1348-01-00-Pisa 001
Map
Factbox for ID"Page ID" records the ID of a page. It is is provided by the <a class="external text" href="https://www.semantic-mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Semantic_Extra_Special_Properties">Semantic Extra Special Properties</a> extension. 625
| Date startStart date of the disease. | January 1348 "Janu" is not a number. | + |
| Date endEnd date of the disease. | May 1348 "May" is not a number. | + |
| SeasonSeason (spring, summer, fall or winter) | ||
| Date otherOther mentioned dates. | ||
| PlacePlace(s), city or location of the disease. | Pisa | |
| RegionHistorical region(s) | ||
| CountryCurrent country | ||
| RiverMentioned river(s) | ||
| Natural eventMentioned natural event(s) | ||
| PersonMentioned persons(s) | ||
| GroupGroup(s) of people mentioned | ||
| VictimIndication of victims | + | |
| AnimalMentioned animal(s) | ||
| DiseaseMentioned disease(s) | Plague | |
| Epidemic waveAssociated epidemic wave | ||
| Social responseSocial response that happened in reaction to the disease | ||
| LanguageLanguage of the original text | Italian | |
| KeywordFurther keyword(s) | Epidemics, Mortality | |
| FactGridIDIdentifier of an item in FactGrid database | Q1871743 | |
| last edited | 11. 03. 2026 by Martin Bauch. |
Outbreak of a severe plague with a high mortality in Pisa caused by the Genoese galleys.
Text originalOriginal text
Negli anni 1348, alla entrata di gennaio, venne a Pisa due ghalee di Genovesi le quali vennono di Romania, et chome furono gunti alla piaza del pesce, qualunque persona favellò a quelli delle decte due ghalee di subito si era amalato et morto, et qualunque favella allo infermo o tochasse di quegli morti, di subito amalava et moriva. Et chosì fu sparto lo grande furore per tucta la cictà di Pisa, in tanto che ogni persona moria; e fue si grande paure che niuno voleva vedere l'uno l'altro, nè llo padre il figliuolo nè llo figliuolo lo padre, nè ll'uno fratello l'altro, nè lla moglie il marito nè il marito la moglie et ongni persona fuggiè la morte; ma pocho valeva chè chiunque dovea morire si moria, et non si trovava persona gli sotterasse. Ma cquello Singniore che fecie il cielo e lla terra e 'l mare, provvide bene a ogni chosa; chè 'l padre, vedendo morire il figliuolo abandonato da ongni persona, ché niuno lo voleva tocchare, nè chucire, nè portare, elli si accusava morto et poi faceva ello stesso lo meglio che potea: elli lo cucìa e poi lo mettea in della cascia e, con aiuto, lo portava alla fossa e elli stesso lo sotterava. E poi, quello che l'aveva portato alla fossa, l'altro dì si moriva. Ma ben ti dico che fu provveduto di dare aiuto l'uno all'altro tanto che, chon tuto che ciascuno morìa solo a tocchare i panni o danari, nondimeno non rimase in chasa niuno morto che non fusse sotterrato, fussi chi volessi, poveri o ricchi. Et decte (p. 97) il nostro sanctissimo Creatore tanta carità l'uno all'altro che si schusavano l'uno dell'altro e dicevano: 'aiutiamli a portare a fossa acciò che a nnoi sia facto lo simile quando noi saremo morti, chè noi saremo portati alla fossa!'. Et questa pistolenza durò insino al maggio: furono cinque mesi duranti nel modo ai udito di sopra; morirono de' cinque e' quattro, et sicchome fu in Pisa, chosì fu per tucto l'altro mondo et u' più e u' meno, et di questo fu qui il principio.
Text translationEnglish translation of the text
In the year 1348, at the beginning of January, two Genoese galleys arrived at Pisa, having come from Romania. And when they reached the Fish Market square, any person who spoke with those from the said two galleys immediately fell ill and died. And whoever spoke with the sick or touched any of those dead people immediately became ill and died. And thus the great fury spread throughout the whole city of Pisa, so that people everywhere were dying. Such great fear arose that no one wished to see another: neither father his son nor son his father, nor one brother another, nor wife her husband nor husband his wife; and everyone fled from death. But it was of little use, for whoever was destined to die died, and no one could be found to bury them.But that Lord who made heaven and earth and the sea provided well for everything. For a father, seeing his son dying abandoned by everyone—since no one wished to touch him, sew him into a shroud, or carry him—would reckon himself as good as dead and then do the best he could himself: he would sew him up, place him in a coffin, and with help carry him to the grave and bury him himself. And then the one who had carried him to the grave would die the next day. Yet I tell you that provision was made so that people helped one another. Although many died merely from touching clothes or money, nevertheless no one remained dead in a house without being buried, whether rich or poor. And our most holy Creator gave such charity among people that they excused one another and said: “Let us help carry them to the grave, so that the same may be done for us when we die, for we too shall be carried to the grave.” And this pestilence lasted until May: five months in all, as described above. Of every five people, four died. And as it was in Pisa, so it was throughout the rest of the world—here more, there less—and here was its beginning.
