Dearth

In Dearth, a total of 15 epidemic events are known so far. It is an illness.

Place

Time

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Disease

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Nature event

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Plague

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Victims

Events

	Date	Summary		Source	Translation	T

1316 – 1317

Great famine and dearth in the Abbey of Parc, Brabant cause mortality and epidemic outbreaks in 1316-1317

1316. visa est stella comata. Quam subsecuta est pestilentia universa, fames prevalida, mors quam plurimos prosternens. Emebatur hoc anno et sequenti modius siliginis 24 libris et modius salis totidem; set post decrescendo in quinto anno pro 20 solidis; omnis populus infectus; quidam de vita desperantes languebant, fere plus quam tertia pars moriebatur, nullus quasi mortem amici sui curebat, quia quod debuit ... ita ut omnes fructus corrumperentur. Quantum mors et fames illius duobus annis regnabant et quantos populos destruebant ubique terrarum, sed plus in inferioribus terris, nullus dicere posset.

In the year 1316, a comet was seen. Following this, a universal pestilence occurred, accompanied by widespread famine, causing the death of a great many. In that year and the following, a bushel of wheat was bought for 24 pounds, and a bushel of salt for the same amount; however, after diminishing in the fifth year to 20 shillings. The entire population was affected; some, in despair of life, languished, and nearly more than a third perished. Almost no one cared for the death of their friends because of what was owed... so that all produce would spoil. The extent to which death and famine reigned in those two years and the numerous populations they destroyed everywhere, but more so in the lower lands, could not be expressed. (Translation: Martin Bauch)

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1317

Great famine all across the North of the Empire, but also in Lübeck and Holstein, with dearth and mortality because of famine and epidemic

In nulla autem praedictarum partium erat locus, in quo tempus esset tollerabilius, quam in civitate Lubicensi, in qua modius siliginis solvebat sex solidos et citra, modius ordei 3 solidos, avenae duos solidos. Et non solum isto anno, sed annis pluribus ante solvebat annona in partibus Slaviae et Holtzatiae et partibus aliss vicinis circa pretium praenotatum. Propter hanc karistiam, quae ante et post duravit fere 15 annis, et propter hominum seditiones et pestilentias eo tempore perierunt et depauperati sunt multi divites et potentes.

However, in none of the aforementioned regions was there a place where the cost of living was more bearable than in the city of Lübeck, where a bushel of wheat was selling for six shillings, and a bushel of barley for three shillings, and oats for two shillings. And not only in this year but in several preceding years, there was a stable grain supply in the parts of Slavia and Holstein, as well as in other neighboring regions, at the mentioned prices. Due to this abundance, which persisted for almost 15 years, and because of human revolts and epidemics during that time, many wealthy and powerful individuals perished and were impoverished. (Translation: Martin Bauch)

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1391 – 1395

A great mortality in Magdeburg, afflichting mostly children, is connected with a dearth and food scarcity caused by Danish-Swedisch war. Mortality had been prevalent since 1391.

In dussem sulven jare (1395) storven vele lude und bi namen untellike kinder. Dat stervent hadde gewart wol veir jar, dat de lude in dusser stad an underlat storven. In dissen veir jaren was strenge tid an korn, an spise, an heringe und an allerleie kopmescop; dat makede ein grot krich de dar was twischen den twey koningen Denemakren nd Sweden.

In the same year (1395) many people died, especially countless children. The mortality had probably lasted four years, during which the people in this city died without ceasing. During these four years there was a great shortage of grain, food, herring and all kinds of goods. This was because of a great war between the two kings of Denmark and Sweden. (Translation: Martin Bauch)

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1438, June 18

A procession is organized in the city against the dearth and the mortality. People get fever.

Après, en mois de junne le XVIIIe jour, fut fait à Saint-Lambert une especiale messe et procession par le clergie et par les lais generalement, bien devotement, por trois cause: la premier por le chir temps de bleis generalement [...]. La seconde fut por le mortaliteit, car plusieurs moroient par fivres contagieux, etc. Et la tirche cause por la division d'entre le pape, le concile de Ferare, d'unne part, et d'auttre de conciel de Baselle.

On June 18, a procession was celebrated in Saint-Lambert with all the clergy and laymen, very devoutly. We did it for three reasons. The first, because of the high prices [...] The second, because of the mortality. Indeed, several people died of fever, etc. And the third, because of the divisions of the papacy and between the councils of Ferrara and of Basel. (Translation: Thomas Labbé)

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1438, September 22

A procession is organized in the city against the mortality affecting the country.

Et en ce mois de septembre devantdit, le XXIIe jour, fut faite à Saint-Lambert une espéciale messe par tout le clergrie de la citeit generalement, et fut après messe fait une belle procession [...]. Et le cause d'ycelle fut premier pour l'entredeux de pape et de conciel de Ferrare allencontre de conciel de Baselle [...] ; item que Dieu vosist cesseir la mortaliteit par sa grace qui estoit general par tous paiis, etc ; item qu'il lui plaist le chier temps, par especial de bleis, remedier, et des biens qui estoient enssi comme tous perdus et ont aparant che qui est de pau de valeur ; item por le semhon vosist Dieu envoier pluye, etc.

During the aformentioned month of September, the 22nd, a special mass has been celebrated in the church of St-Lambert with all the clerics of the city. And after this mass, a procession took place [...] The first reason for this procession was the conflict between the two popes and between the two council assemblies of Ferrare and of Basel [...] ; item, for asking God to cease by His holly grace the mortality that raged everywhere, etc. ; item, to ask Him for the ending of the dearth, especially concerning wheat, and all goods that were lost ; item to ask Him to send good rain for sowing time. (Translation: Thomas Labbé)

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1439 VN: 8000

A plague causes great mortality in Basel during a famine. The death toll is estimated to 8000 dead people, both adults and children.

Anno Domini 1439 fuit magna karistia in Basilea, et etiam cum hoc fuit magna pestilencia et in orribilibus obierunt in numero plus qum octo milia hominum cum pueris; et presertim in ecclesia majori inter canonicos dominus Kaspar thesaurius, dominus prepositus Turicensis, dominus Michahel de Reno prepositus in Sancto Ursicino, et bene viginti cappelanos.

The year 1439 occured a great dearth in Basel. A pestilence broke out simultaneously and more than 8000 persons, adults and children, died dramatically. Among the canons of the cathedral died the treasurer master Kaspar, the prior master Turicensis, master Michael de Reno, prior of Sanctus Ursinus and 20 other canons. (Translation: Thomas Labbé)

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1453

A pestilence breaks out in the region, as a consequence of a dearth caused by war.

Messis tempore non invenit quod colligeret; hinc annona solito carior et, quae communiter sequi solet, pestilentia populum gravare coepit.

At harvest time, not enough people came at the fields. Then prices have been higher than usual, and a pestilence broke out, as it is common in such conditions. (Translation: Thomas Labbé)

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References

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