After more than three decades of extensive research, scientists have confirmed the existence of living descendants from Leonardo da Vinci‘s family line. The groundbreaking findings were published in May 2025 in a book called “Genìa Da Vinci. Genealogy and Genetics for Leonardo’s DNA” by Alessandro Vezzosi and Agnese Sabato of the Leonardo da Vinci Heritage Association.
Researchers identified 15 direct male-line descendants related to Leonardo’s father and half-brother, Domenico Benedetto. Though Leonardo himself never had children, his family line has continued for over 21 generations, dating back to 1331. The team documented more than 400 individuals in the da Vinci genealogy through careful analysis of historical records.
The da Vinci lineage persists through 15 male descendants, spanning 21 generations despite Leonardo having no children himself.
Six living men from the identified descendants underwent genetic testing. The analysis, led by David Caramelli from the University of Florence and forensic anthropologist Elena Pilli, focused on Y chromosome patterns that pass from father to son. The tests confirmed these men share matching portions of the Y chromosome, proving genetic continuity since at least the 15th generation of the family.
The da Vinci family tomb was verified in the Church of Santa Croce in Vinci, Italy, while Leonardo himself remains buried at the Chapel of Saint-Hubert in Amboise, France. Historical records indicate Leonardo may have been homosexual and childless based on a dismissed sodomy accusation from 1476. One primary goal of the research, known as the Leonardo DNA Project, was to determine if the remains at Amboise Castle truly belong to the Renaissance master. Archaeological excavations at the church are ongoing to recover remains of Leonardo’s grandfather, uncle, and half-brothers.
This genetic study bridges a 500-year gap between the Renaissance genius and modern times. The research holds significant historical value as it connects living people to one of history’s most celebrated minds, who lived from 1452 to 1519.
The findings open doors for further scientific studies, including potentially verifying Leonardo’s authentic remains and learning about his physical traits and health. The project represents an innovative blend of historical research, genealogy, and modern genetic science that could be applied to identify descendants of other historical figures.
References
- https://euroweeklynews.com/2025/05/21/six-descendants-of-leonardo-da-vinci-discovered/
- https://www.iflscience.com/six-living-relatives-of-leonardo-da-vinci-have-been-identified-using-dna-claims-new-book-79308
- https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/da-vinci-relatives-dna-testing-genome-180978153/
- https://www.jcvi.org/research/leonardo-da-vinci-dna-project
- https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/archaeology/leonardo-da-vinci-dna-family-tree-book/
