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Carlo de' Medici, grandson of Cosimo I, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, and third son of his successor, Ferdinando I, died on 17 June 1666 at the age of 70 years and three months. This was an unusually long lifespan for someone of his time and especially for a Medici male, since at the time of his death Carlo had lived longer than any man in his family during the last two centuries. What made Carlo's longevity all the more surprising was that he suffered from a number of serious pathological conditions throughout his life, beginning in early childhood. This chapter presents the story of Carlo's lifestyle, illnesses and medical treatment in the context of the broader history of health and illness in the Medici family. |
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