Who was the real Casanova and why did he visit Russia

In world culture, there are two symbols of conquerors of women's hearts - the fictional Don Juan and the real Giacomo Casanova, born on April 2, 1725 in Venice. His parents, actors Gaetano and Zanetta, often toured, so the boy was raised by his grandmother. At 12, he entered the university in Padua, and at 17 graduated with a law degree.

However, boring jurisprudence did not attract the young man. Possessing many talents - he was fascinated by mathematics, played the violin, mastered medicine - Casanova could not focus on one thing for long. His life changed in Venice when he saved Senator Bragadin from a stroke by applying bloodletting. The grateful aristocrat became his patron, even believing in Casanova's invented "numerical method" of predicting the future. This brought him money but attracted the attention of the Inquisition. Ignoring the warnings, he ended up in prison, from which he escaped by dismantling the roof with another prisoner.

In France, Casanova proposed the world's first national lottery, became rich, opened a silk manufactory, calling the female workers his "harem." But consistency was foreign to him - the business collapsed. In 1764, he came to Russia, to St. Petersburg, hoping for luck. However, Russian aristocrats were educated and knew about his reputation. While playing cards, he won, but his debts were not paid - this was considered bad form.

With age, Casanova lost his charm. By 50, he had become an unwanted old man, lived in Bohemia with Count Waldstein and wrote his memoirs. "The Story of My Life", published 20 years after his death in 1798, restored his fame. At first, people doubted his existence, but documents confirmed the truth. Thus, the world remembered the great adventurer and seducer - Giacomo Casanova.