Read on Twitter
GIACAMO CASANOVA (THREAD)
A name so famous for his often complicated and elaborate affairs with women that his name is now synonymous with "womanizer".
He was a true adventurer, traveling across Europe from end to end in search of fortune.
A name so famous for his often complicated and elaborate affairs with women that his name is now synonymous with "womanizer".
He was a true adventurer, traveling across Europe from end to end in search of fortune.
Our story begins when Casanova was born in Venice in 1725. At this time, the city of Venice thrived as the 'pleasure capital' of Europe.
The famed Carnival, gambling houses, and beautiful courtesans were powerful drawing cards for young men coming of age.
The famed Carnival, gambling houses, and beautiful courtesans were powerful drawing cards for young men coming of age.
This was the milieu that bred Casanova and made him its most famous citizen.
Casanova was cared for by his grandmother while his mother toured about Europe in the theater. His father died when he was eight.
At 9 years old, he was sent to a boarding house in Padua.
Casanova was cared for by his grandmother while his mother toured about Europe in the theater. His father died when he was eight.
At 9 years old, he was sent to a boarding house in Padua.
The boarding house was grim, so he appealed to be placed under the care of Abbé Gozzi who tutored him in academic subjects + the violin. Casanova moved in with the priest and his family and lived there through most of his teenage years, where he first engaged the opposite sex.
Bettina Gozzi, was "pretty, lighthearted ... The girl pleased me at once, though I had no idea why. It was she who little by little kindled in my heart the first sparks of a feeling which later became my ruling passion."
Early on, Casanova demonstrated a quick wit, an intense appetite for knowledge, and a perpetually inquisitive mind.
He entered the University of Padua at 12 and graduated at 17, in 1742, with a degree in law "for which I felt an unconquerable aversion".
He entered the University of Padua at 12 and graduated at 17, in 1742, with a degree in law "for which I felt an unconquerable aversion".
Casanova had also studied moral philosophy, chemistry, and mathematics, and was keenly interested in medicine.
While attending the university, Casanova began to gamble and quickly got into debt, causing his recall to Venice by his grandmother, but the gambling habit was there.
While attending the university, Casanova began to gamble and quickly got into debt, causing his recall to Venice by his grandmother, but the gambling habit was there.
Back in Venice, Casanova started his clerical law career.
He quickly befriended Venetian senator Alvise Malipiero, the owner of Palazzo Malipiero.
Malipiero moved in the best circles and taught young Casanova a great deal about good food and wine, and how to behave in society.
He quickly befriended Venetian senator Alvise Malipiero, the owner of Palazzo Malipiero.
Malipiero moved in the best circles and taught young Casanova a great deal about good food and wine, and how to behave in society.
Casanova's growing curiosity about women led to his first complete sexual experience, with two sisters, Nanetta and Marton Savorgnan.
Casanova proclaimed that his life avocation was firmly established by this encounter.
Casanova proclaimed that his life avocation was firmly established by this encounter.
Scandals tainted Casanova's short church career. After his grandmother's death, Casanova entered a seminary for a short while, but soon his indebtedness landed him in prison for the first time.
He quickly found employment as a scribe with the powerful Cardinal Acquaviva in Rome
He quickly found employment as a scribe with the powerful Cardinal Acquaviva in Rome
When Casanova became the scapegoat for a scandal involving a local pair of star-crossed lovers, Cardinal Acquaviva dismissed Casanova, thanking him for his sacrifice, but effectively ending his church career.
In search of a new profession, Casanova bought a commission to become a military officer for the Republic of Venice.
He joined a Venetian regiment at Corfu, his stay being broken by a trip to Constantinople, ostensibly to deliver a letter from his former master the Cardinal
He joined a Venetian regiment at Corfu, his stay being broken by a trip to Constantinople, ostensibly to deliver a letter from his former master the Cardinal
Finding his advancement too slow and his duty boring, he managed to lose most of his pay playing faro.
Casanova soon abandoned his military career and returned to Venice. At the age of 21, he set out to become a professional gambler, but lost all of his remaining money.
Casanova soon abandoned his military career and returned to Venice. At the age of 21, he set out to become a professional gambler, but lost all of his remaining money.
Casanova thus began his 3rd career, as a violinist in the San Samuele theater,
"a menial journeyman of a sublime art in which, if he who excels is admired, the mediocrity is rightly despised. ... My profession was not a noble one, but I did not care."
