Enrico Caterino Davila, an Italian historian, born near Padua, Oct. 30,1576, murdered near Verona in the summer of 1631. He was the youngest son of Antonio Davila, several of whose ancestors had been constables of Cyprus, from which position the elder Davila was driven impoverished when the island was taken by the Turks. He sought refuge at the court of France in 1572, and Catharine de' Medici took him into favor. He named his young son in honor of the queen and her son Henry III. The boy commenced life as page to Catharine, and at 18 entered the army under Henry IV., and distinguished himself at the sieges of Honfleur and Amiens. Having returned to Italy, he devoted himself to study, and became a member of the society of the Innominati at Padua. A duel with a poet who lampooned him, and whom he ran through the body, caused him to flee to Venice. That republic was then raising troops for one of its frequent wars. Davila enlisted 300 men, and entered the army, holding commands successively in Friuli, Candia, Dalmatia, and elsewhere. He received a pension, as well as restoration to his hereditary rank of constable of Cyprus. Being appointed governor of Crema, he stopped with his family and attendants at the hamlet of San Michele, near Verona, to demand a relay of horses.

This was refused by the postmaster, who on being reproved shot Davila dead with an arquebuse. In a general struggle which followed DavhVs chaplain was killed, and Da-vila's son killed the postmaster, whose accomplices were arrested and hanged. Davila is known chiefly for his famous work, the Istoria delle guerre chili di Francia, which describes the period from the death of Henry II. in 1559 to the peace of Vervins in 1598. It is a full and trustworthy record of facts, although too favorable to Catharine de' Medici. It was first published by Baglioni (Venice, 1630). The best editions are those issued from the royal press (folio, Paris, 1644), and by Apostolo Zeno (2 vols, folio, Venice, 1733), the latter with a biography of Davila. It has been translated into many languages. The first English translation was published in 1647, the latest in 1757, in 2 vols. fol. An Italian edition was published at London in 1801, in 8 vols. 8vo.