France
From EpiMedDat
In France, a total of 104 epidemic events are known so far. It is a country.
Map of events in France
Table
| Disease | DateStart date of the disease. | SummarySummary of the disease event | OriginalOriginal text | TranslationEnglish translation of the text | ReferenceReference(s) to literature | Reference translationReference(s) to the translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1173-12-00-Germany and France | December 1173 JL | An influenza-like disease spreads out across Germany and north western France. It affected mainly old persons and children, with a low mortality rate. | Ipso anno Kalendis Decembris tussis intolerabilis et inaudita omne Theutonicum regnum et precipue Galliam Comatam pervasit, senes cum junioribus et infantibus debilitavit, plures morti addixit. Monasteriensis episcopus Luodewicus eadem peste occubuit ; cui imperator Herimannum, fratrem comitis de Kazinelinboge, substituit. | This year (1173), at the beginning of December, an intolerable and unprecedented cough disease developed in the kingdom of the Theutons and in particular in Gallia Comata, affecting the elderly, the young and children. Many have died from this plague. The Bishop of Münster himself died. Which the emperor Henry replaced by the brother of the Count of Kazinelinboge. | Chronica regia Coloniensis, p. 124. | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1235-00-00-Limoges | 1235 JL | Outbreak of an epidemic in connection with ergotism in Limoges with mass graves. | Sequitur tanta mortalitas quod tam igne sacro quam a pestilentia multa milia hominum moriuntur. Ego una die semel in cimiterio Sancti Geraldi Lemovicensis vidi centum pauperes sepeliri; frequentius autem xxx. et l. | A mortality followed so that many thousands of people died, both from the sacred fire [ergotism] and from the pestilence. On one day, I myself saw a hundred poor people buried in the cemetery of Saint Gerald of Limoges; more frequently, however, thirty and fifty. | Chronicon Girardi de Fracheto 1855, p. 4. | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1235-05-17-Limoges | 17 May 1235 JL | Outbreak of an epidemic in Limoges after a year of dearth. Precise numbers for the mortality of monks and indicators of mass graves. | AM°.CC°.XXXV°. fuit tanta caritas blade quod ante messes anni sequentis vendebatur sextarium siliginis xvj. solidis et amplius; sextarium albi vini, si inveniri posset, iiij. Solidis; unum pomum, vj. Denariis, et plus et minus, secundum quod erat magnum; urinale, ix. denariis; gallina, xviij. Denariis; malum punicum, xj. solidis et plus; ij pruna, uno denario vel duobus. Et erat tanta in illo anno mortalitas et fuit in Lemovicensi diecesi et circa, quod vix inveniebatur qui ad foveam deferret. Audivi quod Capellanus et sacristia deferebant quandoque in cimiterio Sancti Geraldi, quotidie triginta, xl. velita sepeliebantur; et etiam legi ibi fuisse centum pauperes sepultos una die. Multa (p. 156) millia tunc temporis perierunt tam fame quam peste. In abbatia Sancti Martialis obierunt illo anno, a festo Ascensionis usque ad festum Sancti Michaelis, xx. Duo monachi, exceptis illis qui obidierunt in obedientia. | In the year of the Lord 1235, there was such a dearth of grain that before the harvests of the following year a sextarius of wheat was sold for sixteen solidi or more; a sextarius of white wine, if it could be found, for four solidi; an apple, for six denarii or more, according to its size; a urinal, for nine denarii; a hen, for eighteen denarii; a pomegranate, for eleven solidi or more; two prunes, for one or two denarii. And there was such mortality in that year, and it was in the diocese of Limoges and around, that scarcely anyone could be found to carry the dead to the ditch. I heard that the chaplain and the sacristan sometimes carried [the dead] into the cemetery of Saint Gerald, where thirty, forty, or even a hundred were buried daily; and also I read that there were buried there a hundred poor people in one day. Many thousands perished at that time from both hunger and disease. In the Abbey of Saint Martial, in that year, from the Feast of the Ascension until the Feast of Saint Michael, twenty-two monks died, apart from those who died in obedience (?). | Anonymum S. Martialis chronicon 1874, pp. 157-158. | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1237-00-00-Saint-Denis | 1237 JL | A mortality breaks out in the monastery of Saint-Denis, killing 44 monks. | Hoc anno fuit maxima mortalitas fratrum monachorum in ecclesia Beati Dionysii fere usque ad XLIV. | In this year (1237) was a great mortality among brothers of the church of Saint-Denis affecting 44 monks. | Ex brevi chronico ecclesiae S. Dionysii 1876, p. 143. | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1241-00-00-France | 1241 JL | In France a lot of people get an ophthalmic disease. | Et multi in illo anno patiebantur malum maximum in occulis eorum. | In this year, lot of people suffered of the eyes. | Ex brevi chronico ecclesiae S. Dionysii 1876, p. 144 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1248-00-00-France | 1248 JL | Illness of Hugo von Digne, probably part of an epidemic in Provence | De mora quam cum fratre Hugone contraxi. Ego vero et socius meus remansimus Areis cum fratre Hugone, a festo beati Francisci usque ad festum Omnium Sanctorum. Et gaudebam quia habebam occasionem standi cum fratre Hugone, [p. 456] cum quo tota die de doctrina abbatis Ioachym erat sermocinatio mea. Habebat enim omnes libros abbatis Ioachym et erat maximus Ioachita et unus de maioribus clericis de mundo, sanctitate et scientia incomparabilis. Dolebam vero quod sotius meus graviter infirmabatur quasi ad mortem, et nolebat sibi cavere, et tempus navigandi propter hyemem in deterius mutabatur. Et contrata illa illo anno valde infirma erat propter ventum marinum, et vix poteram respirare de nocte, etiam morando sub divo; et audiebam lupos clamantes et ululantes de nocte in maxima quantitate, non semel neque bis. Et dixi socio meo, qui erat iuvenis valde protervus: «Tu non vis tibi cavere a contrariis et semper recidivas, ego vero cognosco contratam istam valde infirmam, et nollem adhuc mori, quia vellem videre illa que predicat frater Hugo. Quapropter noveris quod, si occurrerit de fratribus nostris societas congrua, ibo cum illis». Et dixit: «Placet quod dicis, veniam et ego tecum». Sperabat enim quod nullus veniret, qui frater esset. Et ecce, Domino faciente, statim venit frater Pontius quidam, sanctus homo, qui nobiscum steterat in conventu Aquensi et ibat Niciam, unde factus fuerat guardianus. Et gavisus est, quando vidit nos. Et dixi sibi: «Volumus venire vobiscum, quia Ianuam ire debemus ad habitandum». Et respondit et dixit: Multum placet michi. Vado ergo ad procurandum ut habeamus navem». In crastino autem post prandium ivimus ad navem, que distabat a loco fratrum per unum miliare. Socius autem meus nolebat venire, sed videns quod penitus recedebam, assumpto guardiano loci, venit post nos. Cumque porigerem sibi manum, ut elevarem eum ad navem intrandam, aborruit et ait: «Absit quod tu tangas me, quia non conservasti michi fidem et bonam societatem». Cui dixi: «Miser, cognosce bonitatem Dei erga te, oquia revelatum est michi a Domino quod, si stetisses ibi, absque dubio mortuus fuisses; et Sapiens in Eccle. VII dicit: Noli esse stultus, ne moriaris in tempore non tuo. Et de quibusdam dicitur in Iob XXII: Sublati sunt ante tempus suum, et fluvius(scilicet mortalitatis humane) subvertit fundamentum eorum». Quid plura? Non credebat iste michi quousque vexatiodedit auditui intellectum. Nam per totam hyemem in conventu Ianuensi ab illa [p. 457] infirmitate quam in Provincia contraxerat non potuit liberari; et in festo beati Mathie intravi mare et a Ianua usque ad locum fratris Hugonis in IIII diebus perveni; et sex fratres de illo loco inveni mortuos et sepultos; quorum primus fuit guardianus loci illius, qui socium meum ad navem associaverat; alter fuit frater Guillielmus de Pertuso, bonus predicator, qui in conventu Parmensi habitavit aliquando; et IIII alii quos nominare necesse non est. Cum autem in reversione mea ad Ianuensem conventum retulissem socio meo de morte istorum fratrum supradictorum, gratias referebat michi, quod eruissem eum de faucibus mortis. Convaluit tandem, et post multos annos ivit ad provinciam ultramarinam, eo anno quo rex Francie transfretavit secundo et Tunicium ivit; et fuit ibi custos et pro custode ad generale capitulum venit quod fuit Assisii celebratum, in quo frater Bonagratia factus fuit generalis minister, et declaratio regule ratribus data. | About the delay that I contracted with Brother Hugh. Indeed, my companion and I remained in Aries with Brother Hugh, from the feast of St. Francis until the feast of All Saints. And I was glad because I had the opportunity to stay with Brother Hugh," [p. 456] "with whom my entire day was spent discussing the teachings of Abbot Joachim. For he had all the books of Abbot Joachim and was a great Joachite and one of the most senior clerics in the world, incomparable in sanctity and knowledge. However, I was saddened because my companion fell gravely ill, almost to death, and he did not want to take care of himself, and the time for sailing worsened due to the winter. And the sea that year was very rough because of the marine wind, and I could barely breathe at night, even staying outdoors; and I heard wolves crying and howling at night in great numbers, not just once or twice. And I said to my companion, who was a very impetuous young man: 'You do not want to take care of yourself against the adversities, and you always relapse, but I know that the sea is very treacherous this year, and I do not wish to die yet, because I want to see what Brother Hugh preaches. Therefore, you should know that if a suitable opportunity arises among our brothers, I will go with them.' And he said, 'What you say pleases me, I will come with you.' For he hoped that no brother would come. And behold, by the grace of the Lord, Brother Pontius immediately arrived, a holy man, who had stayed with us in the convent of Aix and was going to Nice, where he had been appointed guardian. And he rejoiced when he saw us. And I said to him, 'We want to come with you, because we must go to Genoa to live there.' And he replied and said: 'I am very pleased. I will go then to arrange for us to have a ship.' On the next day after lunch, we went to the ship, which was one mile away from the place of the brothers. However, my companion did not want to come, but seeing that I was determined, he came after us, taking the guardian of the place with him. And when I reached out my hand to lift him onto the ship, he recoiled and said, 'God forbid that you touch me, for you did not keep faith with me and maintain a good companionship.' To which I said, 'Unfortunate one, recognize the goodness of God towards you, for it has been revealed to me by the Lord that if you had stayed there, undoubtedly you would have died; and the Wise One in Ecclesiastes 7 says: Do not be foolish, lest you die in your time. And it is said of some in Job 22: They were taken away before their time, and the river (namely, the river of human mortality) subverted their foundation.' Why more? This person did not believe me until vexation gave understanding to his hearing. For throughout the entire winter in the convent of Genoa, he could not be freed from the illness he had contracted in Provence; and on the feast of St. Matthias, I entered the sea, and from Genoa, I arrived at Brother Hugh's place in four days; and I found six brothers from that place dead and buried; the first of whom was the guardian of that place, who had accompanied my companion to the ship; the second was Brother William of Pertuso, a good preacher, who had once lived in the convent of Parma; and the other four need not be named. However, when I returned to the convent of Genoa and recounted to my companion the deaths of those aforementioned brothers, he thanked me for rescuing him from the jaws of death. He eventually recovered, and after many years, he went to the overseas province, in the year when the King of France crossed over for the second time and went to Tunis; and there he became the guardian and came as a guardian to the general chapter held at Assisi, where Brother Bonagratia was elected as the general minister, and the declaration of the rule was given to the brothers | Template:Salimbene De Adam 1966, p. 456–457 | None |
| 1258-00-00-Senones | 1258 JL | A plague of livestock in Senones (Vosges). | Sed tamen pestilentia pecorum ipso anno finiente non finivit, sed per totum sequentem annum regiones plurimas bobus et vaccis [p. 334] penitus vacuavit. | However, the pestilence of livestock did not end with the close of that year, but continued throughout the following year, utterly emptying many regions of oxen and cows. | Richeri Gesta Senoniensis ecclesiae 1880, pp. 333-334. | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1259-00-00-Alessandria | 1259 JL | A plague disturbed a peace and raged also north of the alps. | Ceterum hanc ipsorum quietem aliquamdiu perturbavit vis pestilentiae, quae, tota fere Cisalpina Gallia debacchata, illos itidem vellicavit | Moreover, their peace was disturbed for some time by the force of a pestilence, which, having ravaged almost all of Cisalpine Gaul, also afflicted them. | Annales Alexandrini 1857, col. 233. | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1259-00-00-Dijon | 6 April 1259 JL | Strong mortality around Dijon. | 1259. Hoc anno fuit infirmitas et mortalitas hominum in toto mundo, ita ut pauce domus essent in quibus aliquis sanus inveniretur; cepitque inicium hec mortalitas in magna ebdomada ante pascha, duravitque circiter unum mensem | In the year 1259, there was an illness and mortality of people throughout the whole world, such that there were few houses in which a healthy person could be found. This mortality began in Holy Week before Easter and lasted for about one month. | Template:Annales S. Benigni Divionensis 1844, p. 50 | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1259-04-00-Paris | April 1259 JL | Mortality in Paris. Crops have been malevolent. | Anno sequenti, mense aprilis fuit mortalitas, maxima Parisius, et moriebantur homines quasi subito. | The year after, in April, there was a great mortality, especially in Paris. People died very rapidly. | Noate Constantienses , p. 543 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1262-00-00-Normandy | 1262 JL | Mortality in Normandy | Hoc anno fuit mors valida in Normannia. | This year, a great mortality raged in Normandy. | Chronicon S. Stephani Cadomensis, p. 492 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1271-00-00-Lorraine | 1271 JL | Mortality in Lorraine. | Mortalitas maxima in Lotharingia. Illo anno 20 fratres in convetnu fratrem Predicatorum Metensis mortui sunt. | Great mortality in Lorraine. This year, 20 brothers died in the Dominican monastery of Metz. | Chronica universalis Mettensis 1879, p. 523. | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1276-00-00-Italy | 1276 JL | Price increase in Genoa, Lombardy, Tuscany, France and in complete Italy, poverty migration and disease | In iam dicto anno [1276] victualium magna fuit penuries nedum in Ianua et districtu, set etiam in Lonbardia, Tuscia, Provintia et Francia, et quasi in Ytalia tota. In Ianua enim et districtu usque in solidos 40 frumenti mine singule vendebantur; quod autem durius est audire, nedum frumentum set nec etiam granum poterat reperiri. Qui enim granum habebant, illud ad libitum vendere potuissent, quantumcunque voluissent inde habere pretium; nisi iussio emanasset qua fuit cunctis inhibitum, ne ultra certam summam frumentum vel granum aliquatenus venderetur. Tanta autem victualium inedia nedum per totum illum annum set etiam quasi per totum sequentem regnavit, quod homines fame peribant. Qua ex causa urgente fame et fructuum paupertate, magna mulierum et hominum multitudo cum eorum familias etiam parvulis quos in cunabulis deferebant, fines Lonbardie, Tuscie, Provintie et totius Ytalie famem fugientes est egressa. Ex diversis quidem civitatibus locis et villis et quasi ex totius Lonbardie et Ytalie finibus homines mulieres magni et parvuli undique concurrebant, qui quasi fame consumpti velud mortui apparebant. Qui omnes habuerunt ad civitatem Ianuensem recursum, et quamquam Ianuensis civitas magna victualium laboraret inopia, tamen ad se fugientes non repulit; set ipsis miseris et oppressis fame [p. 283] compatiens manum aperuit et panem suum et omnia neccessaria eisdem esurientibus ministravit. Illo quippe anno et quasi toto sequenti aer infectus et pestilens celum fuit, et ad hec in omnibus iam dictis partibus morbus invaluit, quod infinitos homines et mulieres magnos et parvos fere in omnibus Ytalie partibus mors invasit. | Obertus Stanconus et al. 1863, pp. 283–284 | Translation needed | |
