Not many biographic sources exist about Kornaros apart from the last verses of
Erotokritos. It is believed that he was born to a wealthy family in Trapezonda (), a village near
Sitia, Crete, in 1553, and lived there roughly up to 1590. He then moved to Candia (modern
Iraklion), where his marriage to Marietta Zeno took place. Together they had two daughters named Helen and Katerina. In 1591 Kornaros became an administrator, and during the outbreak of
plague from 1591 to 1593 he worked as a sanitary supervisor. He showed interest in
literature and was a member of a literary group called
Accademia degli Stravaganti (
Academy of the Strange Ones), which was founded by his brother and fellow writer
Andrea Cornaro, who wrote in Italian language. He died in
Candia, in 1613 (or 1614), and was buried at the church of San Francesco. The cause of his death remains unknown. Alternate spellings of his first name include Vincenzo, Vitzentzos or Vikentios. Kornaros' "Erotokritos" was a source of inspiration for
Dionysios Solomos and influenced Greek poets such as
Kostis Palamas,
Krystallis and
Seferis. == Monument ==