"a menial journeyman of a sublime art in which, if he who excels is admired, the mediocrity is rightly despised. ... My profession was not a noble one, but I did not care."
He and some of his fellows, "often spent our nights roaming through different quarters of the city, thinking up the most scandalous practical jokes and putting them into execution ... we amused ourselves by untying the gondolas moored at private homes, which then drifted away"
Good fortune came his way when, unhappy with being a violinist, he saved the life of Venetian patrician of the Bragadin family, who had a stroke while riding with Casanova.
Because of his youth and medical knowledge, the senator thought him wise beyond his years.
Because of his youth and medical knowledge, the senator thought him wise beyond his years.
They concluded that he must be in possession of occult knowledge.
As they were 'cabalists' themselves, the senator invited Casanova into his household and became a lifelong patron
As they were 'cabalists' themselves, the senator invited Casanova into his household and became a lifelong patron
For the next three years under the senator's patronage, working nominally as a legal assistant, Casanova led the life of a nobleman, dressing magnificently and as came naturally, spending most of his time gambling and engaging in amorous pursuits.
However, not much later, Casanova was forced to leave Venice.
Casanova had dug up a freshly buried corpse to play a practical joke on an enemy and exact revenge, but the victim went into a paralysis, never to recover. lmao
Casanova had dug up a freshly buried corpse to play a practical joke on an enemy and exact revenge, but the victim went into a paralysis, never to recover. lmao
Escaping to Parma, Casanova entered into a three-month affair with a Frenchwoman he named "Henriette", perhaps the deepest love he ever experienced—a woman who combined beauty, intelligence, and culture.
"They who believe that a woman is incapable of making a man equally happy all the twenty-four hours of the day have never known an Henriette. The joy which flooded my soul was far greater when I conversed with her during the day than when I held her in my arms at night"
Following their breakup, Casanova returned to Venice, and after a good gambling streak, he recovered and set off on a grand tour, reaching Paris in 1750.
Along the way, from one town to another, he got into sexual escapades resembling operatic plots.
Along the way, from one town to another, he got into sexual escapades resembling operatic plots.
Casanova tests his condom for holes by inflating it.
Casanova stayed in Paris for two years, learned the language, spent much time at the theater, and introduced himself to notables.
Soon, however, his numerous liaisons were noted by the Paris police, as they were in nearly every city he visited...
Soon, however, his numerous liaisons were noted by the Paris police, as they were in nearly every city he visited...
In 1752, his brother Francesco and he moved from Paris to Dresden, where his mother and sister were living.
He then visited Prague and Vienna, where the tighter moral atmosphere of the latter city was not to his liking. He finally returned to Venice in 1753.
He then visited Prague and Vienna, where the tighter moral atmosphere of the latter city was not to his liking. He finally returned to Venice in 1753.
Prince Charles de Ligne, who understood Casanova well, and who knew most of the prominent individuals of the age, thought Casanova the most interesting man he had ever met:
"there is nothing in the world of which he is not capable."
"there is nothing in the world of which he is not capable."
In Venice, Casanova resumed his escapades, picking up many enemies and gaining the greater attention of the Venetian inquisitors.
His police record became a lengthening list of reported blasphemies, seductions, fights, and public controversy
His police record became a lengthening list of reported blasphemies, seductions, fights, and public controversy
A state spy, Giovanni Manucci, was employed to draw out Casanova's knowledge of cabalism and Freemasonry and to examine his library for forbidden books.
On 26 July 1755, at age 30, Casanova was arrested for affront to religion and common decency.
On 26 July 1755, at age 30, Casanova was arrested for affront to religion and common decency.
Casanova was imprisoned in "The Leads", which was a prison of seven cells on the top floor of the east wing of the Doge's palace, reserved for prisoners of higher status and named for the lead plates covering the palace roof.
He was placed in solitary confinement with clothing, a pallet bed, table, and armchair in "the worst of all the cells", where he suffered greatly from the darkness, summer heat, and "millions of fleas".
During exercise walks he was granted, he found a piece of black marble and an iron bar which he smuggled back to his cell.
When he was temporarily without cellmates, he spent two weeks sharpening the bar into a spike on the stone.
When he was temporarily without cellmates, he spent two weeks sharpening the bar into a spike on the stone.
