Introduction - Historical Notes

The First Great Outbreak of Syphilis

Charles VIII (1470-1498) King of France

Sexually transmitted diseases have been known since ancient times. However, it is not quite clear when and where which of these diseases first appeared.
For example, syphilis made a very dramatic appearance in Europe at the beginning of the modern age. When the French king Charles VIII invaded Italy and conquered Naples in 1495, his mercenaries, through sexual contact with the local population, became infected and then, returning home, quickly spread the infection all over Europe. Moreover, at that time, the symptoms of the disease developed rather quickly and were very severe. People soon came to believe that the infection had been brought to the port cities of the Mediterranean by the companions of Columbus who had picked it up in the then recently discovered New World. However, in the meantime, one has found evidence of the prior existence of syphilis in medieval and even prehistoric Europe.

Naples in the 15th century. Contemporary painting.