Albertino Mussato (1261–1329) was a statesman, poet, historian and playwright from Padua. He is credited with providing an impetus to the revival of literary Latin, and is characterized as an early humanist. He was influenced by his teacher, the Paduan poet and proto-humanist Lovato Lovati. Mussato influenced many humanists such as Petrarch.

A native of Padua and a member of its council, Mussato acted as an ambassador between Padua and Emperor Henry VII. He is a member of a group of Latin Paduan poets called the cenacolo padovano. Mussato is renowned for his Latin play Ecerinis, which was based on the tyrannical career of Ezzelino III da Romano. It was the first secular tragedy written since Roman times. Thus, it is considered to be the first Italian tragedy identifiable as a Renaissance work. Ecerinis is not only significant for its historical information, but is modeled after the Senecan tragedy and is an indication of the early revival of classical works and their form – a characteristic of the humanist movement.

Mussato received the poet laureate honour as a result of the literary and political qualities of his play. He was one of the first to receive this designation after the classical age. Mussato's other works are a corpus of letters, poetry, and historical works, including a chronicle of Henry VII's actions in Italy. In addition to his prolific writings, he was also a champion of poetry which he defended in a 1317 polemical exchange of letters with a Dominican friar, Giovannino of Mantua.

Albertino Mussato was born in Padua in 1261 in the district of Gazzo, at around the time of year when the grapes are harvested — which is typically between September and November. Much of the information on Mussato's life is chronicled in his autobiographical poem written in 1317: De Celebratione Suae Diei Nativitatis Fienda Vel Non (Whether His Birthday Ought to Be Celebrated or Not). He is the oldest of his siblings, having two younger brothers and one younger sister. His father was Giovanni Cavalieri, a court messenger, but there were rumours that Mussato is the illegitimate son of an adulterous union between Viviano Muso and Cavalieri's wife. These rumours arose because Mussato adopted the last name Muso in his early years, probably, though, as tribute to Viviano Muso, who provided protection to the Cavalieri family and stood as godfather to Mussato.

By 1276–7 Viviano Muso had died leaving Mussato and his family in a state of poverty. The responsibility of providing for the family came to rest upon Mussato and he became employed in book copying for students.

Later on he transitioned to working in the Paduan law courts with his first notarial document being done for Amerina Muso – Viviano Muso's widow. However, he lacked a formal education and was unable to become a judge and was confined to remain a notary. Around this time, it is possible that Mussato began his tutorship under Lovato Lovati.

Throughout the 1280s and 1290s Mussato continued his notary work, eventually receiving recognition and prestige for performing all his notarial duties with great ability. However, he himself remarks in De Celebratione that he felt he did not deserve such praises. Nevertheless, due to his recognition, Mussato was knighted and became a member of the Consiglio Maggiore of Padua and was nominated to become a miles pro commune in 1296, at the young age of 35.

In 1294, he married Mabilia Lemici, daughter of Guglielmo Dente Lemici (or illegitimate daughter according to Giovanni da Nono). He eventually moved to the area where the Lemici Palazzo was located and he became the legal guardian of Guglielmo II when Vitaliano, son of Guglielmo Lemici, died in 1310.