Ascanio Colonna (April 3, 1560 – May 17, 1608) was an Italian Cardinal who in his lifetime enjoyed a reputation for eloquence and learning.

[2] On 16 November 1586 he was appointed a cardinal deacon of Santi Vito, Modesto e Crescenzia by Pope Sixtus V, arriving in Rome 17 February 1587.

On 14 January 1591 his titular church was altered to Santa Maria in Cosmedin and he was appointed to the Congregation of the Index.

He was appointed cardinal protector of Flanders, and in 1605 employed the Fleming Philip Rubens as his secretary and librarian.

In the same year he intervened in the controversy surrounding the Venetian Interdict with a censure published as Sententia contra reipublicae Venetae episcopos.