Annibale Caro

Scholar and writer, born in Civitanova Marche, Marche, EC Italy. He was involved in a literary dispute with Ludovico Castelvetro in which he defended linguistic invention against the rigid orthodoxy of the Bembo school (Apologia, 1558). Among his works are a fresh and original comedy, Gli straccioni (1544), two volumes of letters Lettere familiari (1573–5), and the collection of poems Rime (1557). Notable is his translation of Virgil's Aeneid (1581).

Annibale Caro (June 19, 1507-November 21, 1566) was an Italian poet.

Born in Civitanova Marche, Ancona, he became tutor to the family of Lodovico Gaddi, a wealthy family in Florence, and then secretary to Lodovico's brother Giovanni. At Gaddi's death, he entered the service of the Farnese family, and became confidential secretary to Pietro Ludovico Farnese, duke of Parma, and to his sons, Duke Ottavio and cardinals Ranuccio and Alexander.

Caro's most important work was his translation of the Aeneid. His work also includes two clever jeux d'esprit: La Fichelde, in praise of figs, and a eulogy of the big nose of Leoni Ancona, a local figure.

Caro's fame was diminished because of the virulence with which he attacked Lodovico Castelvetro in one of his canzoni, and by his meanness for denouncing him to the Church for translating some of the writings of Philipp Melanchthon, and associate of Martin Luther.