Cicisbeo, Italy’s Public Lover

In 18th- and 19th-century Italy, a cicisbeo was the recognized gallant or lover of a married woman, and the arrangement usually existed with the husband’s knowledge and consent. The Cisbeo escorted her to church, public entertainment, and other social events, and husbands who challenged the custom risked ridicule from the wider community. Elite society often tolerated the practice better when the man was known to be homosexual, as it made the role feel less threatening. The British poet Lord Byron became one of the most famous examples when he served as Cisbeo to Teresa, Contessa Guiccioli.

Previous Fact Next Fact