Famous Impostors

Bram Stoker spent his last years collecting history's great frauds: pretenders to thrones, alchemists and witch-finders, the Tichborne Claimant — and the strange Cotswold legend that Queen Elizabeth was really a boy.

Cagliostro

6 cases in this part of Famous Impostors.

Cagliostro

THE individual known to history as Comte Cagliostro, or more familiarly as Cagliostro, was of the family name of Balsamo and was received…

Cagliostro: Althotas

Balsamo's pusillanimity worked hand in hand with Morano's vindictiveness, to the effect that the culprit incontinently absconded from his…

Cagliostro: Egypt

After his marriage he visited several countries, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, Poland, Russia, Greece, Germany; as well as such towns as Naples…

Cagliostro: Beugnot

For this purpose he went about gorgeously dressed and with impressive appointments. In Germany for instance he always drove in a carriage…

Cagliostro: Rosy

Aided by these adjuncts he was a great success in Paris whither he returned in 1785. As an impostor he knew his business and played "the…

Cagliostro: Rohan

The valet was none other than the forger Retaux de Vilette. Madame de la Motte sent to the Cardinal a letter by the same forger asking him…

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