Lazarus and Joannes Baptista Colloredo

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Lazarus and Joannes Baptista Colloredo

Lazarus and Joannes Baptista Colloredo were conjoined twins who lived in the 17th century. Their lives are among the most well-documented cases of conjoined twins in early modern Europe, providing a fascinating glimpse into how such phenomena were perceived and presented at the time.

Early Life

Lazarus and Joannes Baptista Colloredo were born in Italy, in the late 16th or early 17th century. The exact date of their birth is not recorded, but they were known to have lived during the reign of Charles II of Spain. Lazarus was the more physically developed and autonomous of the two, able to walk and perform physical activities. Attached to his chest was his brother, Joannes Baptista, who was less developed and depended entirely on Lazarus for sustenance and movement.

Public Life

The brothers became well-known figures as they traveled across Europe, displaying their unique condition for a fee. They visited many royal courts, including those of Charles II of Spain and Charles I of England, where they were received with a mixture of fascination and horror. Their travels and the public's reaction to them provide valuable insights into the early modern perceptions of physical differences and disabilities.

Medical Condition

The Colloredo twins are an early documented case of what would now be classified as conjoined twins, specifically, parasitic twins, where one twin is less fully formed and is dependent on the other. This condition results from the incomplete splitting of a single fertilized egg during the early stages of development. In the case of Lazarus and Joannes Baptista, Joannes Baptista was the parasitic twin, who could not survive independently of Lazarus.

Legacy

The story of Lazarus and Joannes Baptista Colloredo has been the subject of much historical and medical interest. Their lives challenge our understanding of identity, autonomy, and the human body. They also provide a window into the social and medical landscapes of early modern Europe, where such anomalies were often interpreted through religious or superstitious lenses.

See Also

• Conjoined twins
• History of medicine
• Charles II of Spain
• Charles I of England