| 1278-00-00-Normandy | 1278 JL | Mortality in the duchy of Normandy, and elsewhere (no precision). | Hoc anno fuit mors valida in Normannia et in multis partibus. | This year (1278), a great mortality raged in Normandy and in many other locations. | Chronicon S. Stephani Cadomensis, p. 492. | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1282-00-00-Alsace | 1282 JL | Epidemic in Alsace | Item mel in Alsatia finibus pluebat, unde multi olera seu fructus commedere recusabant. Item pestilencia in locis pluribus sequebatur | It rained honey in some places in Alsace, and a lot of people refused to eat vegetables and fruits. And, an epidemic follows in several locations. | Jaffe 1861, Sp. 209 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1307-00-00-France | 1307 JL | A mortality occurs in France. | Si en fust la mortalité, / En cel an sur les hommes grant. / Li physiciens grandement / Lors gaaignèrent: qui ne peurent / En cel an vivre, celz moururent. | In this year, the mortality has been severe. Doctors earned a lot, and those who cannot live died this year. | Chronique métrique de Godefroy de Paris 1827, p. 117 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1315-00-00-Asti | 1315 JL | Famine in Western Europe, caused by incessant rain, causes epidemics and lack of grain and wine; merchants are fleeing back to Asti | Notum sit omnibus presentibus et futuris quod anno MCCCXV fuit fames valida in regionibus Alamanniae, Olandiae, Flandriae, Pannoniae, Lorenae, Brabantiae, Franciae, talis, quod similis non est a saeculo audita, quia granum, quod caperet Astensis mina, vendebatur quindecim grossis turonensibus, et pinta boni vini ad mensuram Astensem in supradictis locis vendebatur grossis sex turonensibus: et tantum duravit dicta fames, quod pro aliquo precio furmentum et avena non inveniebatur et vinum. Et haec acciderunt ex abundantia pluviae,quia in diebus illis pluvia de coelo non cessavit. Ex quibus pauperes innumerabiles obierunt fame, et inveniebantur in viis et plateis mortui sicut canes. Post haec epdimia sive mortalitas supervenit tam divitibus quam egenis, ex qua tercia pars virorum et mulierum supradictarum regionum obierant, et maxime rex Franciae qui non regnavit per annum: et tantum duravit, quod quasi non inveniebatur, qui mortuos sepelliret; et hoch verum est, quia multi Astenses habitantes in partibus illis venientes Asti, et fugientes fames illas et pestes, et alii multi de patria illa quasi mortui fame approbabant, et dicebant omnia esse vera, et in fine omnes eiusdem patriae firmiter asserebant, quod ex eadem fame et epidimia tercia pars virorum et mulierum obierunt. | Guglielmo Ventura 1848, Sp. 773 | Translation needed | |
| 1316-00-00-Bohemia-4 | 29 September 1316 JL | In 1316 there was a great plague among the humans in France and Flanders, particularly in Metz where 500.000 humans are said to have died. | Anno domini MCCCXVII [...] Johannes XXI in papam eligitur, et pestilencia maxima hominum in Gallia et Flandria subsequitur, ita ut ville remanerent deserte et specialiter Metis in circa a festa sancti Michaelis usque ad pascha quingenta millis hominum dicantur mortui. | In the year of the Lord 1317 (sic!), John XXI (sic!) was elected as pope and the greatest plague among humans followed imediately in France and Flanders where hardly a village remained undeserted. And particularly Metz, where between around the feast of St Michael and Easter (1317) 500.000 humans are said to have died. | Johannis Neplachonis, Chronica, in: Fontes rerum Bohemicarum, vol. III , Praha 1882 , p. 445-484, 477 | Translation by Christian Oertel |
| 1323-06-00-Paris | June 1323 JL | Mortality in Paris and all of France | En cest an [1323], en la saison d’esté, par le royaulme de France et especiaulment à Paris, fut si grant multitude de gens maladez, et tant en moururent, que chacun en estoit esbahy | In this year, in summertime, there was in the kingdom of France and especially in Paris a great many of ill people, and many of them died. Everybody was astonished about this. | Hellot 1884, p. 90 | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1323-08-00-Firenze | August 1323 JL | Fever and headaches of most people in Florence and all over Italy, low mortality. | Nel detto anno MCCCXXIII, a l’uscità d’agosto e a l’entrar di settembre, fu uno vento a favognano, per lo quale amalorono di freddo con alquanti dì con febbre e dolore di testa la maggiore parte degli uomini e de le femmine in Firenze: e questa pestilenza fu generale per tutte le città d’Italia, ma poca gente ne morì; ma in Francia ne morirono assai. | In this year 1323, at the end of August and in early September, there was a Western wind. Because of this, most people in Florence, women and men alike, fell ill with a cold and some days of fever and headaches. And this disease was everywhere in Italy, but few people died of it. But in France, many more died. | Giovanni Villani 1990, vol. 2, pp. 406-407. | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1334-Summer-France | June 1334 JL | In France, Burgundy, and the Champagne raged a plague during the three months of summer. In Paris (where the author stayed) died 16.000 people in one hospital. | Eodem anno mense Mai gelu intolerabile vineas omnes in partibus Almanie. Tantum destruxit, quod post vindemia luxit. In Burgundia vero et in Francia et Campania, ubi tempore vindemie pertransivi, non tantum dampnum factum fuisse conspeci. Aliam autem plagam Deus hoc anno eisdem terris intulit, quia mortalitatis pestilencia plurimos homines tunc percussit. Parysius namque infra tres menses estivales in hospitali regis, quod ante monasterium beate virginis in kathedrali ecclesia situm est, quod dolenter refero, sedecim milia hominum sunt mortua et in cimiterio innocentum sepulta, me etenim in ipso hospitali existente et compassivo animo contuente. Tot sunt in brevi mortui, quod vix erant tot, qui hos tollerent et ad tumulum deportarent. | In the same year in the month of May an unbearable frost destroyed all the vinyards in the German lands so that the grape harvest was in grief. But in Burgundy and in France and the Champagne, through where I passed during grape harvest, I did not see such damage. But God put in this year another load on these lands since a deadly plague killed many people then. For in Paris died during the three months of summer in the royal hospital, which is situated in front of the monastery of the Holy Virgin at the cathedral church, as I report with regrets, 16.000 people, and they were buried at the graveyard of the innocent. In fact, I stayed in this hospital and watched with a compassionate heart. So many died in a short period of time that there were hardly as many who could pick them up and bring them to their graves. | Peter of Zittau, Chronicon Aula regiae (Kronika Zbraslavská), in: Emler (ed.), Fontes rerum Bohemicarum IV, Prague 1884, pp. 1-337, 321. | Translation by Christian Oertel |
| 1347-00-00-China | 1347 JL | The Black Death with presumed origins in China or Ethiopia, spreading to Syria and Egypt. Discussion of its spread via Caffa and Constantinopel, Genoa and reaching the Iberian Peninsula. | Die Meinungen über die Herkunft dieses Ereignisses gehen auseinander. Der Gewährsmann erwähnte nach dem Zeugnis mancher christlichen Kaufleute, die nach Almeriah kamen, daß die Krankheit in dem Lande Hata entstanden sei; Hata heißt in der persischen Sprache China, wie ich es von einem Gewährsmann aus Samarkand gelernt habe. China ist die Grenze der bewohnten Erde nach Osten zu. Die Seuche ist in China verbreitet und von da aus ist sie nach dem persischen Irak, den türkischen Ländern gewandert. Andere erwähnten nach dem Bericht christlicher Reisenden, daß sie in Abessinien entstanden sei und von dort aus in die Nachbarländer bis nach Ägypten und Syrien vorgedrungen sei. Diese verschiedenen Berichte beweisen, daß die Katastrophe allgemein alle Länder und Zonen heimgesucht hat. Der Grund der Verschiedenheit der Berichte ist, daß, wenn sie in einem an der (p. 42) Grenze der Erde liegenden Lande erscheint, dessen Einwohner denken, daß die Krankheit dort entstanden sei; und von dort aus verbreitet sich diese Ansicht. Es ist uns auch von vielen Seiten berichtet worden, daß sie in der genuesischen Festung Kaffa gewesen sei, die unlängst durch ein Heer von mohammedanischen Türken und Romäern belagert wurde, dann in Pera, dann in dem großen Konstantinopel, auf den Inseln von Armania an der Küste des Mittelmeeres, in Genua, in Frankreich. Sie griff weiter über nach dem fruchtbaren Andalusien, überschwemmte die Gegenden von Aragon, Barcelona, Valencia u. a., verbreitete sich in dem größten Teil des Königreichs Kastilien bis Sevilla im äußersten Westen, erreichte auch die Inseln des Mittelmeeres Sizilien, Sardinien, Mallorca, Ibiza, sprang über nach der gegenüberliegenden Küste von Afrika und ging von da aus weiter nach Westen. | Opinions differ as to the origin of this event. According to the testimony of some Christian merchants who came to Almeriah, the author mentioned that the disease originated in the land of Hata; Hata means China in the Persian language, as I learnt from an author from Samarkand. China is the border of the inhabited earth to the east. The disease spread in China and from there it travelled to Persian Iraq and the Turkish countries. Others mentioned, according to the report of Christian travellers, that it originated in Abyssinia and from there spread to neighbouring countries as far as Egypt and Syria. These different reports prove that the catastrophe affected all countries and zones in general. The reason for the diversity of reports is that when it appears in a country lying on the (p. 42) frontier of the earth, its inhabitants think that the disease originated there; and from there this opinion spreads. It has also been reported to us from many quarters that it was in the Genoese fortress of Kaffa, which was recently besieged by an army of Mohammedan Turks and Romæans, then in Pera, then in the great Constantinople, on the islands of Armania on the coast of the Mediterranean, in Genoa, in France. It spread further to fertile Andalusia, flooded the regions of Aragon, Barcelona, Valencia and others, spread through most of the kingdom of Castile as far as Seville in the far west, reached the Mediterranean islands of Sicily, Sardinia, Mallorca, Ibiza, jumped over to the opposite coast of Africa and from there continued westwards.. | Dinanah 1927, pp. 41-42 | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1347-00-00-Florence | May 1347 JL | Epidemic follows famine in Florence, 4000 dead (mainly women and children); particularly bad in Romagna, Provence, Bologna, Vignone, Pistoia and Prato. The mortality was foretold by astrologers. | Di grande mortalità che ffu in Firenze, ma più grande altrove, come diremo apresso Nel detto anno e tempo, come sempre pare che segua dopo la carestia e fame, si cominciò in Firenze e nel contado infermeria, e apresso mortalità di genti, e spezialmente in femine e fanciulli, il più in poveri genti, e durò fino al novembre vegnente MCCCXLVII ma però non fu così grande, come fu la mortalità dell'anno MCCCXL come adietro facemmo menzione; ma albitrando al grosso, ch'altrimenti non si può sapere a punto in tanta città come Firenze, ma in di grosso si stimò che morissono in questo tempo più di IIIIm persone, tra uomini e più femmine e fanciulli; morirono bene de' XX l'uno; e fecesi comandamento per lo Comune che niuno morto si dovesse bandire, né sonare campane alle chiese, ove i morti si sotterravano, perchè lla gente non isbigotisse d'udire di tanti morti. E lla detta mortalità fu predetta dinanzi per maestri di strologia, dicendo che quando fu il sostizio vernale, cioè quando il sole entrò nel principio dell'Ariete del mese di marzo passato, l'ascendente che ffu nel detto sostizio fu il segno della Vergine, e 'l suo signore, cioè il pianeto di Mercurio, si trovò nel segno dell'Ariete nella ottava casa, ch'è casa che significa morte; e se non che il pianeto di Giove, ch'è fortunato e di vita, si ritrovò col detto Mercurio nella detta casa e segno, la mortalità sarebbe stata infinita, se fosse piaciuto a dDio. Ma nnoi dovemo credere e avere per certo che Idio promette le dette pestilenze e ll'altre a' popoli, cittadi e paesi [p. 486] per pulizione de'peccati e non solamente per corsi di stelle, ma tolera, siccome signore dell'universo e del corso del celesto, come gli piace; e quando vuole, fa accordare il corso delle stelle al suo giudicio; e questo basti in questa parte e d'intorno a Firenze del detto delli astrolagi. La detta mortalità fu maggiore in Pistoia e Prato e nelle nostre circustanze all'avenante della gente di Firenze, e maggiore in Bologna e in Romagna, e maggiore in Vignone e in Proenza ov'era la corte del papa, e per tutto il reame di Francia. | Of a great mortality which occurred in Florence, although it was greater elsewhere, as we will recount. In this year and season, as seemingly always after food shortages and famines, a sickness began in the city and countryside of Florence. Soon people began to die, especially women and children, and the most among the poor. It lasted until November 1347, but it was not as great as the mortality of 1340 that we described earlier. If we make a rough guess—it is impossible to do otherwise in a city as great as Florence—it seems that this time more than four thousand people died, men and more women and children. More than one in twenty died. It was ordered by the commune that no death be announced and no church bell be sounded during burials, lest people be terrified to hear of so many deaths. This mortality was foretold by master astrologers who stated that during the vernal solstice—that is when the sun entered the sign of Aries last March—the sign of Virgo was rising and Virgo’s ruler Mercury was in the eighth house of Aries, a house signifying death. And were it not for the fact that Jupiter, which brings fortune and life, accompanied Mercury in this house and sign, the mortality would have been endless—if this had pleased God. But we should believe and be certain that the Lord God promises the said pestilences and others to peoples, cities, and lands to cleanse their sins, and [that he does so] not only through the movement of the stars but sometimes—as Lord of the universe and celestial motion—according to his will. And when he wishes, he matches the movement of the stars to his judgment. Let this suffice regarding Florence, its surroundings, and the sayings of astrologers. This mortality was greater in Pistoia and Prato and in the surrounding territories nearer to Florence; it was greater in Bologna and in Romagna; it was greater at Avignon and in Provence, where the papal court was, and throughout the kingdom of France. | Template:Giovanni Villani 1990, vol. 3, pp. 485–486. | None |
| 1347-00-00-Italy1 | 1347 JL | Spread of the Black Death across the Mediterranean into Italy and its major islands with processions emerging in Florence. | E stesesi la detta pistolenza infino in Turchia e grecia, avendo prima ricerco tutto Levante i Misopotania, Siria, Caldea, Suria, Ciptro, il Creti, i Rodi, e tutte l'isole dell'Arcipelago di Grecia, e poi si stese in Cicilia, e Sardigna, Corsica, ed Elba, e per simile modo tutte le marine e riviere di nostri mari; ed otto galee di Genovesi c'erano ite nel mare Maggiore, morendo la maggiore parte, non ne tornarono che quattro galee piene d'infermi, morendo al continuo; e quelli che giunsono a Genova, tutti quasi morirono, e corruppono sì l'aria dove (p. 487) arivavano, che chiunque si riparava co lloro poco apresso morivano. Ed era una maniera d'infermità, che non giacia l'uomo III dì, aparendo nell'anguinaia o sotto le ditella certi enfiati chiamati gavoccioli, e tali ghianducce, e tali gli chiamavano bozze, e sputando sangue. E al prete che confessava lo 'nfermo, o guardava, spess s'apiccava la detta pistilenza per modo ch'ogni infermo era abbandonato di confessione, sagramento, medicine e guardie. Per la quale sconsolazione il papa fece dicreto, perdonando colpa e pena a' preti che confessassono o dessono sagramento alli infermi, e lli vicitasse e guardasse. E durò questa pestilenzia fina a ... e rimasono disolate di genti molte province e cittadini. E per questa pistilenza, acciò che Iddio la cessasse e guardassene la nostra città di Firenze e d'intorno, si fece solenne processione in mezzo marzo MCCXLVII per tre dì. E tali son fatti i giudici di Dio per pulire i peccati de' viventi.. | This pestilence spread into Turkey and Greece, having first circled the Levant—Mesopotamia, Assyria, Chaldea, Syria, Cyprus, Crete, Rhodes, and all the islands of the archipelago of Greece—and then spread to Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and Elba and in like manner to all the shores and coasts of our seas. [When] eight Genoese galleys sailed into the Black Sea, the greater part of their crews died, and only four galleys returned, full of sick men who were dying one after another. Almost all those who reached Genoa died, and so corrupted the air where they landed, that whoever met with them died shortly afterward. This was the manner of the sickness: certain swellings appeared on the groin or below the armpits, swellings which some called gavoccioli and some ghianducce and some bozze, and which oozed blood. A man could not live for more than three days after they appeared. And this pestilence often attached itself to the priests who heard the confessions of the sick, or who looked after the sick, so that the sick were deprived of confession, sacrament, medicine, and watchers. This terrible problem led the pope to issue a decree, pardoning sin and penance to those priests who confessed or gave the sacrament to the sick, and who visited and watched over them. (p. 139) And this pestilence lasted until [. . .] and many provinces and cities were desolated. And in mid-March 1347, a solemn procession was held [every day] for three days, so that the Lord God might end this pestilence and Protect our city of Florence and its surroundings. ‘Thus do the judgments of God cleanse the sins of the living. Let us leave this matter, and speak somewhat of the deeds of the newly elected Emperor Charles of Bohemia. | Giovanni Villani 1990, vol. 3, pp. 487–488 | None |
