In William Shakespeare's comedy The Tempest (believed to have been written and performed circa 1610, but not published until 1623), Antonio is the brother of the wizard Prospero and is notable for having usurped his brother's position as Duke of Milan. Antonio is a Milanese nobleman with Machiavellian ideals and lust for power. His brother Prospero, once the rightful the Duke of Milan, had great love and respect for him, so he made Antonio a Lord and trusted him to take care of Milan's political affairs while Prospero himself was occupied with his alchemical and magical studies.