(no subject)

[doyle]

Question for any history buffs on my flist, since I've heard this mentioned several times in the past few days and am having no luck tracking down the historical accuracy: did Madame de Pompadour have syphilis? I've found several references to her possibly dying of TB but not any to STDs so far. I'd ask on little_details but it seems too weirdly specific.

Comments

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

According to the biography I've got, the most likely cause of death was TB, and since she was faithful to Louis, and Louis died of smallpox (and there was no rumour he had syphilis), it seems unlikely to the point of impossibility.