| 1347-02-00-Avignon | February 1347 JL | Famine and afterwards mortality in Avignon (fasting period until Whitsun). | Anno Domini MCCCXLVII in quadragesima et inter pascha et pentecosten circa Avionem propter gwerrarum rabiosam inundacionem circumquaque exortam fames exicialis et prevalida facta est, propter quam innumerabiles populi morte repentina extincti dicebantur. In tantum eciam mortalitas famem horrendam subsecuta seviebat, quod in plateis, vicis et in sterquiliniis prostrati miserabiliter iacuerunt. | In the year of our Lord 1347, during Lent and between Easter and Pentecost, near Avignon, due to the violent outbreak of war, a devastating famine arose everywhere, causing countless people to be struck down by sudden death. Such a terrible mortality ensued from the famine that people were said to be dying innumerable deaths. To such an extent did the deadly famine rage, that people miserably lay prostrate in the streets, alleys, and dung heaps. | Johannes von Winterthur, p. 270. | Translation by DeepL |
| 1347-11-00-Italy | November 1347 JL | Arrival of the Black Death in Genoa and spread across Italy; but Parma and Milan remain almost untouched | Nelle parti oltra mora per più sei mesi fu grandissima pestilenza, la quale dalle galee de' Genovesi fu portata in Italia; e furono a Genova ricevute del mese di Novembre le prefate galee, sulle quali, prima che arivassero a Genova, era morta di questa mala influenza la maggior parte di coloro, che vi erano sopra: il rimanente morì quasi subito che furono in Porto e patria loro, questa infermità si allargò nella Citta, & infiniti ne morivano il giorno, & in breve per ogni Città di Lombardia, di Toscana, della Marca, della Puglia, e per ogni terra d'Italia si estese. E fu grandissima due anni continui, per la quale molte Città d'Italia furono distrutte; e sole Parma, e Milano pochissimo ne senterono; ma si sparse oltra monti, in Provenza, in Francia, in Aragona, in Spagna, in Anglia, in Alemagna, in Boemia, in Ungheria. | In the parts beyond the sea, for more than six months, there was a great pestilence, which was brought to Italy by the Genoese galleys; and in November, the aforementioned galleys were received in Genoa, on which, before they arrived in Genoa, the majority of those on board had died from this bad influence: the rest died almost immediately upon reaching their port and homeland. This disease spread in the city, and countless people died each day, and soon it extended to every city in Lombardy, Tuscany, the Marches, Apulia, and throughout all of Italy. It was exceedingly severe for two continuous years, during which many cities in Italy were destroyed; only Parma and Milan felt it very little; but it spread beyond the mountains, into Provence, France, Aragon, Spain, England, Germany, Bohemia, and Hungary | Giovanni di Cornazano 1728, col. 746 | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1347-12-25-Avignon | 25 December 1347 JL | Great mortality in the south of France, especially in Avignon. | Quo eciam tempore maxima mortalitas viguit in Grecia in Thurchia ac Lompardia Tussia ac in provincia Waschonia et in Francia, quod ville et civitates alique dicebantur incolis destitute. Nam in civitate Avenionensi a festo nativitatis domini [25.12.1347] usque ad festum omnium sanctorum [01.11.1348] cclxxx milia hominum decesserunt, inter quos sex cardinales duces fuerunt transeuntium de hoc mundo ad patrem. | During this time, there was also enormous mortality in Greece, Turkey, Lombardy, Tuscany and the province of Vashonia [Gascony] as well as in France, so that houses and cities were named that were without inhabitants. For in the city of Avignon, 280,000 people died from the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord [25 December 1347] to the Feast of All Saints [1 November 1348], including six cardinals who passed from this world to the Father. | Henricus de Diessenhofen 1868, p. 65. | None |
| 1348-00-00-Avignon | 1348 JL | Origins of the Black Death beyond the sea, its way via Naples to Montpellier and Marseille, and its impact in Avignon. | Postea, videlicet anno Domini MCCCXLIX., [p. 422] presertim in partibus ultramarinis et aliis vicinis, qualis a tempore diluvii non est facta, aliquibus terris hominibus penitus vacuatis multisque trieribus in mari cum mercimoniis, habitatoribus extinctis, sine rectore repertis. Marsilie episcopus cum toto capitulo et quasi omnes Predicatores et Minores cum dupla parte inhabitancium perierunt. Quid in Monte Pessulano, in Neapoli et aliis regnis et civitatibus actum sit, quis narraret? Multitudinem moriencium Avinione in curia, contagionem, morbi, ex qua sine sacramentis perierant homines et nec parentes filiorum nec e contra nec socii sociorum nec famuli dominorum curam habuerant, quot domus cum omni suppellectile vacue fuerunt, quas nullus ingredi audebat, horror est scribere vel narrare! Nulla fuit ibi causarum agitacio. Papa inclusus camere habenti ignes magnos continue nulli dabat accessum. Terrasque hec pestis transibat, nec poterant philosophantes, quamvis multa dicerent, certam de hiis dicere racionem, nisi quod Dei esset voluntas. Hocque nunc hic, tunc ibi per integrum annum immo pluries continuabantur. | Later, namely in the year of our Lord 1349, especially in overseas regions and other neighboring places, such devastation occurred as had not been seen since the time of the flood, with entire lands emptied of people and many ships left in the sea with their cargoes, their inhabitants extinct, and no leader found. The Bishop of Marseille, with his entire chapter, and almost all the Dominicans and Franciscans, along with half of the inhabitants, perished. Who could recount what happened in Montpellier, in Naples, and other kingdoms and cities? The multitude dying in Avignon, the contagion, the disease from which people died without sacraments, neither parents for their children nor vice versa, nor companions for each other, nor servants for their masters, had care, how many houses were left vacant with all their furnishings, which no one dared to enter— it is horrifying to write or tell! There was no debate of causes there. The Pope, confined to his chamber with large fires continually burning, granted access to no one. And this plague spread across lands, and philosophers, though they spoke much, could not give a certain explanation of these things, except that it was the will of God. And thus, now here, then there, throughout the entire year, indeed repeatedly, it continued.. | Matthias de Nuwenburg Chronica 1924-40, pp. 421-422. | Translation by Martin Bauch; None; |
| 1348-00-00-Avignon01 | 1348 JL | Arivval of the Black Death in many cities and regions of Southern France and Italy and consequences like changing burial habits, collapsing social bonds and abandoned settlements. | Eodem anno (1348) in Avinione, Marsilia, Monte Pessulano, urbibus Provincie, immo per totam Provinciam, Vasconiam, Franciam per omnemque mediterranei maris oram usque in Ytaliam et per urbes Ytalie quam plurimas, puta Bononiam, Ravennam, Venetias, Januam, Pisas, Lucam, Romam, Neapolim, Messanam et urbes ceteras epydimia tam ingens, atrox et seva violenter incanduit, quod in nullo dispar sexu, in etate nulla dissimilis, masculos et feminas, senes et juvenes, plebem et nobiles, pauperes, divites et potentes, precipue tamen plebem et laycos generali fedaque tabe delevit. Interimque lues oborta populum conripuit et depopulata est, ut in plerisque locis ministri sepeliendorum funerum primum multitudine cadaverum gravarentur, post difficulter invenirentur, post non sufficerent, et tandem penitus non essent. Jam etiam magne domus et parve per totas urbes, immo et urbes quam plures vivis hominibus vacue remanserunt et mortuis plene. In urbibus et domibus et campis et locis aliis opes et possessiones copiosissime, sed nulli penitus possessores. Denique tam sevi tabescentium etiam sub tectis et in stratis suis cadaverum putores exalabant, quod non solum in urbibus ipsis vivendi, sed etiam ad ipsas terras et urbes appropinquandi per duo milia passuum non erat facultas hominibus, nis inficerentur, subito (p. 274) corriperentur, post triduum morerentur, et jam nec sepilrentur. Et, ut paucis expediam, tam ingens, tam pestifer ignis epydimalis conflagravit, ut non, quantum hominum in partibus illis absumpserit, sed quantum reliquerit, inquirendum videatur. Vir uxorem et uxor virum, mater filiam et illa matrem, pater filium et e converso, frater sororem et illa fratrum et sororem, et postremo quilibet quemlibet amicum tabescere incipientem contagionis timore reliquit. | In the same year (1348), in Avignon, Marseille, Montpellier, the cities of Provence, indeed throughout entire Provence, Gascony, France, along every coast of the Mediterranean Sea up to Italy, and through many cities of Italy, such as Bologna, Ravenna, Venice, Genoa, Pisa, Lucca, Rome, Naples, Messina, and countless other cities, an epidemic so immense, fierce, and cruelly violent broke out that it spared no one of any sex, age, neither male nor female, nor exempt from any age group, afflicting men and women, old and young, commoners and nobles, the poor, the rich, and the powerful, especially the common people and laypersons, with a general and foul contagion. Meanwhile, the plague that had arisen seized the people and laid waste to them, so that in many places those responsible for burying the dead were first overwhelmed by the multitude of corpses, then one struggled to find them, later there were insufficient of them, and finally they couldn't be found at all. Now, both large and small houses throughout the cities, indeed, even many cities, were left empty of living people and full of the dead. In the cities, houses, fields, and other places, riches and possessions were abundant, but there were no owners anywhere. Finally, such a severe contagion of those wasting away caused the stench of corpses to waft even under roofs and in their beds, such that not only was there no opportunity for people to live in the cities themselves, but even approaching the lands and cities within a distance of two miles was impossible for people, unless they got infected, suddenly seized (p. 274) and died after three days. They were no longer buried. And, to summarize briefly, such a great, such a deadly epidemic fire raged that it seems not only necessary to investigate how many people it consumed in those regions, but how many it left behind. A husband abandoned his wife, and a wife her husband; a mother her daughter, and she her mother; a father his son, and vice versa; a brother his sister, and she her brothers and sisters; and, finally, everyone abandoned anyone at the first sign of the disease's spreading out of fear of contagion. | Heinrich von Herford 1859, pp. 273-274. | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1348-00-00-Catalonia | 1348 JL | Outbreak of the Black Death caused by severe earthquake in Villach and meteorite impacts in Catalonia. | In Italia e per tuto el mondo circha l'ora del vespero fuoron grandissimi tremoti, adì xxv de zenaro; el quale tremoto fuo sentito per tuto el mondo e maximamente in le parte da Charentana, dove è una citade nome Villach, la quale tuta somerse per lo dicto tremoto. Et fuo contato e scripto per merchadanti che nelle parte del Chatai piovete grandissima quantitade de vermi e de serpenti li quali devoravano grandissima quantitade de gente. Ancora in quelle contrade, tra el Chatai e Persia, piovete fuogo de celo a modo de neve, el quale brusoe li monti e lla terra e gli uomini, el quale fuogo faceva fumo tanto pestelenciale, che chi sentiva quello fumo, moriva infra spacio de xii [p. 585] hore; a(n)cora chi guardava quelli ch'erano venenati da quello fumo pestelenciale eciamdio morivano. Et advenne che doe galee de' Gienonesi passando per la dicta contrata fuorono inficiati de quella pestilencia e commenciarono a morire, et pervenuti in Costantinopoli e in Pera comenciano quelle galleoti a parlare con quelli de Constantinopoli e de Pera. Et incontente comenciò la mortalitade in quelle citade, per tale modo che ne morirono li dui terzi de le persone; e andate quelle doe galee in Sicilia e in Missina, apicione la mortalicha in quelle contrade, dove morìo circha vcxxx milia persone; e una cità de quelle reame, nome Trapani, remase desabitata per quella pestilencia, e nella citade de Gienoa morirono circha xl millia persone; ancora la cità de Marsilia remase quasi dexabitata per la dicta pestilencia, la quale pestilencia fuo per tuto el mundo. Et in quello anno, in lo dì de la nativitade de Yhesu Christo, apparve uno fuogho in celo, overo in l'aere, el quale teneva da [p. 586] levante a ponente. E ne le parte de Chatelogna' cadde da celo iii petre grandissime, e quelli de quella contrada mandarono una de quelle petre suso uno mullo al re de Chatelogna. [...] [p. 587] E per quelle ch'io trovo, quella pestilencia fuo generale per tuto el mundo, unde fuo scripto per merchadanti che in uno dì in la cità de Parise ne fuoron sepeliti mille trecento vinte octo, e molte cità de Franza e de oltra monti erano remase quase dexabitade per quella pestilencia; e de Venesia e de Chioza fuo contato che ogne dì morivano viC huomeni, e similmente fuo dicto de Pisa. | In Italy and throughout the world, around the hour of vespers on the 25th of January, there were very great earthquakes; this earthquake was felt throughout the world and especially in the region of Carinthia, where there is a city named Villach, which was entirely submerged by said earthquake. It was reported and written by merchants that in the region of Cathay there fell a great quantity of worms and serpents which devoured a vast number of people. Furthermore, in those regions, between Cathay and Persia, fire fell from the sky like snow, which burned the mountains, the land, and the men; this fire produced such a pestilential smoke that anyone who inhaled it died within twelve hours. Moreover, those who looked at those poisoned by that pestilential smoke also died. It happened that two Genoese galleys passing through the said region were infected by that pestilence and began to die, and upon arriving in Constantinople and Pera, those sailors began to speak with the people of Constantinople and Pera. Immediately, the mortality began in those cities, in such a manner that two-thirds of the people died; and when those two galleys arrived in Sicily and Messina, they spread the plague in those regions, where about 530,000 people died; and a city in that kingdom, named Trapani, was left uninhabited due to that pestilence, and in the city of Genoa about 40,000 people died; also the city of Marseille was almost depopulated due to the said pestilence, which was present throughout the world. And in that year, on the day of the Nativity of Jesus Christ, a fire appeared in the sky, or rather in the air, stretching from east to west. In the region of Catalonia, three very large stones fell from the sky, and the people of that region sent one of those stones on a mule to the king of Catalonia. [...] And from what I found, that pestilence was general throughout the world, for it was written by merchants that in one day in the city of Paris, 1,328 people were buried, and many cities in France and beyond the mountains were almost depopulated due to that pestilence; and it was reported from Venice and Chioggia that every day 600 men died, and similarly it was said of Pisa. | Anonymus 1938c, pp. 584–587 | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1348-00-00-Europe 001 | 1348 JL | These passages describe the catastrophic events of the year 1348 in Europe, including the plague and an earthquake. They mention predictions about political upheavals, famine and other catastrophies. | Item, Anno fequenti 48. in Avinone & in vicinis ibi partibus in Marfilia & in Italia ac multis citra & ultra maritimis regionibus, etiam in Francia, Anglia, Vngaria, Carinthia, Austria, Bauaria, Suevia, Alsatia, & in partibus Rheni & aliis plerisque Germaniae partibus, & praecipue in locis aquosis, & in alpibus, cacuminibus & conuallibus partium montanarum tam maxima pestilentia feu mortalitas (p. 469) fuit hominum, quod plerumque una in hospitio moriente persona, ceteri cohabitantes homines, ut sepius quasi subito, moriuntur. Anno Domini 1348. in die conuersionis Sancti Pauli circa horam vespertinam uniuersalis terrae motus adeo magnus fuit, quod hinc inde & praecipue in partibus Carinthiae & maritimis multae munitiones & domus & praefertim lapideae corruerunt. Anno domini 1348. multa mirabilia contingent, ut Astrologus maximus attestatur, unus solus erit dominus, Romanum Imperium exaltabitur, magna rixa erit in terra, Tyrannus Rex Francie cadit cum Baronibus fuis, magna effusio sanguinis fiet, erit magna fames & mortalitas hominum, haec iam in multis partibus Alemanniae, magnus calor in aestate, magna siccitas, vindicabitur vindicta noui Regis, transfigurabitur Regina Veneris, pulues Lonistae & animalia venenosa abundabunt & multa mirabilia in aere apparebunt. | Moreover, in the following year 1348, in Avignon and its surrounding areas, in Marseille, Italy, and in many regions both on this side and beyond the seas, also in France, England, Hungary, Carinthia, Austria, Bavaria, Swabia, Alsace, and the regions of the Rhine and many other parts of Germany, especially in watery places, in the Alps, the peaks, and the valleys of mountainous areas, there was such a great plague or mortality among humans that often when one person died in a household, the other inhabitants frequently died suddenly as well.
