New Study Reveals Malaria as Cause of Medici Couple's Deaths After 400 Years

A recent study has resolved the long-standing mystery surrounding the deaths of Grand Duke Francesco I de’ Medici and his wife, Bianca Cappello, in 1587. Scientists from the University of Pisa and Yale University have confirmed that malaria, not poisoning, was responsible for their demise. The research utilized DNA analysis from skeletal remains, revealing traces of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium. Historical accounts had previously suggested malaria due to symptoms described by court physicians, but rumors of assassination persisted. This new evidence not only clarifies the cause of death but also contributes to the understanding of malaria's historical impact in Renaissance Italy.

Key Details: • Study published in June in the journal iScience. • DNA analysis confirmed presence of Plasmodium in Francesco's remains. • Malaria caused over 610,000 deaths globally in 2024, according to WHO. • Francesco and Giovanni traveled to malaria-prone areas in Tuscany. • Historical documents detail symptoms and treatments consistent with malaria.