He solicited the help of the prisoner in the adjacent cell, Father Balbi, a renegade priest.
The priest made a hole in his ceiling using the spike, climbed across and made a hole in the ceiling of Casanova's cell.
The priest made a hole in his ceiling using the spike, climbed across and made a hole in the ceiling of Casanova's cell.
Casanova lifted himself through the ceiling, leaving behind a note that quoted the 117th Psalm (Vulgate):
"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord".
He escaped!
"I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord".
He escaped!
"Thus did God provide me with what I needed for an escape which was to be a wonder if not a miracle. I admit that I am proud of it; but my pride does not come from my having succeeded, it comes from my having concluded that the thing could be done and having had the courage"
He knew his stay in Paris might be a long one and he proceeded accordingly:
"I saw that to accomplish anything I must bring all my physical and moral faculties in play, make the acquaintance of the great and the powerful, exercise strict self-control, and play the chameleon."
"I saw that to accomplish anything I must bring all my physical and moral faculties in play, make the acquaintance of the great and the powerful, exercise strict self-control, and play the chameleon."
He reconnected with old friend de Bernis, the Foreign Minister of France.
Casanova was advised by his patron to find a means of raising funds for the state - Casanova promptly became one of the trustees of the first state lottery, and one of its best ticket salesmen. $$$
Casanova was advised by his patron to find a means of raising funds for the state - Casanova promptly became one of the trustees of the first state lottery, and one of its best ticket salesmen. $$$
Casanova claimed to be a Rosicrucian and an alchemist, aptitudes which made him popular with some of the most prominent figures of the era, among them Madame de Pompadour
As the Seven Years' War began, Casanova was again called to help increase the state treasury. He was entrusted with a mission of selling state bonds in Amsterdam.
He succeeded in selling the bonds at only an 8% discount, and became rich enough to found a silk manufactory.
He succeeded in selling the bonds at only an 8% discount, and became rich enough to found a silk manufactory.
Casanova had reached his peak of fortune, but could not sustain it.
He ran the business poorly, borrowed heavily trying to save it, and spent much of his wealth on constant liaisons with his female workers who were his "harem".
He ran the business poorly, borrowed heavily trying to save it, and spent much of his wealth on constant liaisons with his female workers who were his "harem".
For his debts, Casanova was imprisoned again, this time at For-l'Évêque, but was liberated four days afterwards, upon the insistence of the Marquise d'Urfé.
He sold the rest of his belongings and secured another mission to Holland to distance himself from his troubles.
He sold the rest of his belongings and secured another mission to Holland to distance himself from his troubles.
This time, however, his mission failed and he fled to Cologne, then Stuttgart in the spring of 1760, where he lost the rest of his fortune.
He was yet again arrested for his debts, but managed to escape to Switzerland, where he considered the life of a monk at Einsiedeln.
He was yet again arrested for his debts, but managed to escape to Switzerland, where he considered the life of a monk at Einsiedeln.
Returning to his hotel, he found another romantic interest and quickly forgot his ideas of leading a sinple life.
He visited Albrecht von Haller and Voltaire, and arrived in Marseille, then Genoa, Florence, Rome, Naples, Modena, and Turin, moving from one sexual romp to another.
He visited Albrecht von Haller and Voltaire, and arrived in Marseille, then Genoa, Florence, Rome, Naples, Modena, and Turin, moving from one sexual romp to another.
In 1760, Casanova started calling himself 'the Chevalier de Seingalt', a name he would increasingly use for the rest of his life.
In Paris, he set about an outrageous scheme - convincing the Marquise d'Urfé that he could turn her into a young man through occult means.
In Paris, he set about an outrageous scheme - convincing the Marquise d'Urfé that he could turn her into a young man through occult means.
Casanova traveled to England in 1763, hoping to sell his idea of a state lottery to English officials.
Through his connections, he worked his way up to an audience with King George III, using most of the valuables he had stolen from the Marquise d'Urfé.
Through his connections, he worked his way up to an audience with King George III, using most of the valuables he had stolen from the Marquise d'Urfé.
Because he could not speak English, in order to find women to bed, he put an advertisement in the newspaper to let an apartment to the "right" person.
He interviewed many young women, choosing one "Mistress Pauline" who suited him well. The original 'Casting Couch'.