In the year of our Lord 1348, on the day of the Conversion of Saint Paul, around the evening hour, there was a universal earthquake so great that here and there, especially in Carinthia and coastal areas, many fortifications and houses, particularly those made of stone, collapsed. In the year of our Lord 1348, many wonders occurred, as the great astrologer attests: there will be only one lord, the Roman Empire will be exalted, there will be great strife on the earth, the tyrant King of France will fall with his barons, there will be great bloodshed, there will be great famine and mortality of people — this has already occurred in many parts of Germany. There will be great heat in the summer, great drought, vengeance will be exacted by the new king, the Queen of Venus will be transformed, the dust of Lonista will abound, and poisonous animals will be plentiful, and many wonders will appear in the air. | Chronicon Wirziburgense breve 1735, pp. 468-469. | Translation by ChatGPT-3.5 |
| 1348-00-00-Europe 002 | 1348 JL | These passages describe the catastrophic events of the year 1348 in Europe, including the plague. They mention predictions about political upheavals, famine and other catastrophies like extreme weather. | De magna pestilencia. Item eodem tempore et anno immediate sequenti in curia Romana Avinionis et in vicinis ibi partibus in Marsilia et Ytalia ac multis maritimis citra et ultra marinis regionibus, eciam in Francia Anglia Ungaria Karinthia Austria Bawaria Swevia et Alsacia ac in partibus Reni et aliis plerisque Germanie partibus, et precipue in locis aquosis et in alpibus cacuminibus et convallibus partium montanarum (p. 474) tam maxima pestilentia seu mortalitatis hominum tanta fuit et est, quod plerumque una in hospicio moriente persona ceteri cohabitantes homines et sepius quasi subito moriuntur. De eventibus lamentosis sub anno subscriptio. Anno domini m.ccc.xl.viii. multa mirabilia contingent, ut astrologus maximus attestatur. Unus solus erit dominus. Imperium Romanum exaltabitur. Magna rixa erit in terra. Tyrannus Rex Francie cadet cum baronibus suis. Magna effusio sanguinis. Papa dissipabitur cum cardinalibus suis. Erit magna fames et mortalitas. Hec vero iam in multis partibus Lombardie. Magnus calor in estate. In hieme magna siccitas. Semina corrumpuntur. Vindicabitur vindicta novi regis. Transfigurabitur regina veneris. Pulices locuste et animalia venenosa habundabunt, et multa mirabilia in aere apparebunt. | On the Great Pestilence. Likewise, at the same time and in the following year, in the Roman court at Avignon and in nearby areas, in Marseille and Italy, and in many maritime regions on both sides of the sea, also in France, England, Hungary, Carinthia, Austria, Bavaria, Swabia, Alsace, and in the regions along the Rhine and other parts of Germany, and especially in watery places and in the peaks and valleys of the mountainous regions, there was such a great plague or mortality of people that often, when one person died in a house, the other cohabitants and people would soon die almost immediately. On the Lamentable Events of the Year Described Below. In the year of our Lord 1348, many marvelous events occurred, as the greatest astrologer attests. There will be one sole lord. The Roman Empire will be exalted. There will be a great conflict in the land. The tyrant King of France will fall with his barons. There will be a great bloodshed. The Pope will be dispersed with his cardinals. There will be great famine and mortality. This has already occurred in many parts of Lombardy. There will be great heat in the summer. In winter, there will be great drought. Seeds will be corrupted. The vengeance of a new king will be exacted. The Queen of Venus will be transformed. Fleas, locusts, and venomous animals will abound, and many marvels will appear in the sky. | De chronicis temporum hominum modernorum 1843, pp. 473-774. | Translation by ChatGPT-3.5 |
| 1348-00-00-Middle East 002 | 1348 JL | The beginning and the origins of the Black Death in the Middle East and about the severe earthquake especially in Villach. | In 1348 in Italia e per tuto lo mondo, circha l'ora de vespero, fonno grandissimi teramoti adì 25 de zenaro. El quale teramoto fo sentito per tuto el mondo e masimamente in le parti de Charantana, donde è una citade nome Vilach, la quale fo tuta somerssa per lo ditto teramoto; e fo contado e scrito per merchatanti che ne le parte del Chatay piovè grandisima quantitade de vermi e de serpenti li quali devoravano de le persone. Anchora in quele contrade del Chatay e de Persia piové fuogo da zielo a modo neve, el quale fuogo bruxò li monti e la terra e gli omeni, el quale fuogo faceva fumo tanto pesetelenziale chi chi lo sentìa morìa [p. 590] in fra spacio de 12 ore. Anchora chi guardava quili, ch'erano avenenati da quelo fumo, moriano. E avene che doe Zenoixi, passando per dita contrada fono infiziati de questa pistilenzia e cominzarno a morire. E prevenuti a Costantinopoli e in Pera incontenenti queli comenzono a morire in quele citade in tal modo che ne morì li dui terzi de le persone; e, andate quelle doe galee in Sizilia e in Misina, apichono la mortalitade in quele contrade dove morì 530 milia persone. E una citade de quelo reame che à nome Prapani remaxe dexabitada per quella pistilenzia. E in la cità de Zenora morì circa 40 milia persone. Anchora a la zitade de Marsilia remaxe quaxi desabitada. La quale pistilenzia fo per tuto lo mondo. E in quelo anno, per la nativitade de Ihesu Christo, aparve uno fuogo ne l'aiera, el quale tenìa da livante a ponente. [p. 591] E ne le parte de Catalogna cade tre prede grandissime e quili de quele contrade mandono una de quele prede su uno mulo al re de Catalogna. [...] [p. 592] E per quelo ch'io trovo, quella pistilenzia fo per tuto lo mondo: Unde fo scrito per merchadanti che in la cità de Parixi, in uno dì forno sepelidi 1328 persone, e molte citdae de Franza e d'oltra monti romaxeno quasi desabitade. E in Venexia e de Chioza se disse che ogni dì circha 600 persone, e similmente de Pixa. | In 1348 in Italy and all over the world, around the hour of evening, there was a great earthquake on the 25th of January. This earthquake was heard all over the world, and especially in the Charantana area, where there is a town called Vilach, which was completely submerged by this earthquake; and it was reported and written by merchants that in the Chatay area it rained a great quantity of worms and snakes which devoured people. Also in those parts of Chatay and Persia it rained snow-like gale-force winds, which burned the mountains and the earth and people, and which made such heavy smoke that those who felt it died within 12 hours. Even those who looked at those who were poisoned by that smoke died. And it came to pass that two Zenoixi, passing through the district, were infected with this pistilenzia and began to die. And when they came to Constantinople and Pera they began to die in those cities in such a way that two thirds of the people died; and when those two galleys went to Syzilia and Misina, they opened the mortality in those lands where 530 thousand people died. And a city of that realm, which is called Prapani, became inhabited by that people. And in the city of Zenora about 40 thousand people died. Anchora a la zitade de Marsilia remaxe quaxi desabitada. La quale pistilenzia fo per tutto lo mondo. E in quelo anno, per la nativitade de Ihesu Christo, a fuogo ne l'aiera aparve, el el el tenìa da livante a ponente. [p. 591] And in the part of Catalonia three very great preys fell, and those from those lands sent one of them on a mule to the King of Catalonia. [...] [p. 592] And from what I find, that pistilenzia was for all the world: so it was written by merchants that in the city of Parixi, in one day 1328 people were buried, and many cities of France and other mountains were almost deserted. And in Venice and Chioza it was said that every day about 600 people were buried, and similarly in Pisa. | Cronaca Bolognetti 1938, pp. 589–592. | Translation by DeepL |
| 1348-00-00-Norway | 1348 JL | Black Death in Norway in 1348. Pope Clement VI orders a mass called “Recordare Domine” to counter the Black Death in Avignon | Sniovar sva miklir ok islaug at engir mvndu slikan. Drepsótt ok mannfall sva mikit j Noregi ok i vt londum at enginn vissi dæmi til sliks fyrr siþan Noa floð var. ok eydduz bæði borgir ok bæir kastalar ok kauptvn sva skiott at nær engir fengu gert reikning sinn þar til. er Clemens pavi het fyrir at syngia skylldi messo þa er hann hafði componat þrim sinnum ok stanða á kniam með liosi. grasleysu sumar. | Such a harsh spring of snow and frozen hot springs that no one remembered anything alike. There was such a deadly disease and great loss of life in Norway and abroad that no one had known such an example since Noah's flood. And it laid waste both cities and villages, castles and market towns so swiftly that almost no one was able to give account (before God] until Pope Clement called to sing a mass for the remission of sins, of which he had composed three, where [all] should stand on their knees with candles. Grassless summer. | Skálholtsannáll. In: Gustav Storm: Islandske Annaler indtil 1578. Kristiania, 1888, p. 213 | Translation by Carina Damm |
| 1348-00-00-Paris2 | 1348 JL | List of noble victims of the Black Death across the Holy Roman Empire and France; impact on Paris and the Hundred Years War in Gascony. | Anno Domini M°CCC°XLIX° predicto in pestilencia moriebantur circa finem anni filia Karoli Romani regis et Bohemie, regina Ungarie, item soror eiusdem reigs, uxor Iohannis primogeniti Franci. Item uxor Franci de Burgundia; qui Francus filiam regis Navarnie pulcherrimam de suo genere duxit uxorem. Item primogenitus ducis Brabancie, gener predicti Iohannis. Item et domina de Couzin, filia quondam Lupoldi ducis Austrie, et Conradus de Medeburg maritus eius. Item filia regis Sicilie, uxor Stephani ducis Bavarie, relictis sibi pluribus liberis. Qui Stephanus filiam burggravii in Nurenberg duxit uxorem. Tantaque fuit in Francia et in Anglia pestilencia, quod Parisius et in pluribus locis vix nonus homo dicitur remansisse. Et cessare incepit. Anglus quoque, qui durante pestilencia quievit non inquietando Francum, iterum cessante pestilencia in Wasconia per suos Francum invadit, aliquas municiones expugnans et terram quasi usque ad Tholosam sue subiecens dicioni. | In the year of our Lord 1349, during the aforementioned pestilence, towards the end of the year, died the daughter of Charles, King of the Romans and Bohemia, the Queen of Hungary [Margaret of Luxembourg, died 7 September 1349 in Viségrad], as well as his sister [Jutta/Bonne of Luxembourg, died 11 September 1349 at Maubuisson], the wife of John, the eldest son of the King of France. Also, the wife of the French Duke of Burgundy [Jeann, died 12 December 1348]; this Frenchman married the most beautiful daughter of the King of Navarre from his lineage. Also, the eldest son of the Duke of Brabant, son-in-law of the aforementioned John. Also, the Lady of Coucy, [Catherine of Austria] daughter of Duke Leopold of Austria, and Burggrave Konrad I. of Maidburg, her husband. Also, the daughter of the King of Sicily, [Elisabeth of Sicily] wife of Stephen, Duke of Bavaria, leaving behind several children [died 21 March 1349 in Landshut] . This Stephen married the daughter of the Burggrave of Nuremberg. The plague was so severe in France and England that in Paris and in many places barely one out of nine persons is said to have remained alive. And it began to cease. Also, the English, who during the plague refrained from troubling the French, once the plague ceased, invaded Gascony through their own territory, capturing some fortifications and subjecting the land almost up to Toulouse to their rule. | Matthias de Nuwenburg Chronica 1924-40, p. 439. | Translation by Martin Bauch; None; |
| 1348-00-00-Poland | 1348 JL | The Black Death appears in Poland and other kingdoms (Hungary, Bohemia, Denmark, France, Germany) caused by a polution of the air by the Jews. | Pestis horrenda in Polonia et aliis Regnis ex corruptione aeris per Iudaeos infecti: quam etiam terrae motus subsecutus est. Gravis epidemiae pestis apud Poloniae Regnum saeva mortalitate in universos irruens, non Poloniam tantummodo, sed et Hungariam, Bohemiam, Daciam, Franciam, Almanniam et fere universa Christianitatis et barbarica Regna horrenda lue quassavit. | There was a horrible plague in Poland and other kingdoms which resulted from the infection of the air by the Jews. And directly afterwards the earth shook. There was a grave epidemic of plague in the kingdom of Poland and a terrible mortality burst over them, not only in Poland, but also in Hungary, Bohemia, Denmark, France, Germany and pretty much the whole of Christianity and of the barbaric kingdoms where terribly shaken by the plague. | Iohanis Dlugossii Annales seu cronicae incliti regni Poloniae, ed. Budkowa et al., vol. 9, Warszawa 1978, p. 252 | Translation by Christian Oertel |
| 1348-01-25-Styria | 25 January 1348 JL | After an earthquake around the 25th of January a plague spread from France to Styria and Carinthia and flagellants appeared. | A.D. 1348 circa conversionem sancti Pauli factus est terre motus magnus, maxime in Stiria et Karintia, et secuta est pestilencia hominum in partibus Gallie, et se paulatim extendit usque ad partes Stirie et Carinthie. [...] et ibant viceni per ecclesias nudati et usque ad femoralia flagellantes se et procidentes omnes cum cantu. | A.D. 1348 around the feast of the conversion of St Paul the earth shook violently the most in Styria and Carinthia, and after this there was a plague among the humans in France, and it gradually expanded to Styria and Carinthia. [...] And they went in twenties through the churches naked down to their trousers and they flagellated themselves and they all fell down singing. | Kalendarium Zwetlense, in: MGH SS 9, ed. Pertz (1851), pp. 689-698, 692, l. 18-25 | Translation by Christian Oertel |
| 1348-03-00-Beziers | March 1348 JL | Outbreak of the Black Death in Béziers; large mortality of the population. | El An. M.ccc.xlviij., elm es de Mars, comenser la mortaudat a Bezers, e duret entro lo mes d’Aost; e fo aytal mortalitat, que de las xxv. Pressonas a penas ne remanìa. Ij. o tres. | In the year 1348, in the month of March, the mortality began in Béziers and lasted until the month of August. The mortality was such that out of every 25 people, barely 2 or 3 remained. | Chronique de Mercier et Regis 1839, p. 89 | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1348-03-00-Béziers | 4 March 1348 JL | A mortality, the Black Death breaks out in Arles and all over the world. 90 percent of the people die. | E en l'an mil CCCXLVIII, la primieyra semmana de carema (4 March), comenset a Bezes la gran mortalitat, et comenset costa le porge d'en Sicart Taborieg, mercadier, costa en P. Perus, qu'es de peyra al cap de la carieyra franceza, et moriron totz los senhors cossols, els clavaris, els escudiers, et apres tanta de gent, que de mil non y remanian cent. | In the year 1348, the first week of Lent (March 4), the great mortality began in Bezes, and the death of Sicart Taborieg, merchant, cost P. Perus, who is from Peyra in head of the French career, all the noble men, the claviers, the squires died, you learned so many people, that out of a thousand there were not a hundred left. | Le libre de memorias de Jacme Mascaro, p. 41. | Translation by Thomas Wozniak |
| 1348-03-12-Avignon | 12 March 1348 JL | The Black Death arrives in Europe, with a detailed description of symptoms and precise numbers for Avignon, but also Venice, Marseille, Italy, Provence, Hungary, France, Germany and Scotland are mentioned | Anno Domini MCCCXLVII. pestilencia et mors universalis humani generis tanta invaluit, qualis umquam audita vel scripta reperitur. Nam primo in partibus ultramarinis inter paganos incepit, et tam gravis, ut dicebatur, quod ad ducenta milia ville, civitates absque hominibus remanerent; demum serpentino modo gradiebatur ex ista parte maris. Nam Veneciis, in tota Ytalia et Provincia, (p. 76), maxime in civitatibus iuxta mare sitis homines sine numero moriebantur; et Avinione, ubi tunc erat curia Romana, primis diebus proximis tribus post dominicam medie quadragesime mille et quadringenti computati homines sepulti fuerunt. Imo dicebatur, quod in civitate Marsyliensi ex hac pestilencia tot homines moriebantur, quod locus quasi inhabitabilis remansit. Postea transivit ad Alpes, ad Ungariam, per totam Alamaniam, per Franciam, in qua vix tercia pars hominum viva remansit, item per Scociam. Et semper in una provincia per unum annum vel circa duravit, transiens ultra; et sic paucis regnis exceptis quasi omnia mundi regna quassavit. Et ceciderunt homines ex ulceribus seu glandinibus exortis sub assellis vel iuxta genitalia - et pro maiori parte iuvenes moriebantur - vel per excrecionem materie sanguinee, et hic dolor in sex vel octo diebus homines suffocavit. Hec loca apud medicos emunctoria nuncupantur, quia superfluitas vel sudor subtilis hiis locis faciliter emittitur per naturam. Duravit autem hec pestilencia per quinque vel sex annos vel circa. | In the year of our Lord 1347, a universal pestilence and mortality of mankind surged with such intensity as has ever been heard or recorded. For it first began in distant lands among the pagans, and was so severe, it was said, that up to two hundred thousand villages and cities were left without inhabitants. Eventually, it advanced in a serpentine manner from that side of the sea. Indeed, in Venice, throughout Italy and Provence, especially in cities near the sea, people were dying in countless numbers; and in Avignon, where the Roman court was then located, within the first three days after mid-Lent Sunday, fourteen hundred people were buried. Moreover, it was said that in the city of Marseilles, so many people died from this pestilence that the place remained almost uninhabitable. Afterwards, it crossed the Alps, reached Hungary, passed through all of Germany, through France, where scarcely a third of the people remained alive, as well as through Scotland. And it always lasted in one province for about a year or so, before moving on; and thus, except for a few kingdoms, it shook almost all the kingdoms of the world. And people fell victim to ulcers or swellings that appeared under their armpits or near their genitals - and mostly young people were dying - or through the excretion of bloody matter, and this pain suffocated people within six or eight days. These areas are called snuffers or scissors (?) by physicians because excess or subtle sweat is easily emitted from these places by nature. However, this pestilence lasted for about five or six years. | Heinrich Taube von Selbach 1922, pp. 75-76. | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1348-09-01-Avignon | 1348 JL | Emperor Charles IV mentions the plague at the papal court in Avignon in a letter from the 1st of September 1348. | Nos, quia nonnulli ex fratribus nostris propter pestem, que, ut ad tuam credimus pervenisse noticiam, patriam hanc inaudita et incredibili clade vastavit, a curia secesserant nec adhuc redierunt ad illam, et quidam ex eis, qui in curia refata remanserant, infirmitate gravantur, elicere vel deliberare nequivimus, quid tibi super huiusmodi eiusdem nuncii tui ambassiata respondere possemus. | We, because some of our brothers, due to the plague, which, as we believe has come to your attention, had withdrawn from the [papal, C.O.] court and have not yet returned to it, and some of those who remained in the court are burdened by illness, have been unable to elicit or deliberate on what response we could give you regarding the embassy of your messenger concerning this matter. | Monumenta Vaticana, vol. 1 (ed. Klicman), Prague 1903, no 1015, p. 571. | None |
