"Il Capitano ([il kapiˈtaːno], Italian for "The Captain") is one of the four stock characters of Commedia dell'arte. He most likely was never a "Captain" but rather appropriated the name for himself.
He is often a braggart and a swaggerer who can maintain his claims only by benefit of the fact that none of the locals know him. He is usually a Spaniard, given the fact that for most of the late Renaissance to well into 17th century, parts of Italy were under Spanish domination. He was most likely inspired by the boisterous Iberic caudillos who told tall tales of their exploits either in the conquest of the Americas or in the wars with Germany." - (en.wikipedia.org 02.07.2021)