Baldassare

Baldassare is the Italian form of Balthasar, itself derived from the ancient Phoenician or Old Babylonian name Bel-sharra-usur, meaning roughly "Baal protect the king" or "may the lord protect the king." The name gained wide currency in Christian tradition through its association with one of the Three Magi, with Balthasar conventionally identified as one of the wise men who visited the infant Jesus, though this identification is extrabiblical. The name was borne by the Italian Renaissance author Baldassare Castiglione, whose celebrated work on courtly conduct brought lasting fame to the name in European culture. Related forms include Balthasar in German and English, Balthazar in French, and Baltazar in Spanish and Portuguese.