| 1349-00-00-Norway 001 | 1349 JL | Arrival of the Black Death to Norway in 1349. | Drepsotinn kom fyrst i Babilon a Serklandi sidan for hon til Iorsala lannz ok eyddi Iorsala borg þa for hon yfir hafid ok higat til pafa garz. þa uar Clemens sextus hann uigdi ana Rodanum ok uoru þar a bornir daudir menn er eigi matti iarda sidan for hon um Franz ok Saxland sua nordr um sio til Einglannz ok eyddi þar sua at eigi uar fleira manna i borginni Lunndun en xiiij. Þa vigldi .i. kuggr til Biorguiniar ok uard eiqi ruddr ok do af allt folkid en þegar gozid kom upp i bæinn þa do þegar folkid. for þa drepsottin um allan Noreg. fioldi skipa sock nidr med farmi ok urdu eigi rudd. Sidan for hon um Hialtland Orkneyar Sudureyar Færeyar. Þat uar kyn sottarinnar at menn lifdu iij dægr med hardan stinga þa toku menn blodspyu ok for þar med onndin. fyrr nefndr pafi setti moti þersi drepsott messo er sua byriaz recordare domine et cet. ok gaf þar med pardun rietskriftudum .cc. ok .Ix. daga. þar med dictadi hann eina bæn er sua hefr benediccio dei patris. ok med i uppgiof .dc. daga ok iiij karinur. | The deadly plague appeared first in Babylon in Serkland, then it went to Palestine and desolated Jerusalem. Then, it went over the sea hither to the papal city [= Avignon]. Clement VI consecrated the river Rhône and dead people, who could not be buried, were thrown into it. Then, the disease went across all France and Saxony northwards to England and raged there so heavily that not more than fourteen people survived in the city of London. Then, a cog sailed to Bergen, was not cleared, and all the people [on the ship] died. As soon as the goods were brought into the town, the townspeople died. Then, the disease swept all over Norway. The ship sank with its cargo, and was not cleared. After that, the disease spread across the Shetlands, Orkneys, Hebrides and Faroes. That was the sort of disease that people did not live more than three days with heavy pangs of pain. Then, they began to vomit blood, and then the spirit left them. The aforesaid pope set a mass against this plague that begins with recordare domine etc., and gave a written indulgence of 200 and 60 days. Then he also authored a prayer that starts benediccio dei patris, with the remission of sins for 600 days and four times 40 days of fasting. | Annálarbrót frá Skálholti. In: Gustav Storm: Islandske Annaler indtil 1578. Kristiania, 1888, p. 223. | Translation by Carina Damm |
| 1349-00-00-Norway 002 | 1349 JL | Arival of the Black Death to Norway via a cog from England in 1349. Two-thirds of the population in Norway die, among others the archbishop of Nidaros and the bishops of Bergen, Stavanger and Hamar. It is explicitly stated that the plague did not reach Iceland | J þenna tima kom drep sott so mickil vm alla nordr halfu heimsins at alldre kom slik fyrr sidan londin bygduzst. fyrst kom sottin vpp i Babilone a Serklande. vt i Affrica. sidan for hon hegat till Jorsalalandz ok i Iorsalaborg. ok eydde naliga borgina. þadan for hon nordr yfir Iorsala haf ok vm alla Romaniam ok sua nordr eftir londum ok vm pauagard. ok eydde allt naliga. vigdi paui aana Rodanum. voru þar vt aa steyttir daudir menn. Gaf paui þat af guds halfu at þat skillde þeira kirkiu gardr þui at eige matte jarda folkit fyrir mannfæd ok sott. sidan for hon vt vm Frakka rike ok vm Saxland. ok sua til Einglandz. ok eydde naliga allt Eingland. ok þat til marks at eige lifdi meir eftir i borginni Lvndunum en fiortan menn. J þann tima sigldi kuggr einn af Einglandi. ok var aa fioldi folks ok lagdi jnn aa Biorgwiniar vogh. ok var litt ruddr. sidan andadizst folkit allt af skipinu. en þegar vpp kom godzit i byinn af þessu skipe þa do þegar bæiar folkit. Þa for sottin vm allan Noreg ok eydde so at eige lifdi einn þridiungr eftir folksins i landinu. Einglandz kuggr saukk nidr med godzinu ok daudum monnum ok vard eige ruddr. fleiri skip buzur ok morg onnur skip sukku nidr ok rak uids vegar en sama sott for vm Hialltland Orkneyiar. Sudreyiar Færeyiar. Þat var kyn sottarinnar at menn lifdu eige meirr en eitt dægr edr tuo. med hordum stinga. eftir þat sætte at blod spyiu ok for þar ondin med sinn vegh. af þessi sott saladizst Arni erkebyskop. ok allir korsbrædr i Nidarose. vtan einn lifdi eftir er Lodinn hiet. ok hann giordi elecceionem kiosandi. Olaf abota af Holmi til erkebyskops. Jtem Ɵ Þorstein byskop. af Biorguin. Jtem Ɵ Guthormr byskop af Stafangre. Halluardr byskop af Hamri saladizst ok þa. Þessi sott kom ecki aa Island. | At that time, such a deadly plague spread all over the northern half of the world that never before had anything similar occurred since the lands were built. The disease started in Babylon in Serkland in Africa. Then then it went to Palestine and Jerusalem, and desolated nearly all towns. From there, it went northwards across the Sea of Jerusalem [= the Mediterranean] and across all the Romania [= Byzantium], and then across the countries further northwards, and to the papal city [= Avignon] and the surrounding area, and desolated nearly everything. The pope consecrated the river Rhône and dead people were thrown into the river. Then the pope prompted with God's help the protection of the churchyards; so that no one was allowed to bury people due to the lack of population and the plague. Then, the disease went across France and Saxony, and then to England. Nearly all of England was laid waste. And as a proof of that, not more than 14 people survived in the city of London. At that time, a cog sailed from England with many people on board, and it was put into the bay of Bergen. A little [cargo] was unloaded. Then, all the people from the ship died. As then the goods were brought into town from this ship, the townspeople began to die. Then, the plague swept all over Norway and raged so heavily that not one-third of the people in the country survived. The English cog sank down with its goods and the dead men, and was not unloaded. More ships, cargo vessels and many other ships sank down or drifted widely around. And the same disease spread across the Shetlands, Orkneys, Hebrides and Faroes. That was the sort of disease that people did not live more than a day or two, with heavy pangs of pain. After that they began to vomit blood, and then the spirit left them. From that plague died Archbishop Arne and all canons of Nidaros, but one who survived, named Lodin. He arranged an election and Abbot Olav of Holm was appointed archbishop. Likewise died Bishop Thorstein of Bergen. Likewise died Bishop Guttormr of Stavanger. Bishop Hallvard of Hamar also died at that time. That disease did not come to Iceland. | Lögmannsannáll. In: Gustav Storm: Islandske Annaler indtil 1578. Kristiania, 1888, p. 275-276 | Translation by Carina Damm |
| 1349-06-24-Strasbourg | 24 June 1349 JL | The hostilities between the kings of England and France were postponed because of a severe plague | [116.] De indicto conflictu inter regem Anglie et Francie in die Iohannis baptiste. Cum autem indictus fuisset dudum conflictus ad diem beati Iohannis baptiste predicti anni quadragesimi noni [24. Juni 1349] inter Francie et Anglie reges, tanta fuit utriusque regni pestilencia, quod vix tercia pars hominum dicitur remanisse. Propter quod conflictus est prorogatus. […] | 116. Of the renewed outbreak of hostilities between the kings of England and France on the day of St John the Baptist. Although the renewed outbreak of hostilities between the kings of France and England had long been announced for the day of St John the Baptist in the year [13]49, a plague raged so severely in both kingdoms that, it is said, barely a third of the people remained alive, and hostilities were therefore postponed. [...] | Matthias de Nuwenburg Chronica 1924-40, p. 270 | None |
| 1355-00-00-Florence | 1355 JL | In Florence dry and beautiful until mid-April, then much rain, from June very dry until mid-October. Then much precipitation with loss of a third of the seed grain. In summer, many infections and febrile diseases [rabies outbreak in Calabria?], total loss of the fruit harvest, many dead farm animals; good grain harvest; reason: A lunar eclipse on 16th of February. | Martedì notte alle ore IIII e mezzo, a dì XVI di febbraio MCCCLV, cominciò la scurazione della luna nel segno dell' Aquario, e all'ore V e mezzo fu tutta scurata, e bene dello spazio d'un altra ora si penò a liberare. E non sapiendo noi per astrologia di sua influenzia, considerammo li efetti di questo seguente anno, e vedemmo continovamente infino a mezzo aprile serenissimo cielo, e apresso continove acque oltre al modo usato e i rimanente d'aprile e tutto il mese di maggio, e apresso continovi secchi e stemperati caldi insino a mezzo ottobre. E in questi tempi estivali e autunnali furono generali infezzioni, e in molte parti malatie di febri e altri stemperamenti di corpi mortali umani, e singularmente malatie di ventre e di pondi co lungo duramento. Ancora avenne in questo anno un disusato accidente alli uomini, e cominciossi in Calavra a fFiume Freddo e scorse fino a Gaeta, e chiamavano questo accidente male arrabiato. L'affetto mostrava mancamento di celabro con cadimento di capogirli con diversi dibattimenti, e mordieno come cani e percotiensi pericolosamente, e assai se ne morivano, ma cchi era proveduto e atato guariva. E fu nel detto anno mortalità di bestie dimestiche grande. E in questo anno medesimo furono [p. 729] in Fiandra, e in Francia e in Italia molte grandi e diverse battaglie, e nuovi movimenti di guerre e di signorie, come leggendo si potrà trovare. E nel detto anno fu singolare buona e gra ricolta di pane, e più vino non si sperava, perché un freddo d'aprile l'uve già nate seccò e arse, e da ccapo molte ne rinacquono e condussonsi a bbene, cosa assai strana. E da mezzo ottobre a calen di gennaio furono acque continove con gravi diluvii, e perdessene il terzo della sementa, ma il gennaio vegnente fu sì bel tempo, che lla perduta sementa si raquistò. I frutti delli alberi dimestichi tutti si perderono in questo anno. Non aremmo stesa questa memoria se lla scurazione predetta non vi ci avesse indotto. | On Tuesday night at half past twelve o'clock, on the sixteenth day of February MCCCLV, the moon began to wax and wane in the sign of Aquarius, and at half past five o'clock it was all darkened, and within another hour it was free. And not knowing by astrology of its influence, we considered the effects of this following year, and saw continually until mid-April very clear skies, and thereafter continually counting waters beyond the usual manner and the remainder of April and the whole month of May, and thereafter dry and warm dry spells until mid-October. And in these summer and autumn times there were general infestations, and in many parts sicknesses of fever and other distempering of human bodies, and singularly sicknesses of the belly and abdomen with long duration. Again, in this year, an unfortunate accident happened to men, and it began in Calavra at Fiume Freddo and went as far as Gaeta, and they called this accident an angry disease. The affection showed a lack of celabrums with the fall of the head with various fights, and they bit like dogs and perished dangerously, and many died, but those who were provided and cured. And there was great mortality of domestic beasts in the said year. And in this same year there were [p. 729] in Flanders, and in France and Italy many great and diverse battles, and new movements of wars and lordships, as you will read. And in the said year there was a singularly good and abundant harvest of bread, and more wine was not hoped for, because one cold April the grapes that had already been born dried up and burned, and from the beginning many of them were reborn and were well, which is a very strange thing. And from the middle of October to the middle of January, there were heavy rains, and a third of the seed was lost, but the coming January was such good weather that the lost seed was regained. The fruits of the dimestique trees were all lost in this year. We would not have written this memoir if the aforementioned destruction had not induced us to do so. | Template:Matteo Villani 1995, Vol. 1, pp. 728-729 | Translation by DeepL |
| 1355-07-05-Sweden | 5 July 1355 JL | Pope Innocent VI approves the plea of Henricus Lamberti, deacon from the diocese of Lund, for a benefice under the altar of Saint Jacobi and Saint Laurentii in the cathedral of Lund with a yield of no more than six silver marks, which was left vacant by the death of Ingemar Johannis at the curia during the plague | Supplicat sanctitati vestre deuotus vester Henricus Lamberti, diaconus Lundensis diocesis, quatenus sibi de beneficio altaris sanctorum Iacobi et Laurentii situati in ecclesia Lundensi, cuius fructus etc. vi marcharum argenti valorem annuum communiter non excedunt, vacante per mortem Ingemari Iohannis, qui in Romana curia tempore pestilencie diem clausit extremum, dignemini prouidere cum non obstantibus et clausulis oportunis ac executoribus vt in forma. Fiat G. Et quod transeat sine alia lectione. Fiat G. Datum Auinione III nonas iulii anno tercio. | Your faithful Henry Lambert, deacon of the diocese of Lund, beseeches for the benefit of the altar of Saints James and Lawrence situated in the church of Lund, the fruits etc. of which by force of silver marks do not exceed the annual value and are vacant by the death of Ingemar Johannis, who closed the last day in the Roman court during the pestilence, deign to provide with non-obstacles and convenient clauses and executors as in form. And that should pass without another reading. Avignon, on the 5 July in the third year. | Diplomatarium Suecanum, S 5491, p. 861 | Translation by Carina Damm |
| 1358-00-00-Italy | 1358 JL | There was in Tuscany an abundance of fruit. In winter there were colds, in summer tertiary fever. The wine varieties Valdelsa, Chianti and Valdarno had diseases and in France there was a civil war against the nobles. | E ppiù ad aumento di pace in questo anno fu abondanza di tutti i frutti della terra. È vero che furono nel verno malatie di freddo, e nella state molte febri terzane, e semplici e doppie, sicché se lli uomini fer pace delle loro guerre, non di manco li elementi per li peccati sconci delli uomini loro fecero guerra. Nella quale fu da notare che come l'anno passato la Valdelsa, e il Chianti, e il Valdarno furono di molte infertadi gravate e morie, che così nel presente, che ffu mirabile cosa. E perché (p. 208) per queste paci fossono liete molte province, i reame di Francia in questi giorni ebbe grandi e gravi comozioni di popoli contro a' gentili uomini, che molto guastarono il paese, e tre gran compagne di gente d'arme settantrionali conturbarono forte Italia e lla Proenza. Il perché appare che universale pace non può essere nel mondo, come fu al tempo che 'l figliuolo di Dio umana carne della Vergine prese. | And to further increase peace there was abundance of all the fruits of the earth that year. It is true that in winter there were colds, and in summer many tertiary fevers, single and double, so that if men made peace in their wars, the elements still made war on them because of the shameful sins of men. It was remarkable that, as the Valdelsa, the Chianti, and the Valdarno were severely afflicted with many diseases and deaths last year, the same was the case in the present year, which was astonishing. And although many provinces were gladdened by this peace, the kingdom of France in these days experienced great and serious disturbances of the people against the nobles, which greatly devastated the country, and three great hosts of northern warriors greatly troubled Italy and Provence. From this it follows that there can be no universal tranquillity in the world, as there was at the time when the Son of God took on human flesh from the Virgin. | Matteo Villani 1995, Vol. 2, pp. 207-208 | Translation by ChatGPT-3.5; Translation by DeepL; |
| 1360-00-00-Europe | April 1360 JL | The passage describes the way in which the plague spread, beginning in England in April and May and then spread to France, Lombardy, Romagne, Marche and Majorca. Matteo Villani criticised the persistence of people in their sins and the forgetting of the Judgement Day. | Della pistolenzia dell'anguinaia ricominciata in diversi paesi del mondo, e di sua operazione. In Inghilterra d'aprile e di maggio si cominciò, e seguitò di giugno e più inanzi, la pistolenzia dell'anguinaia usata, e ffuvi tale e tanta, che nella città di Londra il dì di san Giovanni e 'l seguente morirono più di MCC Cristiani, e in prima e poi per tutta l'isola. Gran fracasso fece per simile ne reame di Francia: nella Proenza trafisse ogni maniera di gente. Vignone corruppe in forma che no vi campava persona: morironvi nove cardinali, e più di VIIC plelati e gran cherici, e popolo inumerabile. E di maggio e giugno si stese e percosse la Lombardia, e prima Commo e Pavia, co tanta roina, che quais le recò in desolazione. In Milano misse il capo, dove altra volta nonn-era stata, e tirò a terra il popolo quasi affatto, con grande orrore e spavento di chi rimanea. Vinegia toccò in più riprese, e tolsele oltre a XXM viventi. La Romagna opressò forte e assai quasi per tutte sue terre, ma ppiù l'una che l'altra, e nell'entrata del verno cominciò a restare i Lombardia, e a gravare la Marca, e lla città d'Agobbio forte premette. L'isola della Maiolica perdé oltre alle tre parti de li abitanti. Né lasciò l'alpi delli Ubaldini sanza macolo per molti de' (p. 514) luoghi suoi. E molti paesi del mondo inn-uno tempo erano di questo pistolenzia corrotti, né già quelli a ccui parea che Dio perdonasse no ritornavano a llui per contrizione, partendosi dalle iniquitadi e dalle prave operazioni ostinate, e come le bestie del macello, veggendo l'altre nelle mani del beccaio col coltello svenare, saltavano liete nella pastura, quasi come a lloro non dovesse toccare, ma più dimenticando li uomini il giudicio divino si davano sfacciatamente alle rapine, alle guerre, e al mantenere compagne contra ogni uomo, alle ingiurie de' prossimi, e alle disoluta vita, e a' mali guadagni assai più che nelli altri tempi, corompendo la speranza della misericordia di Dio per lo male ingegno delle perverse menti; e cciò per manifesta sperienza si vide in tutte le parti del mondo dove la detta pistolenzia mostrò il giudicio di Dio. | On the resurgence of the plague of the groin in various countries of the world and its effects In England, the familiar plague of the abdomen began in April and May and continued through June and beyond. It was so devastating that on St John's Day and the following day, more than 1200 Christians died in the city of London, as well as before and after throughout the island. The plague caused similar chaos in the Kingdom of France; in Provence it affected people of all kinds. In Avignon, it raged so strongly that no one there was spared: nine cardinals died, over 700 prelates and great clerics as well as countless people from the populace. In May and June, it spread to Lombardy, first to Como and Pavia, causing such destruction that these cities were almost depopulated. In Milan, where it had not been before, it caused great damage and decimated almost the entire population, causing great fear and terror among the survivors. Venice was hit in several waves and lost over 20,000 people. Romagna was hit hard, almost all towns were affected, some more than others. At the end of the winter, the plague began to subside in Lombardy, while it hit the Marche hard and put the city of Gubbio under severe pressure. On the island of Majorca, over three quarters of the population died. Even the Alps of the Ubaldini were not spared, and many of their towns were badly hit. At the same time, many countries of the world were afflicted by this plague, and those who believed that God had mercy on them did not return to him through repentance, but persisted in their sins and evil deeds. Like cattle for the slaughter, seeing their fellow animals in the hands of the butcher with a knife, they jumped happily to the pasture as if they would not be hit. But people, forgetting divine judgement, shamelessly indulged in robbery, wars and maintaining gangs against everyone, committing injustice against their neighbours, living a dissolute life and seeking ill-gotten gains, far more than at other times. This corrupted the hope of God's mercy by the evil nature of their perverse minds; and this could be observed in all parts of the world, where the aforementioned plague showed the judgement of God. | Matteo Villani 1995, vol. 2, pp. 514-515. | Translation by ChatGPT-3.5; Translation by DeepL; |
