A centuries-old mystery surrounding the Medici family may have been solved. Scientists now believe that malaria, not murder, killed Grand Duke Francesco I de’ Medici and his wife, Bianca Cappello, in 1587.
The Investigation
Researchers from the University of Pisa and Yale University analyzed DNA from the skeletal remains of Francesco and his brother, Giovanni. They found genetic traces of plasmodium, the parasitic protozoa responsible for malaria, in samples of bone material from Francesco’s ribs.
The team used paleo-immunological analysis and DNA analysis to determine the cause of death. While some researchers still believe that Francesco may have been poisoned, the genetic evidence suggests that malaria was the primary cause of death.
Historical Context
The Medici family was a powerful Italian dynasty that ruled Florence and Tuscany from 1434 to 1737. Francesco and Bianca’s deaths were initially thought to be the result of murder, with rumors pointing to Francesco’s younger brother, Ferdinando, as the perpetrator.
However, historical sources, including documents written by court physicians, described symptoms consistent with malaria. The couple had traveled to areas of Tuscany known for malaria, and their symptoms, including intermittent fever, are consistent with the disease.
The study’s findings contribute to our understanding of the evolution and spread of malaria in Central Italy during the Renaissance period.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
