, a new study has claimed. King Edward IV was only 40 when he passed away in early 1483, leaving the throne to his 12-year-old son Edward V who died just months later as one of the ill-fated princes in the Tower of London. Many theories have been put forward through the years over his mysterious cause of death, including malaria and even being poisoned. But now historians believe they may have cracked the case, as new research appears to show the monarch lost his life not in battle or glutton-related illness, like many of his ancestors and descendants - but to syphilis. The disease was common in the Middle Ages and was usually contracted through unprotected sex. The STI was initially thought to have broken out in the British Isles 10 years after the King's death, brought back by Christopher Columbus' crew on the landing of their America voyage in 1493. But new research shows its parent disease treponematosis was prevalent throughout Europe and Africa since ancient times. King Edward IV was one of the last Plantagenet kings before his young son took on the throne and became incarcerated in one of England's greatest mysteries, subsequently passing the throne to the famous Richard III. The remains of King Richard were discovered beneath a council car park in Leicester in 2012. Historian Marylynn Salmon says centuries-old documents recording the final months of Edward's life appear to suggest symptoms which would indicate he was suffering from the late stages of syphilis. The venereal disease can take months to manifest, before eventually causing damage to the brain and nervous system if left untreated. One document written at the time from Edward's court noted the king "was not old" and appearin){kind=link}
King Edward IV’s death in the Middle Ages has been a mystery for more than five centuries, but research has now found the royal -who was one of the last medieval kings – likely died from syphilis
One of Britain’s last medieval kings died of a sexually-transmitted infection (STI), a new study has claimed.
King Edward IV was only 40 when he passed away in early 1483, leaving the throne to his 12-year-old son Edward V who died just months later as one of the ill-fated princes in the Tower of London. Many theories have been put forward through the years over his mysterious cause of death, including malaria and even being poisoned.
But now historians believe they may have cracked the case, as new research appears to show the monarch lost his life not in battle or glutton-related illness, like many of his ancestors and descendants – but to syphilis. The disease was common in the Middle Ages and was usually contracted through unprotected sex.
The STI was initially thought to have broken out in the British Isles 10 years after the King’s death, brought back by Christopher Columbus’ crew on the landing of their America voyage in 1493. But new research shows its parent disease treponematosis was prevalent throughout Europe and Africa since ancient times.