Joan_d'Acosta
Joan d'Acosta (Russian: Ян Лакоста; c. 1665– c. 1740) was a Jewish jester at the court of Czar Peter the Great of Russia in the first half of the eighteenth century.
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. Czar Peter reportedly enjoyed discussing philosophical and theological questions with him, which often led to heated arguments.[3] As a reward for his services, the Czar 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.