Giacomo Casanova

Giacomo Casanova was born in Venice on April 2, 1725. His father Gaetano Giuseppe Giacomo Casanova was an actor and ballet dancer while his mother Zanetta Farussi was a comedic actress. The couple had five children, out of which Giacomo was the eldest.

Casanova’s father died in 1733 and since his mother travelled a lot with her troupe Casanova and his siblings were mostly looked after by their grandmother Marzia Baldissera. At the age of nine he was sent to a boarding house in Padua. Casanova was very bitter about this.

At Padua, young Casanova was placed under Abbe Gozzi, his tutor. From him, he not only received tuitions in academic subjects, but also learnt to play violin. When he was twelve years old he was enrolled at the University of Padua and graduated from there at the age of seventeen.

Although he had passed out with a degree in law, he was more interested in medicine and had also studied moral philosophy, chemistry and mathematics. He also picked up the habit of gambling during his stay here.

Casanova started his career in clerical law as an abbe, a lower ranking clergyman. During this period, he caught the attention of 76-year-old Venetian senator Alvise Gasparo Malipiero. Malipiero introduced Casanova to the higher circles and taught him everything he needed to know.

By this time, Casanova had also become a libertine and was caught dallying with actress Teresa Imer, whom Malipiero was trying to seduce and so Casanova lost his patronage. After that Casanova entered the Seminary of St. Cyprian in Padua for a short period, but was soon arrested for his debts.

On coming out of the prison he was employed as a scribe with Cardinal Acquaviva in Rome. Here he also met the pope. However, this job was also short lived. He was made a scapegoat after a scandal broke out and fired.

He next bought a commission and became a military officer for the Republic of Venice. However, he found the job boring and the payment not adequate for his bohemian lifestyle. Consequently, he sold the commission and went back to civilian life.

He now had considerable money and decided to become a professional gambler. However, he soon lost all his money and got an employment as a violinist in the Teatro San Samuele, an opera house in Venice.

With money so gained, Casanova went on Grand Tour of Europe. On the way he stopped at Lyton and joined the Freemasons there. He found their secret rites quite interesting.

He reached Paris in 1750 and stayed there for two years. He spent the time learning French and getting himself acquainted with well-known people. In addition, he had numerous romantic liaisons, which was noted by the police.

From Paris he went to Dresden, where his mother used to stay. It is possible that he started his writing career here. One of his plays ‘La Moluccheide’ was staged here.