iacomo Casanova was born in 1725 in the city of Venice. His father was an actor and his mother an actress whose beauty was famed across Europe. Though he was a sickly child, plagued by nosebleeds, it was said that he grew up surrounded by strong women who nurtured and enchanted him.

howing early brilliance, Casanova studied at the University of Padua and entered the seminary at St. Cyprian to become a priest, but was expelled for his scandalous conduct and love affairs. He received his doctorate of law in 1742.

n 1744, Casanova became the Secretary to Cardinal Acquaviva of Rome until scandal again forced him to leave the city, eventually returning to Venice.

asanova held jobs as a violinist, a clergyman, a secretary and a soldier in several countries. He also wrote prolifically, publishing plays, novels, poetry and pamphlets, though his most famous work would be his epic autobiography, “History of My Life.”

n 1749, Casanova met his first great love, Henriette, of whom he wrote: “People who believe that a woman is not enough to make a man equally happy all the twenty-four hours of a day have never known a Henriette.” She left him heartbroken.

hased by the Inquisition for years, in 1755, Casanova was arrested for witchcraft and all his manuscripts confiscated. He was sentenced to five years in a dungeon, but he made a spectacular escape, winding up in Paris, where he was greeted as a celebrity. After making a fortune in the lottery there, he continued his adventures across Europe.

asanova died on June 4, 1798 at his castle in Dux, in what is now the Czech Republic. In death, he became even more famous, enduring as a symbol of die-hard romance and the obsession with love.

mong the films made about Casanova’s life and loves are Alfred Deesy’s 1918 “Casanova,” Alexandre Volkoff’s 1927 “Casanova – The Loves of Casanova,” the 1954 Bob Hope comedy “Casanova’s Big Night,” “Casanova ‘70” starring Marcello Mastroianni and Federico Fellini’s 1976 “Casanova” starring Donald Sutherland.