to an Italian gentleman of the fifteenth century, was specially directed to those classical attainments which entered into the literary pursuits of the age. The death of his father left him early master of a handsome patrimony, and he at once embraced that courtier-life for which he was peculiarly fitted,--a life, which in a land subdivided into petty sovereignties, constituted the only profession open to civilians of noble birth and distinguished endowments, and on which his pen was destined to confer perpetual illustration. After a brief visit to Milan,[*37] and a short campaign in Naples with his relative the Marquis Francesco of Mantua, he repaired to Rome in 1503, where, by discretion and winning address, he quickly gained the new Pontiff's favour. In Count Castiglione, the penetration of Julius recognised a fit instrument for promoting his favourite scheme of securing Urbino to his nephew Francesco Maria della Rovere; and by attaching him to Guidobaldo, he fixed at that court a friend whose influence was certain to extend itself, and whose example would benefit his youthful relation. [Footnote *36: For the biography of Castiglione, see MARLIANI in the Cominana edition of the _Opere Volgari_ (Padua, 1733), and SERASSI, in _Poesie volgari e latine del Castiglione_ (Roma, 1760), as well as the following works:-- MAZZUCHELLI, _Baldassare Castiglione_ (Narducci, Roma). MARTINATI, _Notizie Stor. bibliogr. intorno al Conte B.C._ (Firenze, 1890). Cf. on this CIAN, in _Giorn. St. della Lett. It._, XVII., 113. BUFARDECI, _La vita letter. del c. B.C._ (Ragusa, 1900). Cf. on this _Giorn. St. della Lett. It._, XXXVIII., 203. CIAN, _Candidature nuziali di B.C._ (Venezia, 1892, per nozze Salvioni-Taveggia).] [Footnote *37: He was educated at Milan, where he probably learned Latin from Giorgio Merula, and Greek from Demetrio Calcondila, and cultivated at the same time the _poesia volgare_ (see CIAN, _Un Cod. ignoto_, cited on p. 44, note *1). While he was still very young he was attached to the Court of Il Moro. His father died in 1499 from a wound got at the battle of the Taro. He returned to Casatico on the fall of Sforza, and then joined Marchese Francesco.]