Born into an acting family of Giacomo Casanova, he spent his whole life as if on the same big stage, tried on different roles, masterly entered the character, and then played, played … Europe of the 18th century warmed many adventurers, but it is no longer so inspired It was.
My follies are the follies of youth
This boy was born in 1725 in Venice, recognized as the European "capital of pleasure". The atmosphere of the eternal holiday definitely influenced the formation of the character of the future adventurer. In the Casanova family, Giacomo was the eldest of six children, and I must say, the parents did not bother themselves too much with raising their offspring. The father of the family died early, and Giacomo was sent to his grandmother from the frivolous mother-actor, and from her for health reasons (the boy often had nosebleeds - it was believed that due to the increased density of the Venetian air) he was sent to the boarding house of the city of Padua in the distance from the coast.
The 18th century presupposed a universal education, and many children received it, but little Casanova was distinguished by a particularly lively mind and curiosity. At just 12 years old, he entered the University of Padua and after 5 years he graduated with a law degree. At the same time he also studied ethics, mathematics, chemistry and medicine. In addition, Giacomo mastered the card game, and proved himself behind the green cloth as a gambler, but not too lucky. In debt, he thought it best to return to Venice and finally get down to business.
The job of a church lawyer was not very good for the handsome dandy. Casanova paid much closer attention to love affairs, card games and other secular amusements that have little to do with righteous work. Instead of making money on his own, he acquired a high patron - the elderly Senator Malipiero, who lent the young man money, instructed him in the rules of etiquette and instilled in him a taste for social life, which Casanova did not lose until his death. He lost the senator's disposition much faster: an angry patron showed him the door, finding him with his own mistress.
Inclined to try everything in life, Casanova rushed from one extreme to another. He tried to make a career in the church, failing, bought the patent of an officer of the Venetian Republic, from an officer he moved to a musician - he was hired as a violinist in the theater of San Samuele. Music, too, did not occupy him for long, and Giacomo was already looking around in search of a new occupation when fate presented him with a surprise.
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The ineffable beauty of stolen delights
Casanova saved the life of Senator Bragadin, who suffered a blow in his presence, insisting on the correct method of treatment. The medical knowledge gained in Padua brought Giacomo excellent dividends: the senator adopted Casanova and drew him into occult circles, wanting to give the talented young man also the secret knowledge of the teachings of the Kabbalah. And for the next few years, Casanova led the social life so dear to his heart. He dressed in the best possible way, spent a lot of time at the card table, and the rest of the time he devoted to "amorous battles" and various tricks that were not always safe. Bragadin warned the insolent man that with his antics he attracted the attention of the authorities, but he only laughed at the warnings. And in vain, since another unsuccessful rally overflowed the patience of the Inquisition. Casanova barely managed to escape from Venice from charges of theft, blasphemy and warlock, and again embarked on a journey.
At this time, in Parma, Casanova experienced his most mysterious and most unsuccessful love adventure. He struck up an affair with a French woman named Henrietta. The affair lasted only three months, after which the lady disappeared, leaving 500 louis in the pocket of Casanova's camisole - this was the amount she estimated her gentleman. Henrietta was well brought up, well educated and, apparently, very rich, but who she was - Casanova never found out. However, he remembered the mysterious stranger more often than his other ladies - perhaps because for the first time in his life he was defeated in love.
The disappointed gentleman set off on a further trip to Europe. He first visited Paris, where he translated plays and composed his own, and at the same time acquired secular acquaintances and studied French. But his numerous and promiscuous love affairs again attracted the attention of the police. I had to migrate to Austria-Hungary. After the frivolous capital of France, the country, where on the streets the police could ask where the lady was going, did not like the pleasure seeker at all. At first, however, he achieved an introduction to the Empress and managed to make a good impression on Marie Theresa. But a little time passed, and Casanova was expelled from the country for seducing a girl of 13 years old.
