Prince Carlo Gesualdo, a composer renowned for his avant-garde musical style, faced a personal crisis that culminated in a violent tragedy. Born into a noble family, Gesualdo's marriage to Maria d'Avalos was intended to strengthen political alliances. However, the union soon soured when desperation drove Maria to seek affection outside their marriage. She began an affair with Fabrizio Carafa, a man notable for his attractiveness and charm. The betrayal stung Gesualdo deeply, igniting feelings of rage and despair.

Soon after discovering the illicit relationship, Gesualdo returned to his palace at Gesualdo where he confronted the couple. Historical accounts suggest that Gesualdo took the law into his own hands. Witnessing them together, he brutally murdered both Maria and Carafa, reportedly using a dagger. This act did not only exhibit his personal turmoil but also revealed the lethal consequences of jealousy intertwined with aristocratic power. The immediacy with which he executed the murders reflected the volatile nature of noble honor during the Renaissance period.

Following the murders, Gesualdo sought to protect his reputation, and he left the scene, claiming to have acted in a fit of passion. Although he received some criticism from contemporaries, he managed to evade serious consequences, leading a life filled with music and further scandal. The horrific incident has survived in legend, posing questions about the intersections of love, music, and violence in the lives of the nobility in 16th-century Italy.