[Medical history of a Florentine dynasty: the Medici].

Abstract

The family of the Medici has dominated the city of Florence from the 15th to the 18th century. With the fortune accumulated by their bank, their trade and industry, they made Florence the European capital of the Renaissance and one of the world centres of culture. However, the Medici got a lot of health problems that have often influenced the destiny of the city and its citizens. During the 15th century, the Medici of Cafaggiolo branch of the family were the uncrowned masters of the Florence republic. All got major "rheumatic" complaints, who often interfered with a normal professional activity. The tradition called their disease "gout" and one of the Medici even received the nickname "the gouty" (Piero il Gottoso). Radiological and pathological exploration of the bones, the study of documents from ocular witnesses and the icon pathological study of paintings of the family could however not confirm this diagnosis. On the contrary, 2 other osteo-articular syndromes could be disclosed in the family. During the 16th century, the Medici became Grandukes of Tuscany with absolute political power, abandoning their classical jobs as bankers and traders. Their luxurious life with feasts and lewdness induces their progressive fall that will be accelerated by illness. Malaria, the plague, venereal diseases, madness and cardiovascular disease decimate the family as well as murders, poisonings and other criminal acts. Moreover, the physical resistance of the family decreased due to some underlying, hereditary pathologies that were recently discovered. In 1737, the last Granduke died in a state of complete marasmus and Florence is taken over by the house of Lorraine.