Michele Antonio

Marquess of Saluzzo

Michele Antonio del Vasto (26 March 1495 – 18 October 1528) was the Marquess of Saluzzo from 1504 until his death.Born in Saluzzo, the elder son of Ludovico II of Saluzzo and Margaret of Foix-Candale, he was Count of Carmagnola until he succeeded to his father.

He took part, initially alongside Ludovico, in the Italian Wars of Louis XII and Francis I of France.In particular, he distinguished himself at the Battle of Pavia (1525).

Michele Antonio died from wounds sustained by a cannonball at the .According to his last will, he was buried in the church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli in Rome, while his heart was kept in Piedmont.

A ballad about the wounded marquess explaining his last will was popular among the Italian Alpini during World War I.