Posted on 08/03/2006 3:33:43 PM PDT by blam
"Charles V was only 58 years of age at his death, probably from malaria..."
Malaria in England?
Wait a second! I'll be 58 in November! And I like beer, wine, and red meat (though I have no need of a four-handled tankard).
You mean.....? Me and Charles V? Geez, this is going to be one h--- of a crash!
And I never even got to rule Europe or threaten France.
Oh, well.........
Charles V ruled the Holy Roman Empire, which at the time covered parts of Europe where Malaria wouldn't be unheard of. Modern mosquito control has wiped out Europe's Malaria problem these days, but Italy in Charles V's time would have been a hotbed of Malaria-carrying mosquitos.
Gout? The Port Wine will do it every time.
Charles V of Spain. And yes, malaria wasn't just tropical, before DDT.
Wrong Charles.
The Holy Roman Empire had been around a lot longer than that, at least since Charlemagne.
Yup. What was I thinking.
Probably got it from the Diet of Worms.
< /lutheran pun >
"Shivering with the ague" in contemporary accounts usually referred to malaria.
Used to be here in US as well.
His physicians recommended that he follow a strict diet, but the emperor had a voracious appetite, especially for meat. He also liked to drink large quantities of beer and wine, and he even ordered a specially designed four-handled drinking mug
True, and one of the easiest days in history to remember, December 25, 800.
Also, it irks me every time I see it reported that the Roman Empire fell in 476 (which this article alludes to). It fell in 1453, or if you really want to stretch it 1461.
That said, looks like I'll be a prime candidate for gout soon. I rarely drink alcohol, but more than make up for it in the meat department.
Also, if you have an attack of gout, a great palliative (until you can see your doctor, of course) is 4 x 200 plain old generic ibuprofen t.i.d. NSAIDs work well against gout in many people (sadly, not all).
So if I show my gout a pay stub, bank statement or electric bill I will be cured?
; < )
Indeed, if I'm not mistaken your tagline alludes to the fall of the Empire.
"Gout? The Port Wine will do it every time."
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That's what I've read. Gout was especially prevalent in 18th century Europe because of the popularity of (lead laced) port wine among the elite.
I want one of those four handled mugs!
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