Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society Who was the Husband Poisoner of Renaissance Italy?
Nov 7, 2025
Cathryn Kemp, an author and researcher, dives into the dark history of Giulia Tofana and the infamous Aqua Tofana poison that caused chaos in 17th-century Italy. She reveals how women used this odorless, tasteless poison to escape abusive marriages, and discusses the unique network of female poisoners who operated from all social classes. The conversation explores the sinister ways they were ultimately exposed, the reaction from the Church, and the lasting legacy of fear in a patriarchal society. It’s a riveting exploration of empowerment through malevolence.
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Mass Deaths Trigger Papal Intervention
- Between 600 and 1,000 married men reportedly died from a widespread poison network in 1650s Rome.
- The scale forced Pope Alessandro VII to intervene and treat it as both criminal and heretical.
Women’s Poison Network Served All Classes
- Cathryn Kemp describes a circle of women who sold an undetectable poison to women seeking to escape abusive marriages.
- They served clients from washerwomen to duchesses, creating a cross-class network in Rome and Naples.
Giulia Tofana Might Be A Brand, Not One Person
- Trial records accessed by Craig Monson show no clear single Giulia Tofana in the files and suggest the name may be a composite or brand.
- The poison's branding and folklore likely amplified a legendary figure beyond one real person.
