Background
His parents, both of whom were actors, left his upbringing to others, and at an early age he showed precocious ability as a student and a remarkable aptitude for ingratiating himself in the dissolute society of Venice. After studying for the priesthood, serving in the Venetian army, and playing the violin at the San Samuele Theatre, he found his true vocation as a successful parasite, conducting amatory affairs, intriguing, gambling, cheating, and duping the gullible with his pretended magic powers.
In 1750 he went to France, then traveled in central Europe, and returned to Venice to resume his old ways. He was imprisoned July 26, 1755, in the Doge's Palace, allegedly for Freemasonry and other charges, having incurred the personal enmity of the new Inquisitor. After 15 months Casanova escaped on Nov. 1, 1756, as he tells in the romantic Histoire de ma fuite ("Story of My Escape"), written in French in his old age and published at Prague in 1788.
He returned to France and resumed his intrigues and love affairs, amassing a fortune as director of a government lottery and in other ventures, and adopting the title "Chevalier de Seingalt." Thereafter he traveled across Europe from Spain and England to Poland and Russia, but his personal charms had begun to wane, and his dubious reputation preceded him. He was forced finally to return to Venice and seek employment as a police spy in 1774. A scandal forced him to leave in 1782, and he wandered again until given a sinecure by the Count of Waldstein as librarian in his castle at Dux, Bohemia, in 1785.