James Boswell and the Secretive Circle of Informants

In the 18th century, a unique social custom known as cicisbeismo emerged among the Italian aristocracy. This practice, where married women of high standing were accompanied in public by male escorts known as cicisbei, became a significant aspect of Italian society.

James Boswell, a Scottish lawyer and diarist, was one of the foreign observers who noted this intriguing practice during his Italian and French travels in 1765-1766. Boswell, who later served as an advisor (consigliere) during his time in Italy, documented his observations in his journal, which was later edited and published as James Boswell: The Journal of his Italian and French Travels, 1765-1766.

Initially, foreigners, including Boswell, misunderstood cicisbeismo as an 'adultery-adjacent' practice. However, it was revealed that the cicisbeo was not necessarily a lover of the woman he accompanied. Instead, the cicisbeo served as a socially accepted companion and confidant to married women, playing a role in courtship and social interaction within aristocratic circles.

The practice of cicisbeismo provided a solution to the issue of a surplus of unattached young men in the Italian aristocracy. Service as a cicisbeo or cavaliere servente was an important means for young men of the Italian aristocracy to build social networks and maintain their social position.

Interestingly, Italian noblemen married late or not at all, and their brides were much younger, often by twenty years or more. It was not uncommon for an Italian lady of quality to be attended by several cicisbei. The cicisbeo protected his mistress from unwanted attention, acting as a buffer between her and the outside world.

Joseph Jérôme Lefrançois de Lalande, a French astronomer, also wrote about cicisbeismo in his book Voyage d'un François en Italie in 1769. The book A Lady's Man: The Cicisbei, Private Morals and National Identity in Italy, translated by Noor Giovanni Mazhar in 2014, provides a comprehensive examination of this fascinating custom.

John Eglin, Professor of History at the University of Montana, has edited several notable works, including James Boswell: The Journal of his Italian and French Travels, 1765-1766. Eglin, who is also the author of The Gambling Century (2023), The Imaginary Autocrat (2005), and Venice Transfigured (2001), has contributed significantly to our understanding of this historical phenomenon.

In 18th-century Italian society, noblewomen and their cicisbei were primarily involved in the practice of cicisbeismo. This custom, while peculiar to some, highlights the complexities and nuances of social interactions in a bygone era.

A letter from Boswell to Rousseau, dated 3 Oct. 1765, and another from Girolama Piccolomini to Boswell, also dated 3 Oct. 1765, are housed at Yale University, Beinecke Library, offering valuable insights into this intriguing social custom. The book Boswelliana: The Commonplace Book of James Boswell, edited by Charles Rogers and published in 1874, further sheds light on Boswell's experiences and observations during his Grand Tour.

In conclusion, the practice of cicisbeismo offers a fascinating glimpse into the social dynamics of 18th-century Italian society. This custom, while unusual by modern standards, played a significant role in the lives of the Italian aristocracy, providing a unique solution to the issue of a surplus of unattached young men and offering a means for young men to build social networks and maintain their social position.