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Jewish jester (c. 1665 – c.1740) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joan d'Acosta (Russian: Ян Лакоста, romanized: Yan Lakosta; c. 1665 – c. 1740) was a Jewish jester at the court of Tsar Peter I of Russia in the first half of the eighteenth century.
Joan d'Acosta | |
---|---|
Born | c. 1665 |
Died | c. 1740 |
Occupation | Court jester |
Born in Holland or Morocco into a Portuguese Marrano family, d'Acosta worked as a broker in Hamburg before settling in Saint Petersburg.[1] He received an appointment as jester in 1714.[2]
D'Acosta is described as having been very clever and witty, well-versed in Scripture, and a master of numerous European languages. Tsar Peter reportedly enjoyed discussing philosophical and theological questions with him, which often led to heated arguments.[3] As a reward for his services, the tsar gave him the uninhabited island of Sammer in the Gulf of Finland,[4][3] along with the mock title "King of the Samoyeds".[5] He retained his position as court jester under Empress Anne.
D'Acosta appears as a protagonist in David Markish's 1983 novel Jesters.[6]
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