We always direct everything to our own good
On the eve of his thirtieth birthday, Giacomo returned to Venice, and, as it turned out, in vain. He was immediately put under surveillance and was soon arrested for eating meat while fasting and witchcraft. The proof of the latter was the magic book "Zohar" found in his possession. Casanova was placed in the terrible Piombi prison, where the deaths of prisoners were frequent and it was believed that it was impossible to escape. The prisoner was supposed to spend 5 years in prison, but after a year and three months Casanova escaped from prison by making a hole in the ceiling of the cell and climbing onto the roof. So at the age of 31, he acquired the fame of a person for whom there are no barriers, and the status of a political emigrant, armed with which he returned to France.
Adventure no longer attracted Casanova so much as the prospect of gaining influence in society and stable sources of income. His acquaintance with Foreign Minister de Bernie brought him a new occupation - espionage, with which he did an excellent job. The mission to study the English fleet at Dunkirk was well paid, and subsequently Casanova provided similar services to de Berny on several occasions. In addition, Casanova managed to secure himself the position of manager of the first state lottery and acquired a fortune from the sale of lottery tickets. With the funds received, he bought two houses and a silk factory. However, he was not destined to become an industrialist. Casanova proudly called a couple of dozen female workers his harem, and spent much more money on them than he received from production.
Things were no better in the occult area, where Casanova considered himself an expert. In high society, he was introduced as a Rosicrucian of the highest initiation and alchemist, and his magical knowledge brought him some of the funds received for advice. But as soon as it came to a real magical experience, his entire occult reputation collapsed. The aging eccentric Marquis d'Urfe wanted to be reborn as a little boy, and Casanova undertook to help her in this difficult matter. The idea, of course, failed, but for some reason the Marquise had no complaints about the occultist and even freed him from prison, where Casanova ended up for debts.
Endless journey
The situation in France has ceased to be favorable. De Bernie was succeeded as minister by the Duke de Choiseul, who did not trust Casanova with any delicate assignments. The unprofitable factory had to be sold. In occult circles he was no longer trusted after the affront with the Marquise d'Urfe. All that remained was to go on a journey again.
In general, when studying the biography of Casanova, one gets the feeling that he was constantly moving around Europe. With the then modes of transportation, this must have caused a lot of inconvenience. But one way or another, and the Chevalier de Sengaltes (as he began to call himself) set off again. This time the road took him especially far - he visited England, Prussia and even Russia. Everywhere he tried to do the same as always: to gain connections in high society and rich patrons, as well as to quench his inexhaustible love ardor. I must say that he succeeded in many things: in Prussia he was received by King Frederick, in Russia he was honored to have a conversation with Empress Catherine. But no one was in a hurry to admire his talents, to finance his ideas, and women became less and less - the age and financial situation, which was getting worse, affected. For his passionate desire to return to Venice, he had to pay dearly - he received absolution with the condition to spy for the tribunal of the Venetian Inquisition. But Casanova got entangled in another love scandal and was forced to flee again - hopes of meeting old age in Venice finally collapsed.
I can say: I have lived
The last refuge of the aged Casanova was the Duchtsov castle, where at the invitation of Count Wallenstein he settled as a librarian. This position was only formal, in fact, the count just got his own attraction, and this was the last role of Giacomo Casanova. In Duchcov, the Cavalier de Sengaltes felt like he was in prison. No one in the castle, except the owner, showed him respect, he had to forget about love affairs because of impotence and gout, the only joy of Casanova was memories. He died 73 years old, was buried on the territory of the castle, and even his grave has not survived to this day.
Perhaps he would have disappeared into oblivion if he had not left a huge work - the memoir "The Story of My Life". They consist of as many as 12 volumes, and everything has been preserved there: women, kings, new women, the canals of Venice and the leaden roofs of the Piombi prison, women again, the beauties of Europe and the snowy expanses of incomprehensible Russia … If you read these volumes, it becomes clear that the play of his life, set on the stage of the gallant age, turned out to be truly interesting.
Ekaterina Kravtsova
