Syphilis in Maria Salviati (1499–1543), Wife of Giovanni de’ Medici of the Black Bands - Volume 26, Number 6—June 2020 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC

Syphilis in Maria Salviati (1499–1543), Wife of Giovanni de’ Medici of the Black Bands - Volume 26, Number 6—June 2020 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC

Volume 26, Number 6—June 2020

Historical Review

Syphilis in Maria Salviati (1499–1543), Wife of Giovanni de’ Medici of the Black Bands

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Syphilis in the 16th Century

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Brief Biography and Nosography of Maria Salviati

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Historical, Archeological, and Taphonomic Background

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Anthropologic and Paleopathologic Study

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Discussion

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Conclusions

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Antonio Fornaciari , Raffaele Gaeta, Simona Minozzi, and Valentina Giuffra

Author affiliations: University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

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Abstract

Researchers from the Division of Paleopathology of Pisa University (Pisa, Italy) exhumed the well-preserved skeleton of Maria Salviati (1499–1543), wife of Giovanni de’ Medici, named “Giovanni of the Black Bands,” in Florence in 2012. Many lytic lesions had affected the skull of Maria on the frontal bone and on the parietal bones. These lesions are pathognomonic for syphilis. An ancient diagnosis of syphilis for Maria Salviati does not emerge from the historical sources, although the symptoms manifested in her last years of life are compatible with a colorectal localization, including severe hemorrhages, caused by syphilitic infection. The case of Maria Salviati can be compared with those of other famous Italian noblewomen of the Renaissance, such as Isabella of Aragon (1470–1524) and Maria of Aragon (1503–1568). Paleopathology made it possible to directly observe a “secret illness” to which noblewomen were susceptible as a result of the sexual conduct of their husbands.