Royals, Nobles & Mistresses with Syphilis

From sex-crazed libertines, to noble courtesans, to innocent Empresses; syphilis was a devastating disease which ravaged many, and sometimes changed the course of history. Let’s meet 10 royal and noble victims of this sexually transmitted infection.

Lorenzo de’Medici, Duke of Urbino 1492 – 1519

Maria Salviati de’ Medici 1499 – 1543

Abbas II of Persia, Shah of Iran 1632 – 1666

John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester 1647 – 1680

Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor 1678 – 1711

Sally Salisbury 1692 – 1724

Lola Montez, Countess of Landsfeld 1821 – 1861

Luís I, King of Portugal 1838 – 1889

Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria 1858 – 1889

Archduke Otto Franz Joseph of Austria 1865 – 1906

Music: Butterflies in Love by Sir Cubworth