Casanova's string of conquests

BORN in Venice on April 2 1725, to a pair of poor actors, Casanova would grow up to become a 6ft3in philanderer with long, powdered hair.

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Losing his virginity at 17 to a pair of posh teenage sisters after they shared a boozy dinner, he would eventually count noble-women and milkmaids among his 120 conquests.

He even secretly spirited a nun, known as “MM”, out of her convent for a night of passion via a gondola. Their affair later became a four-some involving another nun and the French ambassador.

Often boosting his libido by gobbling roquefort cheese, he once hid in a chapel confessional box to seduce a mayor’s wife, romanced a newlywed bride in a carriage and was wounded in a duel over an Italian actress.

He also bedded a woman who had been pretending to be a man.

When not frequenting brothels, Casanova found his greatest love with a Frenchwoman, Henriette, whom he said could make him happy “24 hours a day”. He was heartbroken when she left him.

The notorious womaniser never married but had illegitimate children and has been accused of both incest and rape.

He said: "I was born for the sex opposite to mine... I have always loved it and done all that I could to make myself loved by it."

GENIUS