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Royals, Nobles & Mistresses with Syphilis

October 6, 2026 · 34 min

Show notes

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
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Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell

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