Deadly Love: The Poisonous Legends of 15th-Century Romance

 

In 15th-century Italy, people believed that poisoning was a common crime, especially among women. Since women did not have the same physical strength as men, some were suspected of using poison to get rid of enemies or escape bad marriages. Many feared that secret groups of women had mastered the art of poisoning, leading to both fascination and fear.

One of the most well-known women accused of poisoning was Catherine de Medici. She married King Henry II of France in 1533 but was not welcomed in the French court. People disliked her for being Italian, and her husband was more interested in his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. Rumors spread that Catherine led a secret group called the “Flying Squadron,” made up of women who seduced and poisoned powerful men. However, there is no real proof that she ever poisoned anyone, and historians believe the "Flying Squadron" may have been just a myth. Even so, Catherine’s interest in astrologers and alchemists made people suspicious of her.

Another infamous woman connected to poison was Giulia Tofana, also known as La Tofana. She was believed to have killed about 600 people using Aqua Tofana, a deadly poison disguised as face cream. Some say she learned how to make it from her mother, Teofania di Adamo. Women who wanted to escape abusive marriages secretly bought Aqua Tofana, which was slow-acting and made deaths look natural, avoiding suspicion.

Historians believe Aqua Tofana contained arsenic, lead, and mercuric chloride, which caused burning pain in the throat and stomach, extreme thirst, vomiting (though less than other poisons), and diarrhea. These symptoms were similar to common illnesses, making it hard to detect poisoning. Even the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart feared he had been poisoned with Aqua Tofana, though experts now think he actually died from kidney disease.

Whether these stories are true or exaggerated, they show how poison was once feared as a powerful weapon. Legends of secret poisoners continue to capture our imaginations, reminding us of a time when fear and mystery surrounded the world of toxic substances.