A recent study has revisited the mysterious death of Thomas Aquinas, one of the most influential theologians and philosophers of the Middle Ages. The article, published in the journal World Neurosurgery, suggests that a chronic subdural hematoma resulting from a traumatic head injury may have been the cause of his death in 1274.
Thomas Aquinas, widely recognised for his magnum opus Summa Theologica, was en route to a religious council in France when he had an accident along the road. One chronicler reported:
going down from the city of Teano along the way of Borgonuovo, he hit his head on a certain tree which had fallen sideways, such that he became stunned and in a certain way was near falling.
At first it seemed that Aquinas was not seriously injured, and he and his party continued on to town of Maenza, where his niece lived. He stayed there four or five days, but began feeling weak and nauseous. It was then decided to take the scholar to the nearby Abbey of Fossanova, a journey that Aquinas made by riding a donkey – a practice usually forbidden to members of his religious order.
Aquinas depicted in the altarpiece in Ascoli Piceno, Italy, by Carlo Crivelli (15th century)
At the Abbey of Fossanova, Aquinas experienced worsening weakness, nausea, and anorexia, though reports suggest he maintained relative intellectual capacity. One account describes a moment of dysphasia during a metaphysical debate, where his scribe, Brother Reginald, noted Aquinas “eluded to matters beyond understanding.” Despite his declining health, Aquinas continued to participate in Mass and engage in philosophical discourse, even dictating a now-lost commentary on the Song of Songs. By his final days, he was too weak to climb the abbey stairs, and the afternoon before his death, “he could not walk smoothly due to fatigue.”
The researchers find that Aquinas’ symptoms before his death align with the gradual progression of a chronic subdural hematoma, a condition that could result from the described head trauma. This is a condition where blood collects slowly between the brain and its outer protective layer. This usually happens after a minor head injury that damages tiny blood vessels in the area. Over time, this blood can accumulate, causing pressure on the brain. Symptoms often develop gradually and may include headaches, confusion, weakness, trouble speaking, or changes in personality. Older adults are more prone to this condition due to brain shrinkage, which makes the blood vessels more vulnerable to tearing.
The study also speculates that if modern neurosurgical techniques, such as burr hole drainage, had been available, Aquinas’ life could have been prolonged, potentially adding to his contributions in philosophy and theology.
While alternative theories of his death—ranging from poisoning to a spiritual vision-induced cessation of work—have been suggested over the centuries, this new perspective offers a medically plausible explanation grounded in historical documentation and forensic analysis.
Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas during 2024 U.S. tour – photo by Nheyob / Wikimedia Commons
The research team is now advocating for further study of the two relic skulls attributed to Aquinas, located in Italy and France, to conclusively determine the nature of his fatal injury. At this point, they have so far only examined photographs of the skulls, which has limited their ability to draw definitive conclusions.
The article, “A Plausible Historical and Forensic Account of the Death of Thomas Aquinas,” by Gabriel J. LeBeau, Abdul-Rahman Alkiswani, Daniel J. Mauro and Paul J. Camarata, appeared last year in World Neurosurgery. Click here to read it.
Top Image: Thomas Aquinas depicted by Bernardo Daddi (1290–1348) – Wikimedia Commons
A recent study has revisited the mysterious death of Thomas Aquinas, one of the most influential theologians and philosophers of the Middle Ages. The article, published in the journal World Neurosurgery, suggests that a chronic subdural hematoma resulting from a traumatic head injury may have been the cause of his death in 1274.
Thomas Aquinas, widely recognised for his magnum opus Summa Theologica, was en route to a religious council in France when he had an accident along the road. One chronicler reported:
going down from the city of Teano along the way of Borgonuovo, he hit his head on a certain tree which had fallen sideways, such that he became stunned and in a certain way was near falling.
At first it seemed that Aquinas was not seriously injured, and he and his party continued on to town of Maenza, where his niece lived. He stayed there four or five days, but began feeling weak and nauseous. It was then decided to take the scholar to the nearby Abbey of Fossanova, a journey that Aquinas made by riding a donkey – a practice usually forbidden to members of his religious order.
At the Abbey of Fossanova, Aquinas experienced worsening weakness, nausea, and anorexia, though reports suggest he maintained relative intellectual capacity. One account describes a moment of dysphasia during a metaphysical debate, where his scribe, Brother Reginald, noted Aquinas “eluded to matters beyond understanding.” Despite his declining health, Aquinas continued to participate in Mass and engage in philosophical discourse, even dictating a now-lost commentary on the Song of Songs. By his final days, he was too weak to climb the abbey stairs, and the afternoon before his death, “he could not walk smoothly due to fatigue.”
The researchers find that Aquinas’ symptoms before his death align with the gradual progression of a chronic subdural hematoma, a condition that could result from the described head trauma. This is a condition where blood collects slowly between the brain and its outer protective layer. This usually happens after a minor head injury that damages tiny blood vessels in the area. Over time, this blood can accumulate, causing pressure on the brain. Symptoms often develop gradually and may include headaches, confusion, weakness, trouble speaking, or changes in personality. Older adults are more prone to this condition due to brain shrinkage, which makes the blood vessels more vulnerable to tearing.
The study also speculates that if modern neurosurgical techniques, such as burr hole drainage, had been available, Aquinas’ life could have been prolonged, potentially adding to his contributions in philosophy and theology.
While alternative theories of his death—ranging from poisoning to a spiritual vision-induced cessation of work—have been suggested over the centuries, this new perspective offers a medically plausible explanation grounded in historical documentation and forensic analysis.
The research team is now advocating for further study of the two relic skulls attributed to Aquinas, located in Italy and France, to conclusively determine the nature of his fatal injury. At this point, they have so far only examined photographs of the skulls, which has limited their ability to draw definitive conclusions.
The article, “A Plausible Historical and Forensic Account of the Death of Thomas Aquinas,” by Gabriel J. LeBeau, Abdul-Rahman Alkiswani, Daniel J. Mauro and Paul J. Camarata, appeared last year in World Neurosurgery. Click here to read it.
Top Image: Thomas Aquinas depicted by Bernardo Daddi (1290–1348) – Wikimedia Commons
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