Giacomo Kazanova Philosopher, diplomat, writer, favorite of women, and also a secret agent Date of Birth: 02.04.1725 Country: Italy

1. Biography of Giacomo Casanova
2. Early Life and Influences
3. Secret Agent
4. Mission in Dunkirk
5. Accomplishing the Mission
6. Return and Consequences
7. Later Life

Biography of Giacomo Casanova

Giacomo Casanova was a philosopher, diplomat, writer, womanizer, and secret agent who emerged as a new type of spy in the "gallant" 18th century. He was an intellectual, a social lion, often a polyglot, and excelled not only with his pen but also with the sword and pistol. In addition to all this, he had the ability to charm and win the hearts of women. Casanova was born in 1725 in Venice, Italy, into a family of actors who allegedly belonged to the noble Palafosco lineage. Gifted and ambitious, Casanova completed his education in Padua and studied law.

Early Life and Influences

Growing up in Venice, a city known for jealously guarding its secrets from foreigners, Casanova's mother's artistic profession allowed him to socialize with the elite and diplomats from a young age. Ignoring all restrictions, young Casanova formed a close friendship with the Abbé Bernis, the Count of Lyons and the French ambassador to the Venetian Republic. When Bernis became the Minister of Foreign Affairs for France in 1757, Casanova's life changed dramatically. From his memoirs, it is evident that his interests extended beyond amorous adventures. Casanova wrote about his time in France: "Monsieur de Bernis received me as usual, not as a minister, but as a friend. He asked if I would agree to carry out a few secret assignments." Casanova accepted the offer.

Secret Agent

Bernis, who had won the favor of the French king, as well as the respect of the rulers of the Venetian Republic and Pope Benedict XIV during his tenure as the French ambassador in Venice, decided to involve Casanova in his secret diplomatic activities. Casanova described the events himself: "In early May, Abbé de Bernis informed me by letter that I should go to Versailles to meet with Abbé de Laville. The latter asked if I was willing to visit eight or ten warships (French fleet) anchored in Dunkirk and gather enough information to provide him with a detailed report on the overall armament of the ships, the number of sailors, the various types of ammunition, the chain of command, and the police service. I replied that I was willing to try."

Mission in Dunkirk

Within three days, Casanova rented a room in a hotel in Dunkirk. As soon as the local banker read the letter from France, he gave Casanova one hundred gold coins and asked him to wait for him at the hotel to introduce him to the local squadron commander, Monsieur de Baré. After the usual inquiries, the commander, like any Frenchman in a high position, invited Casanova to dine with him and his wife, who had not yet returned from the theater. His wife treated Casanova with great friendliness, and since Casanova refrained from gambling, he soon became acquainted with all the army and navy officers. Casanova spoke mostly about European naval fleets, pretending to be an expert in the field due to his previous service in the Republic's fleet. Within three days, he not only personally met the captains of the warships but also became friends with them.

Accomplishing the Mission

Casanova conversed about various topics, including ship construction and specific Venetian naval maneuvers. The captains of the French warships, eager to impress Casanova, listened to him with great interest, even when he spoke about nonsensical matters. On the fourth day, one of the captains invited Casanova to dine on board his ship. This was enough for Casanova to receive invitations from all the other captains, either for breakfast or simply to enjoy some refreshments. Every captain who honored him with such an invitation became his guide for the day. Casanova showed interest in everything, studying each ship thoroughly, descending to the lowest deck, asking hundreds of questions, and finding young officers eager to show off their knowledge. They spoke openly to Casanova, and it did not take much effort for him to extract all the information he needed for his report. Before going to bed, Casanova wrote down all the merits and shortcomings he had observed on each ship. He slept no more than four or five hours a day but remained focused solely on completing his mission.

Return and Consequences

Throughout his time in Dunkirk, Casanova did not engage in frivolous flirtations. His only goal was to fulfill his assignment. He dined with business partners, acquaintances, and a small country house. Madame P., an acquaintance, accompanied him and seemed pleased with his attention when they were alone. Casanova provided her with ample evidence of his warm friendship. After completing his task, he bid farewell to everyone and returned to Paris, choosing a different route than the one he took to Dunkirk. Upon arrival, he immediately delivered his report to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Palais Bourbon. The minister spent two hours with Casanova, crossing out unnecessary details. Casanova then rewrote the report and personally handed it to Abbé Laville in Versailles. Laville read the report without showing any emotion or making any comments. He simply said that he would let Casanova know how good it was in due course. A month later, Casanova received five hundred gold coins and learned that Minister de Creuilly found his report not only meticulously crafted but also sufficiently substantial. However, various considerations prevented him from fully enjoying the recognition he sincerely desired from his patron.

Later Life

When the Duke de Choiseul replaced Abbé Bernis as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Casanova's espionage activities came to an end in 1758. Afterward, he lived in various European countries, constantly moving from place to place. In 1779, he became the librarian of Count Waldstein at his estate in Gut-Dürrnberg, Bohemia, where he peacefully passed away on July 4, 1798.