| 1361-00-00-France-England | 1361 JL | A mortality breaks out in France and in England | Isto etiam anno, hyemps fuit satis longua et aspera, vernum tempus callidum et siccum fuit ultra modum, estivale vero fuit satis temperatum. Dira mortalitas in toto regno Francie viguit et in Anglia ubi comes inclitus Sancti Pauli et nonulli alii nobiles et burgenses quos rex Johannes obsides tradiderat diem ultimum signaverunt. | This year the winter has been rather long and cold, spring abnormally dry and hot, summer very temperate. A cruel mortality affected both Kingdoms of France and of England, where some famous barons of Saint-Paul and other noble men or citizens were executed, as hostages, by the order of King John. | Chronique de Richard Lescot, Continuation, p. 150 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1361-00-00-Milano | 1361 JL | The pestis secunda is ravaging Venice, France, Spain, Germany, Avignon, Lombardy and Romagna, but sparing Modena, Bologna and Tuscany. Milan suffers a loss of 11.000 people | Dicto millesimo M.ccclxj per totum illum annum in partibus orbis fuit pestilentialis mortalitas valde magna, quae de uno loco ad alium per temporis spacium transibat; fuit etiam dicta mortalitas in civitate Venetiarum, in Francia, in Hispania, in Alemania, in Avenione ubi Papa residebat et in aliquibus partibus Romandiolae et quasi in omnibus civitatibus Lombardiae, quia prout ego Iohannes de Bacano audivi ab aliquibus fide dignis, in civitate Mediolani et eius diocesi inter homines et mulieres plusquam xj. milia personarum ex dicta pestilentia obierunt, ita quod medietas personarum in locis ubi erat pestilentia habitantium et ultra creduntur ex [p. 177] dicta pestilentia decessisse; tamen dicta pestilentia ad civitatem Mutinae nec Bononiae ne in Tuscia nec in aliis multis mundi locis in dicto anno minime pertransivit. Pestilentia autem illa era apostemata pessima, ex quibus personae, ut plurimum, subito vel quasi demigrabant. | In the said year 1361, throughout that entire year, there was a very great plague-induced mortality in parts of the world, which moved from one place to another over a span of time. This mortality was also said to have occurred in the city of Venice, in France, in Spain, in Germany, in Avignon where the Pope resided, and in some parts of Romagna, and in almost all the cities of Lombardy. For, as I, Johannes de Bacano, heard from some trustworthy sources, in the city of Milan and its diocese, more than eleven thousand people, both men and women, died from this plague, so that it is believed that half of the inhabitants in the places where the plague was present and more died from this plague. However, this plague did not pass through the city of Modena, nor Bologna, nor in Tuscany, nor in many other parts of the world in that year. This plague, however, was marked by very bad abscesses, from which most people, suddenly or almost suddenly, perished | Giovanni da Bazzano - Chronicon Mutinense 1917, pp. 176-179 | Translation needed |
| 1361-05-00-Montpellier | May 1361 JL | A mortality breaks out in Montpellier from May to July. People of all social status die. Sometimes 500 persons die in the same day. | Item, aquel an meteys, fon grant mortalitat en crestiandat et duret a Montpelier per tot may et junh et julh en que moriron motz de bos homes et gran colp d’autra gent, tant que lo y ac mot de jorns que morian Vc personas en tre grans e paucas et riquas e pauras. | In this year occured a great epidemic all across Christianhood. In Montpellier, it lasted from May to July, and many rich and poor people died, so that in some days 500 people died altogether. | Le Petit Thalamus de Montpellier, http://thalamus.huma-num.fr/annales-occitanes/annee-1361.html (20 April 2020). | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1362-00-00-Western France | 1362 JL | A mortality breaks out in England, Anjou, Poitou, in spring (?) and summer (?) | In Britania, Pictavia et Andegavia mortalitas viguit generalis. | A mortality raged in Britain, Poitou and Anjou. | Chronique de Richard Lescot, Continuation, p. 152 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1363-06-00-Paris | 28 May 1363 JL | A mortality breaks out in Paris from June to October. It affects especially children and young people, and among adults, rather men than women. | Anno Domini M° CCC° LXIII°, multis diebus ante et post festum Sancte Trinitatis, hora diei tertia, ubi sol in meridie radios extendit, quedam stella modice apparentie visa fuit que, secundum astrologos et qui ex naturalibus causis eventus futuros prenuntiebant, periclitationem communem mulierum in partu denotabat. Hec tamen et plus stupenda hujus stelle apparitionem sunt secuta ; nam a junii mensis initio usque ad festum Sancti Luce tam dira viguit mortalitas et specialiter puerorum utriusque sexus et juvenum et plus virorum quam mulierum, quod erat stupendum visu et auditu. Senes etiam, pauci aspectu juvenum, obierunt unde quando pestis illa apostematum hospitium aliquod subintrabat, primo moriebantur infantes tenelli, deinde familia et parentes vel alter eorum et quod mirum erat, hodie erant sani et jocundi et infra triduum vel biduum decedebant. | In year 1363, a star appeared several days around the Trinity day (28 May), at the 3rd hour of the day, when the sun is in the South. According to astrologers and other experts of predictions with natural events, this star signified hardships to come especially for pregnant women. Several remarkable events followed this apparition. Actually, from the beginning of June to St Luke day (18 October), a cruel mortality broke out, especially among children and young adult of both gender, and among men rather than women. It was marvelous to see and to ear of such an event. Old persons actually died without the young paying much attention to it, but when the plague was effectively entered in a house, the children died first, and then the parents and all relatives. Astonishingly, people were fit on one day, and dead only two or three days after. | Cronica Patricii Ravennatis, p. 1172 | None |
| 1372-00-00-Avignon | May 1372 JL | The Polish prelate John Suchilik of Strzelce leaves Avignon, because of the raging plague there. | Iohannes Suchiwilk [de Strzeleze] [...] Avinionem se personaliter contulit [...]. Subito deinde se ex Avinione propter grassantem illic pestem evolvens, Gneznam feria tercia, mensis Iulii prima die ingressus. | (1372) John Suchilik of Strzelce [...] was personally consecrated in Avignon. Directly afterwards he left Avignon because of the raging plague there and he entered Gniezno on July 1. | Iohanis Dlugossii Annales seu cronicae incliti regni Poloniae, ed. Budkowa et al., vol. 10, 1, Warszawa 1985, p. 30. | Translation by Christian Oertel |
| 1374-02-00-Montpellier | February 1374 JL | A mortality breaks out in Montpellier from February to July. The members of the town council order the manufacturing of a gigantic candle, to burn day and night at the church of Notre-Dame-des-Tables. This candle has been lighted on the 27th of April. | Item, l’an meteys, fo mortalitat en Montpellier et en diversas autras partz, la cal duret en Montpellier & entorn de Caremantran entro passada la festa de Sant Johan; perque los senhors cossols feron senchar am I fil lo mur de la vila, de la torre nova dessus lo Carme entro a la torre de la Babota, layssan lo mur de la vila que es "Quis quesivit hec de manibus vestris" devers la palissada ; am local fil feron atressi senchar tota la pallissada en que ac entorn XIXc canas per tot ; del cal fil am coton & cera feron far I rezench de cera del dich lonc & del gros del det, lo Montpellier a environ XIXc canes de torn.cal feron metre en Ia roda de fusta nova a l’autar de Nostra Dona de Taulas. Et aqui fo atuzat de lum novel senhat, e lo dich rezench fo senhat per cremar continuament al dich autar a honor de Dieu & de madona Sancta Maria, et per placar Nostre Senhor de la ira sieua, et per far cessar la dicha mortalitat, et que nos dones bona pas. local fo atuzat I digous que era XXVII jorns d’abril. | Le Petit Thalamus de Montpellier, http://thalamus.huma-num.fr/annales-occitanes/annee-1374.html (last access [20 April 2020]). | Translation needed | |
| 1379-00-00-Paris | 1379 JL | Outbreak of plague in Paris and surrounding regions. | In illo tempore (1379) Parisius Francie et terra circumsita erat magna pestilencia et mortalitas hominum. | At that time (1379), there was a great pestilence and mortality of people in Paris, France, and the surrounding land. | Chronicon Moguntinum 1885, p. 45. | Translation by Martin Bauch; None; |
| 1383-06-24-Montpellier | 24 June 1383 JL | A mortality breaks out in Montpellier from June 1383 to August 1384. The members of the town council order the manufacturing of a gigantic candle, to burn day and night at the church of Notre-Dame-des-Tables. During the plague, the university has been lockdown from the 10th of May to the 8th of September 1384. | Item, per so que mortalitat granda, majorment dels enfans de XX ans o entorn et en aval, renhava et avia renhat de San Johan, l’an LXXXIII en sa en esta vila & caix pertot, los senhors cossols a XXX de mars feron mezurar tota la muralha de la vilanota de Monpeylier deforas costa la escama de las dogas, & la palyssada de part dedins, et las ymages de Nostra Dona de Taulas et de son filh,mortalitat et de l’autar de la gleya. Et fo trobat, cananLo torn de Montpellier de las palissadas IXc XXXV canas am fil, que la muralha que es foras la palissada a de lonc IXcXXXV canas mieg. Item, la muralha deLa muralha dedins la villa de torn Vc XXX canas la villa que es deffra la palissada a VcXXX canas mieg. Item, la clausura de la palissada a de lonc pertot VIIIc LXXXXIIII canas. Item, la dicha gleya a de roda tot entorn LXXX canas. Item, l’autar a de lonc am los dos caps IIa canas et II palms. Item, las doas ymages an de gros III palms. Item, la ymage de Nostra Dona a de lonc III palms e ters. Et d’aquest fil am d’autres feron far I rezench sus l’autar de Nostra Dona en aut de una roda que y era et y fon facha l’an LXXIIII per so que∙l dich rezench y Del rezem de Nostra Dona de Taulas creme nuech e jorn ad honor de Dieu et de la benezecta Verges Maria, que lur plassa far cessar aquesta mortalitat et la empedimia de bossas renhant, et deverdonar pas de cel en terra, et salvar los frutz de la terra. Et fo senhat lo II jorn d’abril per mossen Jacme de la Manhania, prior de Taulas. Et duret la dicha mortalitat entro mieg aost aquest an LXXXIIII, en lo qual temps moriron, part los enfans petitz e grans, mostz bos homes notables antixz et donas, specialmens joves, d’aquesta vilamortalitat. Et enayssi duret la dicha mortalitat et empedimia per l’espazi o entorn de XIIII meses, la qual cauza jamays non fo vista que mortalitatz dures tant longuament en aquest paÿs & per ayso vaquet lo studi del tot de Pantacosta entro Nostra Dona de setembre. | Le Petit Thalamus de Montpellier, http://thalamus.huma-num.fr/annales-occitanes/annee-1384.html (20 April 2020). | Translation needed | |
| 1391-06-00-Montpellier | June 1391 JL | A procession is organized in Montpellier on the 17th of September against the mortality of bosse that affects the city since three months. | [...] Et fouc fach per las causas dessus dichas et per so que Nostre Senhor nos volgues ostar las pestilencias de las bossas et de febres et de mortz que avian renhat plus de III mes en aquesta villa et tot lo paÿs [...] | And it has been held for the all the above mentioned reasons and for asking Our Lord to rescue us from the pestilence of bosse, from the fiver and the mortality that raged in the city and across the country since three months. | Le Petit Thalamus de Montpellier, http://thalamus.huma-num.fr/annales-occitanes/annee-1391.html (20 April 2020). | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1391-12-00-Montpellier | December 1391 JL | The mortality that began in June continues to spread in Montpellier and across the country. The bishop of Maguelone is asked to prolong the papal indulgence for three more months. | Item, car la sancta indulgencia de nostresenhr lo papa dessus dicha devia falhir a VIII de dezembre & car la pestilencia de bossas et de febres et d’autres duravan encares, per la qual eron mortz effans et gens joves sens nombre et personas vielhas alcunas, per so, los senhors cossols escrisseron a nostresenhr lo papa et a monsen de Magalona per alongar la dicha indulgencia, la qual nostresenhr lo papa alonguet a autres III mezes. | The effect of the above mentioned papal indulgence should stop on the 8th of December. But the pestilence of bosse that already killed numerous childre and young people, as well as some old persons, continued to rage. Therefore, the consulate asked to the bishop of Maguelone to prolong this indulgence for three more months | Le Petit Thalamus de Montpellier, http://thalamus.huma-num.fr/annales-occitanes/annee-1391.html (last access [20 April 2020]). | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1392-01-21-Montpellier | 21 January 1392 JL | A procession is organized in Montpellier to thank God that the mortality that began in June 1391 almost ceased. | Item, dimergue a XXI de genoier, car la dicha pestilencia era cays cessada, la gracia de Dieu, en Montpelier et entorn, et per so car lo gran conseilh de nostre senhor lo rey de Fransa et del rey d’Englaterra devian esser enssems en las partidas de Picardia lo jorn de Nostra Dona la Candeloza per lo fach de la pas, per so, los senhors cossols feron far una autra procession general que dessus, am la ymage d’argent de Nostra Dona de Taulas et lo cors sans et lo cap de monsen sant Cleophas ; et fes lo sermon deavant lo consolat magister P. Borron, magister en theologia, de predicadors ; et cantet la messa dessot la vouta frayre Johan Costea de Montpellier, prior del covent de predicadors d’aquesta vila, per rendre gracias a Nostre Senhor de la dicha cessation de la pestilencia et preguan lo que nos done bona pas. | Template:TN | Le Petit Thalamus de Montpellier, http://thalamus.huma-num.fr/annales-occitanes/annee-1391.html (20 April 2020). | None |
| 1396-00-00-Montpellier | 1396 JL | Epidemic of smallpox la (picota) all over Languedoc. It affects children and adults. | Item, lo dich an, en los petitz enfans et ausi en mots grans corrie la picota et fonc general en tota Lenguadoc. | This year, smallpox ("la picota") has been virulent among children and adults, and it spread all across the Languedoc. | Le Petit Thalamus de Montpellier, http://thalamus.huma-num.fr/annales-occitanes/annee-1396.html (20 April 2020). | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1397-04-00-Arles | April 1397 JL | A mortality breaks out in Arles and all over the world. People dies of bosse and of carboncles. The disease kills adults, but mainly children and young people. | L'an M CCC IIIIxx XVII fon granda mortalitat per tot lo mont. Item, en Arles acomenset la Pasqua, que fon lo premier jorn d'abril, e duret tro l'an IIIIxx XVIII del mes de jonoier. Item, morien las gens de boses lo plus, alcuns de carboncles; et moriron y grans gens, plus enfans e gens joves, que autras gens. | In the year 1397, there was a great mortality all over the world. In the city of Arles, it began at Easter Day which occurs the 1rst of April, and it lasted until the month a January in 1398. Most of the people died of bosses, and some of them of carboncles. Some adults died, but the victims were in vast majority children and young people. | Bertrand Boysset, Chronique, p. 352 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1397-07-15-Montpellier | 15 July 1397 JL | A procession is organized in Montpellier against the mortality that affects the region. The city council orders the manufacturing of a gigantic candle, to be burn in the church of Notre-Dame-des-Tables. The disease lasted from May to December in Montpellier. | Item, dimergue a XV de julh, se fes procession general per la mortalitat la qual era general en las tres senescalcies Tholosa, Carcassona & Belcayre, la qual el dich paÿs acomenset el mes de may sobredig, et duret en Montpellier per tot lo mes de decembre ; la qual mortalitat acomenset en terra de Morolz & apres en la irlla de Rodas, de Chipre, de Genoha, apres el reyalme de Malhorca en Cathaluonha, en Tolsan & puoys segui tot l’autre paÿs. Et se dis una sollempna messa a Nostra Dona de las Taulas per lo dich mossen l’avesque de Magalona ; & se disseron dos sermons, la un davant lo cossolat, per maystre Peyre Borron de l’orde de predicados, et l’autre, per maystre Johan del Cres de l’orde dels augustins, maistres en theologia. Et se portet en la procession la ymagi de Nostra Dona de Taulas, lo cors sans. | Sunday, July 15, there was a general procession because of the epidemic which raged on all three districts of Toulouse, Carcassonne and Beaucaire. It started in this region in May and lasted in Montpellier the whole month of December. This epidemic started in the country of the Moors, passed on the island of Rhodes, then of Cyprus and Genoa; then in the kingdom of Majorca, in Catalonia, in Toulouse, then it continued throughout the rest of the country. A solemn mass was said at Notre-Dame-des-Tables by the Bishop of Maguelone; two sermons were delivered, one before the consulate by Master Pèire Borron, of the order of Preachers, and the other by Master Joan du Crès, of the order of the Augustinians, both masters in theology; during the procession, we carried the statue of Notre-Dame-des-Tables, the relics of Saint Cleophas, and the satue of Saint Sebastian.The same month, the lords consuls, with the alms of the good people of Montpellier, made a cord of wax of 1900 canes long which surrounded the whole city and the palisade, and which burned night and day on the main altar of the church of Notre-Dame-des-Tables. | Le Petit Thalamus de Montpellier, http://thalamus.huma-num.fr/annales-occitanes/annee-1397.html (20 April 2020). | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1397-08-12-Montpellier | 12 August 1397 JL | A procession is organized in Montpellier against the mortality that affects the region. | Item, dimergue a XII d’avost, fon facha una sollempna procession per mossen de Magalona ont se portet lo precios cors de Jesu Crist per far devota pregueyra sur la pestilencia et mittigar et placar Nostresenhr, ont ac gran multitut de pobol, cascun portan, senhors & donas et enfans, entorta o candela en la man ; & ac y hun trasque sollempne sermon loqual fes maistre Raymon Cabassa, maystre en theologia, per trayre a devocion lo pobol, a coffession, contrection am cor contrit et humiliat. Et foron ordenadas IX processions, la huna per los morgues de Sant Benesech, l’autra per Sant Dyonisi, l’autra per la gleya del Castel, l’autre per la gleya de Nostra Dona de Taulas, l’autra per Sant Fermin & las IIII per los quatre ordes mendigans, otra la general, en las quals se portet lo precios cors de Jesu Crist am los[i] cofrayres de las dichas cofrayries & am las ceras d’aquelas, car la mortalitat es et era tant gran que apenas atrobava hom servidor e tot lo poble stava mot ebaÿt e perterit. | On Sunday August 12, the Archbishop of Maguelone organized a solemn procession in which the precious body of Jesus Christ was carried out to pray against the epidemic and to soften and appease Our Lord. There was a great multitude of people there, lords, ladies and children, carrying torches or candles in their hands. There was a very solemn sermon delivered by Master Raimond Cabassa, master in theology, to bring the people to devotion, confession and contrition and repentance. In addition to the general procession, there