Abstract: In Ronsard’s poetry, Italy was not a notable topic. Its significance was inscribed in a larger frame of complex relations between the late Valois’ dynasty and Italy, based both on political ambitions and on cultural rivalry. When Ronsard nominated Italians or spoke to Italians, he put in evidence the part they were playing at Court, he emphasized their respect to the French social and literary model, he involved them as contributors to his own lyric celebration.
