Born at
Gassino Torinese near
Turin in Piedmont, son of Captain Piero Castiglione, of
Mantua, he served in the
Army of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at
Landrecies and
Boulogne-sur-Mer; and Lady of Candia, of
Canavese. Castiglione was appointed to the young Princess Elizabeth's household as Master of the Italian Tongue in November 1544, becoming upon her accession to the Throne
Groom of the
Privy Chamber, which post he held until shortly before his death. Granted by the Crown the
manor of
Benham Valence in
Berkshire, he became seated there and is buried at the
parish church of St Mary's,
Speen. In 1558, Castiglione married at
St Olave's Church in the
City of London, Margherita Alleyn (1535–1622), widow of Lazarus Alleyn and illegitimate daughter of expatriate Florentine merchant
Bartolomeo Compagni (1503–1561), by whom he had a large family. One son, Sir
Francis Castilion (1561–1638) became a pensioner of James I and
Member of Parliament for
Great Bedwyn. Another son, Captain Peter Castilion, was a professional soldier who settled in
Ireland and married Thomasine Peyton, daughter of Sir
Christopher Peyton, Auditor-General of Ireland. One of his daughters, Elizabeth Castilion, married Peter Leigh, brother of the
Blessed Richard Leigh. ==References==