in his youth in italy, nicolo had befriended the poet pietro trapassi, who wrote under the name metastasio. the latter had risen in eminence, to the point that in 1730 he was called to vienna to serve as the poet laureate of the empire. metastasio resided with the martines family for the entire rest of his life (from about 1734 to 1782). his presence would prove crucial to marianne's career.