He interviewed many young women, choosing one "Mistress Pauline" who suited him well. The original 'Casting Couch'.
These and other liaisons, however, left him weak with venereal disease and he left England broke and ill.
He went on to the Austrian Netherlands, recovered, and then for the next three years, traveled all over Europe, going as far as Moscow and Saint Petersburg
He went on to the Austrian Netherlands, recovered, and then for the next three years, traveled all over Europe, going as far as Moscow and Saint Petersburg
His principal goal was to sell his lottery scheme to other governments and repeat the great success he had with the French government, but a meeting with Frederick the Great bore no fruit and in the surrounding German lands, the same result.
In 1766, he was expelled from Warsaw following a pistol duel with Colonel Franciszek Ksawery Branicki over an Italian actress, a lady friend of theirs. Both duelists were wounded, Casanova on the left hand.
Now known across Europe for his reckless behavior, he headed for Spain, where he was not as well known.
When no doors opened for him, however, he could only roam across Spain, with little to show for it. In Barcelona, he escaped assassination and landed in jail for 6 weeks.
When no doors opened for him, however, he could only roam across Spain, with little to show for it. In Barcelona, he escaped assassination and landed in jail for 6 weeks.
His Spanish adventure a failure, he returned to France briefly, then to Italy.
Casanova was permitted to return to Venice in September 1774 after 18 years of exile.
At first, his return to Venice was a cordial one and he was a celebrity.
Casanova was permitted to return to Venice in September 1774 after 18 years of exile.
At first, his return to Venice was a cordial one and he was a celebrity.
Even the Inquisitors wanted to hear how he had escaped from their prison
At age 49, the years of reckless living and the thousands of miles of travel had taken their toll. Casanova's smallpox scars, sunken cheeks, and hook nose became all the more noticeable.
At age 49, the years of reckless living and the thousands of miles of travel had taken their toll. Casanova's smallpox scars, sunken cheeks, and hook nose became all the more noticeable.
Venice had changed for him.
Casanova now had little money for gambling, few willing females worth pursuing, and few acquaintances to enliven his dull days. He visited the deathbed of Bettina Gozzi, who had first introduced him to sex and who died in his arms.
Casanova now had little money for gambling, few willing females worth pursuing, and few acquaintances to enliven his dull days. He visited the deathbed of Bettina Gozzi, who had first introduced him to sex and who died in his arms.
In 1779, Casanova found Francesca, an uneducated seamstress, who became his live-in lover and housekeeper, and who loved him devotedly.
Later that year, the Inquisitors put him on the payroll and sent him to investigate commerce between the papal states and Venice.
Later that year, the Inquisitors put him on the payroll and sent him to investigate commerce between the papal states and Venice.
In a downward spiral, Casanova was expelled again from Venice in 1783, after writing a vicious satire poking fun at Venetian nobility.
Forced to resume his travels again, Casanova arrived in Paris + met THE Benjamin Franklin while attending a presentation on aeronautics.
Forced to resume his travels again, Casanova arrived in Paris + met THE Benjamin Franklin while attending a presentation on aeronautics.
In 1785 he became the librarian to Count Joseph Karl von Waldstein, a chamberlain of the emperor, in the Castle of Dux, Bohemia
Casanova describes his last years as boring and frustrating, though it was the most productive time for his writing.
Casanova describes his last years as boring and frustrating, though it was the most productive time for his writing.
"a man who makes known his love by words is a fool".
Verbal communication is essential—"without speech, the pleasure of love is diminished by at least two-thirds"—but words of love must be implied, not boldly proclaimed.
Verbal communication is essential—"without speech, the pleasure of love is diminished by at least two-thirds"—but words of love must be implied, not boldly proclaimed.
He was, by vocation and avocation, a lawyer, clergyman, military officer, violinist, con man, pimp, gourmand, dancer, businessman, diplomat, spy, politician, medic, mathematician, social philosopher, cabalist, playwright, and writer.
In 1797, word arrived that the Republic of Venice had ceased to exist and that Napoleon Bonaparte had seized Casanova's home city.
Casanova died on 4 June 1798 at the age of 73.
His last words are said to have been "I have lived as a philosopher and I die as a Christian".
Casanova died on 4 June 1798 at the age of 73.
His last words are said to have been "I have lived as a philosopher and I die as a Christian".