were nine supplementary trains of procession, one with the monks of Saint-Benoît, another with those Saint-Denis, another with the church of the castle, another with the church of Notre-Dame-des-Tables, another with Saint-Firmin and the last four with the four mendicant Orders. In these processions, the precious body of Jesus Christ was carried with the confreres of the brotherhoods concerned, with their candles. The epidemic is and was so serious that it was barely possible to find a servant, and all the people were amazed and terrified. | Le Petit Thalamus de Montpellier, http://thalamus.huma-num.fr/annales-occitanes/annee-1397.html (20 April 2020). | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1406-08-10-Montpellier | 10 August 1406 JL | A procession is organized in Montpellier against the mortality that affects the region. | Item, dimars a X d’aost, que fonc lo jorn de la festa de Sant Laurens, se fes autra procession general en esta vila, per preguar Nostre Senhor que li plagues per la sieua misericordia de donar salut et sanetat a la persona del rey nostre senhor et de metre pas et union en la sancta glieysa de Dieu, et de nos levar la enfermetat et la impidimia que say a tant longament continuat et que s’abrasa fort entorn nos ; et la Verges, madona sancta Maria, la sieua benezecta mayre, et totz los sans e las sanctas de Paradis que l’en vuelhon preguar ; la quala procession fes mossenher lo sagresta de Magalona et foron hy las processions dels quatre ordes et totas las autras glieysas et lo pobol seguic la am gran devocion. Fes lo sermo lo reveren maystre Bertran Vaquier, maystre en la sancta teulogia, dels frayres de Nostra Dona del Carme, davant lo cossolat. | On Tuesday August 10, during the feast of Saint Lawrence, we made another general procession in our city to pray to Our Lord that he would like with his mercy to give health and healing to the person of the king, our lord, in the holy Church of God, and to free us from the disease and the epidemic which lasted for so long here and which is unleashed around us; and may the Virgin, Saint Mary, her blessed mother, and all the saints in Paradise interfere for us. This procession was organized by Mgr the sacristan of Maguelone. The four orders and all the other churches participated. And the people followed with great devotion. The sermon was delivered before the consulate by the Rev. Master Bertrand Vaquièr, master in holy theology, brother of Notre-Dame-des-Carmes. | Le Petit Thalamus de Montpellier, http://thalamus.huma-num.fr/annales-occitanes/annee-1406.html (20 April 2020). | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1407-04-27-Montpellier | 24 April 1407 JL | A sermon is delivered in Montpellier against the mortality that affects the region. The next day, a procession is organized. | Item, dimergue a XXIIII jorns del mes d’abril, de licencia dels senhors generals que ereaan en lo paÿs, de mossenher lo governador et dels autres officiers de nostre senhor lo rey, et de mossen lo vicari de mossenher de Magalona, et a requesta dels senhors cossols sus lo fag de la empedimia et granda mortalitat que era en esta vila, fonc dich I sollempne sermo el plan del cossolat per maystre Johan Cabassol, maystre en la sancta teulogia, de l’orde de frayres menors, apelat lo poble, en presencia del dig mossenher lo vicari, de mossenher lo bayle, los autres curials, los ditz senhors cossols et de tot lo poble aqui ajustat ; et mosenher lo vicari aqui adordenet et fes publicar en lo sermo per lo maystre que, d’aqui en avan, en totas las glyeyas de Montpeylier et dels relegious et relegyosas et autras, la primieyra messa que se dira lo mati sia la messa de la empedimia que comessa "« Recordare »", la quala adordenet papa Clemens VI ; et donet al capela que la dis et a cascun de totz aquelos que la auzon devotamen IIIc jorns de endulgencia et de veray perdon. Procession: Item, l’endeman que fonc lo dilhus et la festa de mossen Sant Marc, euvangelista, se fes en la dicha vila una honorabla, sancta et devota procession general. | Sunday April 24, with the authorization of the lords who were in our region, of the governor and of the other officers of our lord the king, of the bishop's vicar of Maguelone, and at the request of the consulate, because of the epidemic and of the great mortality which raged in our city, a solemn sermon was pronounced on the place of the consulate by Master Joan Cabassòl, master in holy theology, of the order of the Franciscans brothers. It has been delivered in the presence of the vicar, of the baillif and of other curials, as well as of the members of the consulate and of all the population gathered there. The vicar ordered in his sermon that henceforth, in all the churches of Montpellier, the first mass to be said in the morning would be the mass of the epidemic, that which begins with "Recordare", and which was ordered by Pope Clement VI. He granted the priest who say it and each of those who listen to it devoutly 300 days of indulgence and true forgiveness. The next day, on Monday, which was Saint Marc Evangelist Day, we made in our city a worthy, holy and devout general procession. | Le Petit Thalamus de Montpellier, http://thalamus.huma-num.fr/annales-occitanes/annee-1407.html (20 April 2020). | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1413-00-00-France | 1413 JL | Mortality in the French Kingdom. | En celui an fut très grant mortalité en tout le royaume | In that year (1413) was a great mortality in the (French) Kingdom. | Chroniques de Perceval de Cagny, p. 80. | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1413-06-12-Montpellier | 12 June 1413 JL | A procession is organized in Montpellier to protect the city from the plague that rages in the region of Lodève and Agde. | Item, dilhus a XII del mes de jun, que fonc l’endeman de Pantacosta, se fes en esta vila una honorabla [...] per quatre ho per sinc cauzas : la una, que Nostre Senhor, per la sieuna sancta misericordia, lo poble d’esta vila vuelha preservar de mortalitat et de la pestilencia de la impedimia que renha de present en Lotves et en Agades et en diverses autres luox a nos circumvicis. | Monday, June 12 (1413), which was the day after Pentecost, was organized in our city a worthy, holy and devout general procession [...] for four or five grounds: the first, that Our Lord, by His holy mercy, will preserve the people of this city of death and of the plague epidemic which rages at present in Lodévois, Agathois and in various other places of our neighborhood. | Le Petit Thalamus de Montpellier, http://thalamus.huma-num.fr/annales-occitanes/annee-1413.html (20 April 2020). | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1414-03-00-Paris | March 1414 JL | An epidemic of influenza (?) breaks out for three weeks in Paris, affecting 100 000 persons. People loose appetite, have heavy fever and cannot stop coughing and shaking. Constant cough injures testicules by men, and makes women prematurely abort. However nobody dies. When people get better, they loose a lot of blood. Sick people need six weeks to recover | Si advint par le plaisir de Dieu qu'un mauvais air corrompu chut sur le monde, qui plus de cent mille personnes à Paris mit en tel état qi'is perdirent le boire et le manger, le repousser, et avoient très fortes fièvre deux ou trois fois le jour, et espécialement toutes fois qu'ils mangeaient, et leur semblaient toutes choses quelconques amères et très mauvaises et puantes; toujours tremblaient où qu'ils fussent. Et avec ce, qui pis était, on perdait tout le pouvoir de son corps, qu'on osait toucher à quoi de nulle part que ce fût, tant étaient grevés ceux qui de ce mal étaient atteints; et dura bien sans cesser trois semaines ou plus, et commença à bon escient à l'entrée du mois de mars dudit an, et le nommait-on le tac ou le horion. Et ceux qui point n'en avaient ou qui en étaient guéris, disaient par ébatement: "En as-tu? Par moi foi, tu as chanté: ' Votre c.n. a la toux, commère'". Car avec tout le mal devant dit, on avait la toux si fort et le rhume à l'enrouure, qu'on ne chantait qui rien fût de hautes messes à Paris. Mais sur tous les maux la toux était si cruelle à tous, jour et nuit, qu'aucuns hommes par force de tousser furent rompus par les génitoires toute leur vie, et aucune femmes qui étaient grosses, qui n'étaient pas à terme, eurent leurs enfants sans compagnie de personne, par force de tousser, qu'il convenait mourir à grand martyre et mère et enfant. Et quand se venait sur la guérison, ils jetaient grande foison de sang bête par la bouche et par le nez et par dessous, qui moult les ébahissait, et néanmoins personne n'en mourait; mais à peine en pouvait personne être guéri, car depuis que l'appétit de manger fut aux personnes revenu, si fut-il plus de six semaines après, avant qu'on fût nettement guéri; ni physicien nul ne savait dire quel mal c'était | If by the pleasure of God an evil and corrupt air fell upon the world, which more than a hundred thousand people in Paris put in such a state that they lost their drink and their food, pushed it back, and had very high fever two or three times a day, and especially all the time they ate, and seemed to them all things bitter and very bad and stinking; always trembled wherever they were. And with that which was worse, they lost all the power of their bodies, that they dared to touch anything from anywhere, so much was the burden on those who were afflicted with this evil; and it lasted well without ceasing for three weeks or more, and began in good time at the beginning of March of the said year, and was called the tac or horion. And those who did not have it or who were healed of it, said in amazement, "Have you any? By my faith, you have sung: 'Your n.c. has a cough, you gossip'". For, with all the evil before them, they coughed so loudly and had a cold so badly that they sang nothing of the high masses in Paris. But of all evils the cough was so cruel to all, day and night, that no man by force of coughing was broken by the genitories all his life, and no woman who was fat, who was not at term, had her children without company of anyone, by force of coughing, that it was convenient to die a great martyrdom and mother and child. And when it came to healing, they threw out a great abundance of silly blood through their mouth and nose and underneath, which moved them, and yet no one died from it; but scarcely could anyone be healed, for since the appetite for food had returned to the people, if it was more than six weeks later, before they were clearly healed; neither physicist nor any one knew how to tell what evil it was. | Journal d'un bourgeois de Paris 1990, Sp. 74-75 | Translation by DeepL |
| 1414-09-02-Montpellier | 2 September 1414 JL | A procession is organized in Montpellier to protect the city from the pestilence that rages since long in the region. | Item, dimergue a II del mes de septembre, se fes en esta vila una honorabla procession general [...] Et fes se la dicha procession per V cauzasitem [...]: Item que aquesta pestilencia de mortalitat et empedimia, que en aquesta vila a tant lonc temps durat et encaras dura et totz jorn se multiplica plus fort, lhi plassa de far cessar et aver pietat de son paure poble. | Sunday, September 9, has been celebrated a very honorable procession in the city [...] This procession has been held for 5 reasons [...]: likewise because of the lethal pestilence that raged since long and perpetuates and increases every day, so that He have pity for His people. | Le Petit Thalamus de Montpellier, http://thalamus.huma-num.fr/annales-occitanes/annee-1414.html (20 April 2020). | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1418-08-00-Paris | August 1418 JL | Mortality due to plague (boce) in Paris, especially dangerous among young persons and children | Item, en celuy temps, vers la fin du moy d'aoust, faisoit si grant chalour de jour et de nuyt, que homme ne femme ne povoit dormir par nuyt, et avec ce estoit tres grant mortalité de boce et l'espidymie, et tout sur jeune gent et sur enfens | That year, in the end of August, the heat was so important day and night that people could not even sleep. Meanwhile, there was a great mortality of boce and a great epidemic, mostly among young people and children. | Journal d'un bourgeois de Paris 1990, Sp. 129 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1418-09-00-Paris | September 1418 JL | Great mortality in Paris in September. The loss is estimated to 50 000 dead people in the city, and the epidemic is estimated to be the worst one since 300 years. Young people and children are most at risk | Item, cedit mois de septembre, était à Paris et autour la mortalité si très cruelle, qu'on eut vu depuis 300 ans par le dit des anciens; car nul n'échappait qui fû féru de l'épidémie, especialement jeunes gens et enfants. Et tant en mourut vers la fin dudit mois, et si hâtivement, qu'il convint faire es cimetières de Paris grandes fosses, où on en mettait trente ou quarante en chacune, et étaient arrangés comme lards, et puis un peu poudrés par dessus de terre; et touours jour et nuit on n'était en rue qu'on ne rencontrât Notre Seigneur, qu'on portait aux malades, et trétous avaient la plus belle connaissance de Dieu Notre Seigneur à la fin, qu'on vit oncques avoir à chrétiens. Mais au dit des clercs, on n'avait oncques vu ni ouï parler de mortalité qui fût si desvée, ni plus âpre, no dont mins échappèrent de gens qui férus en furent, car en moins de cinq semaines trépassa en la ville de Paris plus de 50 000 personnes. Et tant trépassa de gens d'église qu'on enterrait quatre, ou six, ou huit chefs d'hôtel à une messe de notte, et convenait marchander aux prêtres pour combien ils la chanteraient, et bien souvent en convenait payer 16 ou 8 sols parisis, et d'une messe basse 4 sols parisis | Item, this September, was in Paris and around the very cruel mortality, which had been seen for 300 years by the elders; for no one escaped who was keen on the epidemic, especially young people and children. And so many died towards the end of that month, and so hastily, that he agreed to make the cemeteries of Paris into large pits, where thirty or forty were placed in each, and were arranged like bacon, and then a little powdered over the ground; and day and night we were always in the street until we met Our Lord, which we brought to the sick, and all had the most beautiful knowledge of God Our Lord at the end, which we saw we had to Christians. But, according to the clerics, they had neither seen nor heard of a mortality that was so desperate, nor more bitter, nor did many people who were fervent about it escape, for in less than five weeks more than 50,000 people died in the city of Paris. And so many churchmen died that four, or six, or eight heads of hotel were buried at a mass of notte, and agreed to bargain with the priests for how much they would sing it, and often agreed to pay 16 or 8 sols parisis, and for a low mass 4 sols parisis. | Journal d'un bourgeois de Paris 1990, Sp. 133-134 | Translation by DeepL |
| 1418-09-27-Paris | 27 September 1418 JL | Because of a mortality the parliament court of Paris is shutdown. | Ce jour, pour ce que à Paris et en plusieurs parties de ce royaume avoit grant mortalité, la Court ordenna que le Parlement cesseroit quant aux plaidoiries, et, samedi prochain ensuivant, seroient prononciés les derreniers arrestz. | It has been deciden on this day that because of the mortality affecting Paris and other locations in the Kingdom the court of justice must be shutdown. The last judgments should be executed before saturday. | Journal de Clément de Fauquemberge, vol. 1, p. 175 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1418-10-05-Paris | 5 October 1418 JL | A procession is organized at the church of Saint-Victor of Paris against the mortality that reigns in the city and other places of the Kingdom. | Furent au conseil maistres J. de Longueil et J. Rapiout, presidens (et huit conseillers) lesquelz se departirent assez tost de la Chambre de Parlement pour aler, ceulz qui vouldroient aler à Saint-Victor leiz Paris en la procession générale qui avoit esté ordonnée estre faicte pour occasion des guerres et grant mortalité estans en ce royaume. Et fu ce jour generalement à Paris faicte abstinence de cher par le commandement de l'evesque de Paris ou ses vicaires. | Those who were present at the coucil this day, J. de Longueil and J. Rapiout with 8 consultants, went out earlier that usual in order to go to the procession that was held at the church of Saint-Victor of Paris. This procession has been decided because of the war and the epidemic that ravage the Kingdom. For this day, the bishop of Paris promoted a fasting. | Journal de Clément de Fauquemberge, vol. 1, p. 179-180 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1418-10-15-Paris | 15 October 1418 JL | While war and an epidemic raged in Paris, food prices are very high. | Et combien que le peuple de Paris fust grandement diminué tant par le fait des guerres comme de l'épidémie, neantmoins estoient les vivres en grant chierté à Paris, et vendoit on busche, blefs et avoines à plus haut pris que on n'avoit fait long temps par avant. | And while the people of Paris was undermine by the war and the epidemic, prices of all goods, like wood, wheat and oat, reached their highest level since long. | Journal de Clément de Fauquemberge, vol. 1, p. 184 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1418-11-03-Paris | 3 November 1418 JL | A procession is organized at Notre-Dame of Paris without the bishop who is retired in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés because of the epidemic. | Le IIIe jour de novembre, y ot procession et grant assemblée de peuple en l'église Nostre-Dame de Paris, et fist le sermon ung cordelier nommée frere Pierre aux Buefs, confesseur de la Royne, ouquel sermon furent leues et publieez les lettres de l'evesque de Paris, en l'absence dudit evesque estant lors en l'abbaye de Saint-Mor-des-Fossés, pour le doubte de l'épidimie aiant cours à Paris. | The 3rd of November was held a procession with a lot of people in the church of Notre-Dame. The sermon has been preached by a Franciscan monk named Pierre aux Buefs, the confessor of the queen. During the sermon, he read and made public some letters of the bishop of Paris, who was not there, but in the abbey of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés because of the danger of the epidemic affecting the city. | Journal de Clément de Fauquemberge, vol. 1, p. 188-189 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1420-06-15-Sens | 15 June 1420 JL | Eustache de l'Aitre, chancellor of France died in Sens during an epidemic few days ago. | Ce jour, vindrent nouvelles au Palais de la mort et trespas de maistre Eustace de l'Aitre, chancelier de France, esleu evesque de Beauvès, qui, le vendredi précédent estoit trespassé, epidémié au dyocese de Sens, au service et en la compagnie du Roy. | This day, the news came at the House that Eustache de l'Aitre, chancellor of France and newly elected bishop of Beauvais died last friday in the bishopric of Sens, because of the epidemic that raged out there. | Journal de Clément de Fauquemberge, vol. 1, p. 372-373 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1421-08-00-Paris | August 1421 JL | A mortality breaks out in Paris in August. Poeple get headaches and heavy fever. Children and women were most at risk | Item, en ce temps, était très grande mortalité, et tous mouraient de chaleur qui au chef les prenait et puis la fièvre et mouraient sans rien ou peu empirer de leur chair, et toutes femmes et les plus jeunes gens. | In this time was a great mortality. People, mostly women and young ones, died because of headache and of fever, but their bodies were not injured. | Journal d'un bourgeois de Paris 1990, p. 171 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1422-07-00-Paris | July 1422 JL | Epidemic of 'vérole' in Paris, especially among children who could die or become blind | Item, cette