1940s Affair Breaks Up 77-Year Marriage

(NewsCore) - An Italian man aged 99 is divorcing his 96-year-old wife after 77 years of marriage, distraught at discovering she had an affair in the 1940s, The (London) Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

Court papers lodged in Rome revealed the man, identified as Antonio C, was divorcing his wife, Rosa C, after finding letters that revealed she had an affair more than 60 years ago.

The split will make Antonio the oldest divorcee ever recorded, according to the Telegraph.

He discovered the letters just days before Christmas when he was going through a chest of drawers.

Rosa confessed to her indiscretions and begged for forgiveness but her husband was adamant that he wanted a divorce.

The pair have five children, 12 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

The previous oldest divorcee title was shared by Bertie and Jessie Wood in England, who severed their 36-year union in 2009 when they were both aged 98.

Read more: UK Telegraph