Biography of Alexander count Cagliostro

Alchemical spells

2 June 1743
26 August 1795
Countless biographies have tried to shed light on the mysterious adventurer that characterized the age of enlightenment: healer, friend of mankind ", a lover and popularizer of esoteric sciences or wily Barker, common quack? The question, so far, had no answer for sure: the mystery that envelops the multiple activities carried out by Cagliostro helps to keep alive the interest on him. Giuseppe Balsamo was born in Palermo on 2 June 1743, from merchant Pietro Balsamo and Happiness Poachers. Because of the modest economic conditions, after the death of his father was assigned to the Seminary of St.
Rocco in Palermo. In 1756 he entered as a novice at the Monastery St John of God Hospitaller brothers of Caltagirone to be attached to Friar apothecary, from whom he learned the rudiments of Pharmacology and chemistry. In 1768 he married in Rome, the very young and comely maiden Lorenza Feliciani age fourteen. Until marriage do not have other documents: it is likely that he lived by gimmicks during youth.
On the other hand, the same Cagliostro declared publicly that come from unknown countries, having spent the years of childhood to Mecca and to have known the ancient mysteries of the Egyptian priests through the teachings of the wise Sportsman. Will be monsignor Giuseppe Barberi, General of the Holy Office, which in his Compendium on the life and exploits of Joseph Balsamo, drafted in 1791, will deny these statements becoming one of his most ardent detractors. According to Baba, Cagliostro would exercise scams and deception even in Barcelona, Madrid and Lisbon with the help of the sorceress book which he seduced wealthy men with fine arts ranging from physical attractiveness to the promise of miraculous healings through dust and magic formulas. Dates back to 1771 the young couple's first trip to London: it seems that there the Balm both went to prison for debt and, to return the money owed, he was forced to work as a Decorator. In 1772 in Paris, Lorenza you fancy to advocate Duplessis and because of this relationship, he was locked up in the prison of Agia Pelagia, jail of women of ill repute. Reconciliation was not slow to occur and spouses, after various peregrinations in Belgium and in Germany, returned to Palermo and then in Naples.
In the same year, the balm went to Marseille and undertook the role of healer: it seems that behind generous compensation, made her believe a lover you can regain physical vigor by implementing some magical rites. Discovered the scam, was forced to flee and seek refuge in Alicante, Spain to Venice, then to terminate the escape to Cádiz. He returned to London in 1776, making it count Alessandro di Cagliostro, after having used names accompanied by imaginative titles such as count of Harat, Marquis Pilgrims, Prince of Santa Croce: during this stay, he and his wife, become Meanwhile the heavenly Serafina, is admitted to the Masonic lodge "hope".
By now the story of Cagliostro can be reconstructed on the basis of official documents and not on defamatory pamphlets circulated by the most bitter enemies. Freemasonry offers him excellent opportunities to meet every ambition sopita. Thanks to which it referred and to information acquired, he could succeed rewarding morally and economically that led him, from 1777 to 1780, across Central and Northern Europe, from the Hague in Berlin, from Courland in Petersburg and to Poland. The new Egyptian Rite by which Cagliostro was Gran Boykute, had charmed nobles and intellectuals with its initiations and ritual practices that included the regeneration of body and soul. Great emphasis was also the figure of Serafina, chairwoman of a lodge which accepted women too, with the title of Queen of Sheba.
The Court in Warsaw, in May of 1780, he received a triumphant welcome bestowed by the sovereign in person: his reputation as an alchemist and healer had reached the highest peaks! Considerable spread they had in those years the elixir of long life, Egyptian wine and refreshing powders with whom he made some miraculous healings Cagliostro taking care, often without compensation, the many sick who, in 1781, filled the residence in Strasbourg. Philanthropic behavior, knowledge of some elements of animal magnetism and alchemical secrets, the ability to inspire confidence and, at the same time, to upset the interlocutor, penetrate it with the depth of the gaze, felt almost supernatural: these are the components that contributed to strengthening the personal charm and aura of legend and mystery that accompanied Cagliostro early appearances. Eclectic and versatile, conquered the esteem and admiration of the philosopher Lavater Grand almoner of the King of France, and the Cardinal de Rohan, both in those years in Strasbourg.
However, Cagliostro reached stardom in Lyon, where he arrived after a brief stop in Naples and having resided there more than a year in Bordeaux with his wife. In Lyon, he consolidated the Egyptian rite, instituting the "mother lodge" la Sagesse triomphante, for which he received a fabulous venue and the participation of important personalities. About the same time came the invitation to the Conference of the Philalèthes, the prestigious company that wanted to see the ancient origins of Freemasonry.
