Arsenic May Have Killed Medici Couple

Scientists in Italy said they may have uncovered evidence of an unsolved, 400-year homicide in the fabled Medici family.

Historians thought — but could not prove — Francesco de Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany and his second wife, Bianca Cappello, were poisoned, the BBC said. It had been claimed the couple died of malaria.

Using modern technology and forensic equipment, scientists said they can now prove the Medicis were given a lethal dose of arsenic. Scientist Donatella Lippi of the University of Florence said liver samples showed levels of arsenic significantly higher than those normally found in humans.

The fact that they survived for 11 days after they became ill was due to the fact that the dose of arsenic was lethal but not high enough to raise too strong a suspicion, she said.

But who’s the culprit?

Some historians point to the duke’s brother, Cardinal Ferdinando de Medici, who was vying for power, Lippi said. Others said it was his wife, who wanted to murder Ferdinando, but killed her husband by mistake.

According to this version Bianca, in despair, had intentionally followed her husband in his destiny, Lippi said.