List of syphilis cases

This is a list of famous historical figures diagnosed with or strongly suspected as having had syphilis at some time.

Many famous historical figures, including Charles VIII of France, Christopher Columbus,[2] Hernán Cortés of Spain, Benito Mussolini, and Ivan the Terrible,[2] were often alleged to have had syphilis or other sexually transmitted infections.

Sometimes these allegations were false and formed part of a political whispering campaign.

In other instances, retrospective diagnoses of suspected cases have been made in modern times.

Mental illness caused by late-stage syphilis was once a common form of dementia.

Portrait of Gerard de Lairesse by Rembrandt van Rijn , c. 1665–67, oil on canvas. De Lairesse, himself a painter and art theorist, suffered from congenital syphilis that severely deformed his face and eventually blinded him. [ 1 ]