Cagliostro had to devote herself body and soul to this new assignment, alongside his thaumaturgical and esoteric, but the activities involved in the affaire du collier de la reine made him protagonist in spite of himself, along with Rohan and Countess Jeanne Valois de la Motte, the most famous and intricate scandal of the time, the plot that diffamò Queen Marie Antoinette and paved the way for the French Revolution. Guilty only of being a friend of Rohan and he advised to reveal the scam to the sovereign, Cagliostro, accused by de la Motte, giver of all deception, he was arrested and locked up with his wife in the Bastille, while awaiting trial. While in custody, he had seen how big was the popularity: were organized expressions of solidarity and, on the day of his release, he was accompanied home by crowds cheering. In spite of the parlement of Paris had discharged the foreignness of Cagliostro and his wife to the affair, the monarchs decreed exile: the news came a few days after liberation, forcing the "Gran Boykute" repair hurriedly to London.
From there he wrote to the French people, affecting the judiciary and foretelling the fall of Capetian throne prophetically and the advent of a moderate regime. The French Government defended himself by opposing the writings of a French pamphleteer Théveneau de Morande, established the true identity of Cagliostro and Serafina, told him about the Gazettes and scams of previous stays in London, to the point that the adventurer decided to seek the hospitality of banker Sarrasin and Lavater in Switzerland. Remained in London, Serafina was persuaded to release incriminating statements about the husband who brought in Switzerland in time for her to recant any accusations. Between 1786 and 1788 the couple tried to revive their fortunes by making various trips: Aix in Savoia, Turin, Genoa, Rovereto. In these cities Cagliostro continued to work as a healer and establish masonic lodges.
Come to Trento in 1788, was received with kindness by Bishop Peter Virgil Thun who helped him obtain visas to return to Rome: just to pander to the wishes of Serafina, was willing to settle in a city hostile to members of Freemasonry, viewed factious and reactionaries. Cagliostro, then, foretelling the storming of the Bastille, symbol of monarchical absolutism, and the end of the Kings of France, aroused particular concern, fueled by his resourcefulness in Masonic circles. Finding no fertile ground in the Freemasons, which now looked up to him just such a vulgar scoundrel, Cagliostro tried to constitute a lodge of Egyptian rite in Rome, calling on the 16 September 1789 at Villa Malta prelates and Roman patricians. The accessions were only two: the Marquis Vivaldi and the Capuchin Friar Francis Joseph of San Maurizio, who was named Secretary. The initiative, while not achieving the results hoped for, was interpreted as a challenge to the Church, through the Holy Office, supervised with greater zeal the moves of the careless adventurer. The pretext to prosecute Cagliostro was offered by Lorenza who, recommended by relatives, had addressed her husband very serious allegations during confession: had been induced to denounce him as a heretic and Freemason.
Cagliostro was well aware that it could not trust the wife, who on more than one occasion had shown little attachment to marital, and hoped to return to France, having fallen monarchy that had haunted him. To this end he wrote a memorial to the French National Assembly, giving maximum availability to the new Government. The relationship was intercepted by the Holy Office that drew up a detailed report on the political and religious activities of the "Gran Boykute": Pope Pius VI on 27 December 1789, he decreed the arrest of Cagliostro, his wife Lorenza and the Capuchin Friar. Narrowed in prison of Castel Sant'Angelo under heavy guard, Cagliostro awaited for some months the start of the process. The Council of judges, chaired by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Zelada, he appeared guilty of heresy, masonry and seditious activities. On 7 July 1790 was issued the death sentence and was called, in the public square, the destruction of Masonic manuscripts and instruments. Following the public give up the principles of the doctrine professed, Cagliostro was awarded the grace: the death sentence was commuted to life in prison, to be served by the pontiff in bleak prisons of the inaccessible fortress of San Leo, then considered the maximum security prison of the Papal States.
Lorenza was acquitted, but was locked up as a disciplinary measure, in the convent of Sant'Apollonia in Trastevere where he finished his days. The long period of imprisonment, which began on 21 April 1791 and lasted more than four years, remains testimony in the State archives in Pesaro, where they remain stored acts relating to criminal enforcement and treatment, based on humanitarian principles for the inmate. Waiting to segregate properly the prisoner, he was housed in the cell of the Treasury, the safest but also the most gloomy and wet the entire fortress. Following some rumors about organizing an escape from some supporters of Cagliostro, despite there being taken all necessary measures to prevent any escape attempt, count Semproni, personally responsible for the prisoner, he decided his move into the cell of the cockpit, deemed even safer and stronger than that of the Treasury. On 26 August 1795 the famous adventurer, now gravely ill, he died due to a stroke. The legend that had accompanied his fascinating life took possession even of death: from unreliable stories about his alleged disappearance survived to the present day, you can catch a glimpse of the attempt, however, failed to make immortal, if not the body, at least the sorceresses spoke truth exploits of this attractive character.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.