Agostino was born in Sarzana the 14th Sept. 1514 of a rich and noble family. He had as protectors Ottaviano and Federico Fregoso, and he expressed his gratitude making them his heirs if his son hadn’t had any pronegy.

After a youth of study but also pleasure he married Antonia Ricca, was at the service of Andrea Doria and in the galleys of the Republic of Genoa. From 1542 he entered in the Offices of the Magistracy and had different appointments: the first was as magistrate in Oneglia.

He was appointed defending counsel of Sarzana for a matter of taxes against Gio: Giocchino da Passano; he dealt with the Office of St. George for the building of the Palace of the Captain of Genoa; he was mayor of Falcinello and defended Captain Segalara from different charges; he was judge of witchcraft in Genoa and in 1546 was sent to Sarzana to interrogate a witness charged for murderer. In the same year, he was elected Vicar of the isle of Corsica. He found a lot of corruption in the administration of justice and denounced the fact to the protectors of the Bank. For this reason he fell out with the most important people of the isle, specially with the Representative of Bastia.

Back to Sarzana, he dealt with Francescotto Parentucelli for the building of the Town Hall Palace and then came back to Genoa. Two Corsican criminals brought to Sarzana to be tried, escaped and Bernucci was charged for having helped them, taking 25 scudos; he was imprisoned for three months and then exiled for ten years. This condemnation didn’ t worry him to much, he went to Rome where he had different appointments: Representative of Anagni and the countries of Campagna and Marittima, magistrate of Alatri, lawer in Romagna, Governor of Faenza.

In 1556, following the advice of Girolamo Manecchia, presented a petition and the exile was revocated on bail of 1000 ducats. He was appointed Prior of the Old of Sarzana and, in 1562, was sent to Ventimiglia to calm some fights, then back to Sarzana to take oath of allegiance to the Republic (21st August).

He was the Governor of Città di Castello and Representative in Ancona, Umbria and Orvieto, in Faenza and Spoleto. In 1580 he was again Prior of the Old of Sarzana and then he went to Florence where he died in 1584. He was buried in St. Stephen church. Even if he had a lot of appointments he found time to dedicate to poetry and had relationships with the most important men of letters of his time.

From “Appunti per una storia di Sarzana” Ennio Callegari