A centuries-old mystery surrounding the deaths of Grand Duke Francesco I de’ Medici and his wife, Bianca Cappello, may have been solved. Scientists now believe that the couple died from malaria, not murder, as was previously suspected.

The Investigation

In 1587, the couple died within hours of each other after days of agony. At the time, it was thought that they had been poisoned, possibly by Francesco’s younger brother, Ferdinando, who stood to gain from their deaths. However, a new study has found genetic traces of the malaria parasite in samples of bone material from Francesco’s ribs.

The study, conducted by the University of Pisa and Yale University, used DNA analysis to determine the cause of death. The researchers found that Francesco had been infected with two species of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium malariae.

The Historical Context

Malaria was a common disease in the region at the time, and the couple had been traveling to areas known to be infested with mosquitoes that can carry the disease. The court physicians had also noted symptoms consistent with malaria, including fever and chills.

While the study’s findings suggest that malaria was the cause of death, some researchers still believe that the couple may have been poisoned. However, the genetic evidence presented in the study decreases the margin for speculation.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.