Abstract

This paper aims to trace, through historical and medical sources, the syphilis epidemic that broke out in Naples in the late 15th century. When the disease overspread, the chronicles attributed the plague to the conquest of Naples by the king of France Charles VIII. Because of this, the disease was named morbus gallicus by the Italians and mal napolitain by the French. To dispel the fear, scape-goats were found in prostitutes, copious in Naples, and in the Jews, who had taken refuge in the city after their expulsion from Spain. In conclusion, the success of the "Columbian theory" gave the ideal solution to absolve Europeans from any responsibility. Nevertheless, in the 16th century some physicians, like Falloppio, Fioravanti and Cesalpino, made singular conjectures about the Neapolitan origin of siphylis.