année fit merveilleusement chaud en juin et en juillet (...) Et pour cette grande chaleur fut si grande année d'enfants malades de la vérole qu'oncques de vie d'homme on eût vu, et tant en étaient couverts qu'on ne les connaissait; et plusiseurs grands hommes l'avaient, espécialement les Anglais, et disait-on que le roi d'Angleterre en eut sa part. Et est vrai que moult de petits enfants en furent si agrevés que les uns en mouroient, les autres en perdaient la vue corporelle | This year was terribly hot and warm in June and in July (...) Because of this heat, a lot of children were struck by the 'vérole', as never seen before. They were so covered with spots, that it was even difficult to recognize them. Several adults were ill too, especially among English people, and it was said that the king of England too. Truly, a lot of children were so ill, that some of them died and some other became blind. | Journal d'un bourgeois de Paris 1990, p. 190 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1427-09-15-Paris | 15 September 1427 JL | A disease (named: dando) breaks out in Paris in September and October. Many people get it. First, they get strong kidneyache and shoulderache, then they chill. After that they loose appetite and cannot sleep for 8 to 15 days, and they continually cough. | Item, en ce temps, environ quinze jour devant la saint Rémi (1 Oct), chut un mauvais air corrompu, dont une très mauvaise maladie advint qu'on appelait dando, et n'était nul ni nulle qui aucunement ne s'en sentît dedans le temps qu'elle dura. Et la manière comment elle prenait: elle commençait ès reins et ès épaules, et n'était nul quand elle prenait qui ne cuidât avoir la gravelle, tant faisoit cruelle douleur, et après ce à tous venaient les assées ou forts frissons, et était-on bien huit ou dix ou quinze jours qu'on ne pouvait ni boire, ni manger, ni dormir, les uns plus, les autres moins, après ce venait une toux si très mauvaise à chacun que quand on était au sermon, on ne pouvait entendre ce que le sermonneur disait, pour la grande noise des tousseurs | In this time, somewhat 15 days before Rémi's Day, a corrupted air felt upon the city and brought a bad disease called dando. Almost everybody get it. The symptoms were as follows. It began first with a kidneyache and shoulderache, so strong that everybody thought to have been affected by the gravelle. The pain was cruel, and then victims chilled strongly. It was impossible for them to eat, to drink and to sleep for about 8, or 10 and sometimes 15 days, depending on persons. After that stage, a strong cough developed, so loud that it even covered the priest voice at the sermon during the mass. | Journal d'un bourgeois de Paris 1990, pp. 239-240 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1432-00-00-Paris | 1432 JL | Mortality in Paris, especially among young people and children | Item, en celui temps, était très grande mortalité sur jeunes gens et sur petits enfants, et tout d'épidémie | In this time was a great mortality among young people and children, by a disease. | Journal d'un bourgeois de Paris 1990, p. 320 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1433-08-00-Paris | August 1433 JL | A mortality of plague affects children in Paris in August | Et si fit moult bel août, mais très grande mortalité était en celui temps, espécialement sur petits enfants, de bosse ou de vérole plate | The weather was benevolent in August, but the mortality due to 'bosse' or 'vérole plate' was important in that time, especially among children. | Journal d'un bourgeois de Paris 1990, p. 326 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1438-Summer-Paris | 1438 JL | Mortality by plague (boce) in Paris during summer and autumn. 45 000 persons died in the city | Item, la mortalité fut si grande, espécialement à Paris, car il mourut bien à l'Hôtel-Dieu en cette année cinq mille personnes, et parmi la cité plus de quarante-cinq mille, tant homme, que femme et enfants; car quand la mort se boutait en une maison, elle en emportait la plus grande partie des gens, et espécialement des plus forts et des plus jeunes | The mortality was so great in Paris, that at least 5000 persons died at the Hôtel-Dieu. In the city, 45 000 persons died, either men, women and children. When the disease spread in a house, almost every inhabitants died, especially the strongest and the youngest. | Journal d'un bourgeois de Paris 1990, pp. 382-383 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1457-00-00-France | 1457 JL | A mortality breaks out in France. | Per totam fere Franciam bladorum caristia fuit, quam sequebatur pestilentialis mortalitas. | In almost all France wheat prices were high, and a mortality of pestilence followed. | Chronique d'Adrien de But, p. 360 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1461-08-00-Arras | August 1461 JL | A disease breaks out in Arras and the surroundings, in August. This is a non-lethal fever, but people recovers with difficulty. | Et regna depuis aoust ou environ, une manière de caulde maladie et de fièvres en plusieurs lieux et presque partout; mais il n'en mouroit guères, nonobstant qu'on se remesist sus à grande peine | Since August, a kind of "hot disease" with fever spread out in several location and almost anywhere. Though nobody died, people get difficulties to recover. | Les mémoires de Jacques du Clerc 1838, p. 188 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1466-05-00-Metz | 21 May 1466 JL | Mortality in Metz | Et le merquedi après (Ascencion), revint ledit mareschal (de Bourgogne), maix il n'osit venir parmy la cité, pour le doubte de la mortalité. | Wednesday after the Ascencion Day [May 15], the marshal of Burgundy came back, but he did not dare to enter in the city because of the mortality. | Journal de Jean Aubrion, p. 17 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1466-05-18-Metz | May 1466 JL | An extraordinary procession takes place in Metz the 18th of May against the mortality. | Item, le XVIIIe jour de may, on fist une très belle procession généralle à Saint Clément pour la mortalité, qui estoit très orrible et grosse en Metz. Et y fuit portés le chief du benoy saint Estienne, et le chief et la fierté du benoy saint Liviés. Et raportont-on le corps saint Clément à Mets, en la grant église; et y fuit bien le terme de VI sepmenne, ce qu'il n'avoit esté fait, passé plus de quarante ans. | Because of the mortality, which was severe and horrible in Metz, a wonderful general procession has been held the 18th day of May to the church Saint-Clément, with the relics of St Etienne and of St Liviés. St Clement's body has been brought to the church and stayed there for six weeks, a thing that did not happen since forty years. | Journal de Jean Aubrion, p. 18 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1466-06-00-Metz | June 1466 JL | People dies of a mortality in Metz, enduring hot temperatures in June. | Item, en la dite année, fit un très bel moix de jung, et sy très chalt con ne le poiot durer de chalt, et moroit on tousiours plus fort | This year, the weather in June has been clear and very hot, so that it was hardly possible to endure the heat. And people continued to die again and again. | Journal de Jean Aubrion, p. 18 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1466-08-00-Paris | August 1466 JL | Mortality in Paris and all of Île-de-France from August to November, due to plague. The death toll is estimated to 40,000 persons in the region of Paris. This number is surely overrated by the chronicler, though the mortality has been important. It is said that the number of burials exceeded the capacities of cimeteries in Paris. Numerous religious processions have been organized during the outbreak. | En ladite année, es mois d'aoust et septembre, fut grande et merveilleuse chaleur, au moyen de laquelle s'en ensuivit grande mortalité de pestilence, et autres maladies, dont et de quoy il mourut tant en la ville, villages voisins, prévosté et vicomté de Paris, quarante mille créatures et mieux, entre lesquels y mourut maistre Arnoul, astrologien du roy, qui estoit fort homme de bien, sage et plaisant; aussi y mourut plusieurs médecins et offociers du roy en ladite ville de Paris. Et si grand nombre de créatures furent portées ensevelir et enterrer au cimetière des Saints-Innocents, en ladite ville de Paris, que tant des morts en ladite ville que de l'Hôtel-Dieu tout y fust remply: et fut ordonné que de là en avant on porteroit les mortsau cimetière de la Trinité, qui est et appartient à l'hostel de la ville de Paris. Et continua ladite mort jusques en la fin de novembre, que, pour faire cesser, et prier Dieu que ainsi il lui plut de la faire, furent faites de moult belles processions générales à Paris par toutes les paroisses et églises d'icelle, où furent portées toutes les chasses et saintes reliques, et mesmement les chasses de Nostre-Dame, de sainte Geneviève et saint Marcel; et mors cessa un peu ladite mort. | In the said year (1466), in the months of August and September, there was great and marvellous heat, which resulted in great mortality from pestilence and other diseases, from which and as a result of which forty thousand or more creatures died in the city, neighbouring villages, provostry and viscounty of Paris, including Maistre Arnoul, the king's astrologer, who was a very good man, wise and pleasant; several doctors and the king's offenders also died in the said city of Paris. And so many creatures were brought to be buried in the cemetery of the Saints-Innocents, in the said city of Paris, that both the dead of the said city and of the Hôtel-Dieu were all remply there: and it was ordered that from there forward the dead should be brought to the cemetery of the Trinité, which is and belongs to the hostel of the city of Paris. And the said death continued until the end of November, when, in order to put an end to it, and to pray to God that it would please him to do so, many beautiful general processions were held in Paris by all the parishes and churches of the city, where all the dead and holy relics were carried, including the dead of Notre-Dame, Saint Geneviève and Saint Marcel; and the said death ceased a little. | Chronique scandaleuse de Jean de Roye 1838, p. 272. | Translation by DeepL |
| 1466-08-14-Metz | 14 August 1466 JL | A procession is organized in Metz because of the plague. | Item, le XIIIe jour d'aoust, on fist une très belle procession généralle au grant mostiés, pour la pestillence qui coroit fort. Et alloit on quérir la vraie croix de saint Elloy au Chartrieux au pont Thieffroy [...] Et y fuit grant temps, jusques à tant que la pestilence fuit cessée. | Because of the pestilence, a procession has been held at the great church on the 14th of August, with the real cross of St Eloy brought from the carthusian monastery at the Thieffroy bridge [...] And it took a long time before the pestilence ceased. | Journal de Jean Aubrion, p. 20 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1471-00-00-France | 1471 JL | Mortality in Paris and all of France | En ladite année fut mortalité commune et universelle par la pluspart dudit royaume, de maladie de flux de ventre et autres maladies; à cause de quoy plusieurs gens de façon moururent en ladite ville de Paris et ailleurs | In this year, a universal mortality broke out in much parts of the kingdom, that affected people with bellyache and other symptoms of disease. Several important persons died in Paris and elsewhere. | Chronique scandaleuse de Jean de Roye 1838, p. 295 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1472-12-00-Metz | December 1472 JL | Mortality in Metz. | Item en ycelle année, il fist ung yver pluvioux et ne gellit presque point ; et molroit on ung poc de la pest et des aprison. | In this year (1472), the winter has been very wet and with almost no frost. And few people died of the pest and of fever. | Journal de Jean Aubrion, p. 17. | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1482-04-00-Metz | April 1482 JL | A mortality breaks out in Metz in April. People first loose their senses, then recover after 3-4 days, then die. | Item, en la dite année, on mois d'apvril, ons commensont fort à mourir de chaulde maladie. Et devenoient les gens vairs; et ne savoient qu'ilz disoient, de force de la dite maladie; et au chiefz de III ou IIII jours, revenoient à leurs entendement; et tantost après, les plusieurs mouroient. | In this year, in April, people began to die of a "hot" disease. They first became green (?) and lost their reason. They recovered after 3 or 4 days, but soon after they died. | Journal de Jean Aubrion, p. 18 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1482-05-07-Metz | 7 May 1482 JL | A procession is organized in Metz because of the plague. | Item, le VIIe jour du mois de may, nos seigneurs firent faire une procession générale à Saint-Clément [...] Laquelle procession fut ordonnée pour deux choses; la première pour la guerre, et la seconde pour la mortalité, car on commensoit fort à mourir de la peste | Our lords organized a procession on the 7th of May at the chruch of Saint-Clément. I has been decided for two reasons. Fisrtly because of the war, and secondly because of the mortality. Yet, people began to die of pestilence. | Journal de Jean Aubrion, p. 147 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1483-07-02-Metz | 2 July 1483 JL | A procession is organized in Metz because of the plague. | Item, le second jour de jullet, on fit une procession généralle à St-Arnoult [...]. Et la cause d'icelle procession fut pour troix raixons, le première en remerciant Dieu de la belle année et de la fertillité des biens de terre qu'il nous avoit envoyés, luy priant de les amender; la seconde, luy priant qu'il ly pleut à cesser son ire, pour le fait de la pestillance qui alors couroit trè fort en la cité et au pays; et la tierce, en luy requérant qu'il noz voulust donner victoire encontre nous ennemis, par especial contre ceux de Rechiesmont, où que la cité tenoit le siège. | The 2nd of July was held a procession at St-Arnoult church [...] There was three reasons for this procession. First, to thank God for the fruitful year we had and to ask Him to keep agricultural goods safe. Secondly, to ask Him to stop his wrath, because of the pestilence that ravaged the city and the countryside. Third, to ask Him to give us victory against our enemies, especially concerning the siege of Richemont. | Journal de Jean Aubrion, p. 154 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1483-08-00-Metz | August 1483 JL | Mortality because of plague in Metz. | Item, on mouroit tousiours fort en Mets de la peste, tellement que tous les seigneurs et dames s'en allont en leurs chastelleries de dehors. | The mortality was still strong in Metz because of the pestilence. So that lords and ladies of high ranks fled to their castles in the countryside. | Journal de Jean Aubrion, p. 156 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1489-00-00-Metz | 1489 JL | An epidemic of properieulle breaks out in Metz, affecting five sixth of the children and many young adults. | Item, en celle année, rengnait et fut ung grand cours de la maladie con dit Properieulle, et sy fort qu'il n'y avoit mie, de VI ainffans, ung qui ne l'eust. Et, avec ce, y avoit beaucop de gens de XX ans, ou environ yceluy eaige, que l'avoient, dont on disoit que c'estoit signe d'avoir une grant mortalité. | This year the so-called 'properieulle' disease broke out so strongly that five sixth of every children were affected. On top of that, a lot of people aged around 20 years old get it too, and it was said that this was a sign of great mortality to come. | Journal de Jean Aubrion, p. 217 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1489-05-00-Lyon | April 1489 JL | While the weather in May is cold and wet, people are affected by severe cough. | Aprilis et Mayus fuerunt pluviosi et aquatici; fuit Mayus frigidus et regnavit tussis in gentibus. | April and May have been rainy and wet; May have been cold and people coughed a lot. | Chronique de Benoît Mailliard, p. 153 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1493-00-00-Savigny | 1493 JL | While the summer weather has been outstandingly dry and hot, a lot of people suffer from a disability called glene, that kills men, women and children. | Viguit infirmitas, quam glene vocamus, mirabiliter, ita quod multi homines, mulieres et pueri ex infirmitate illa, tam in villa Lugduni quam per patriam obierunt. | A disability spread wonderfully, that is called 'glene'. So that a lot of men, women and children died from this disease in Lyon and elsewhere in the region. | Chronique de Benoît Mailliard, p. 167 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1494-06-00-Lyon | June 1494 JL | A plague breaks out in Lyon. | Pestis letalis, que dicitur epidimia, in dicta villa Lugduni, in mense Junii, incepit vigere, adeo quod rex, regina et ceteri principes villam exierunt. Rex, regina, domini duces Aurelianis, Borbonii et ducissa Borbonii iverunt apud Viennam et a Vienna ad Valenciam Dalphinam. | A deadly plague, named epidemia, broke out in the city of Lyon in June, so that the King, the Queen and other prominent persons fled away from the city. The King with the Queen and the Duke and the Duchess of Bourbon went to Vienne, and then from Vienne went to Valence. | Chronique de Benoît Mailliard, p. 171. | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1497-00-00-Lyon | September 1497 JL | An epidemic breaks out in Lyon and in Sain-Bel. | Epidimia, illo anno, viguit in villa Lugduni et pluribus locis patrie Lugdunensis et maxime in villa Sancti-Belli. | An epidemic affected this year the city of Lyon and its surrounding area, especially the city of Saint-Bel. | Chronique de Benoît Mailliard, p. 183. | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1498-06-06-Metz | 6 June 1498 JL | A procession is organized in Metz to prevent the city against an epidemic of rubeola and properieulle (?). Mortality among children and adults. | Item, le mercerdy des festes de la Pentecotte, qui fut le VIe jour de jung, on fit une procession générale [...] en priant Dieu que voloit garder les biens de la terre, et garder la cité et le pays de guerre, et les corps humains de pestillence. Car tous les einffans devenoient mallades et de rougerieulle et de la propérieulle, et en mouroit beaucop, et morut des grans gens aussy. | On Wenesday after the Pentecost, the 6th of June, was held a procession [...] praying God to keep safe the agricultural goods, to prevent the country of the war, and human bodies of pestilence. Every children became actually sick with 'rougerieulle' and 'properieulle', and a lot of them died, as did some adult too. | Journal de Jean Aubrion, p. 405 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1499-06-00-Metz | 1499 JL | Mortality in Metz during the summer. The members of the city council, who fled away from the city, take some measures to ensure the continuity of their duties. | Item, en ycelle année, pourtant que on mouroit fort en la cité, tous lez seigneurs de la cité estoient dehors en leurs forteresses, et n'y avoit que cuicquonques trèses demeurés en la cité; et furent les adjournés et entrées cessées, et ausy les plaits de la court des clercs. Touteffois, pourtant que plusieurs complainctes venoient journellement a messeigneur les trèses de plusieurs querelles, ilz ordonnont de donner audiance tous les jours, pour choses nécessaires. Et tenoient lor audiance et lor entrée en l'aitrie Saint-Girgonne, et ne lassoient venir devant eulx, à la foy, que deux parties, et les déterminoient incontinent. Et y avoit tousiours II ou III sargens pour faire tirer les gens errière, et pour faire taire les gens qui parloient troup hault, autour et dedant la dite aitrie, affin de mieulx oyr et entendre ceulx qui estoient devant justice. Item, ad cause d'icelle mortalité, affin que les gens ne se frémissent, fut ordonne par messeigneurs de justice que, quant il y avoit aucune personne morte en la cité, que on ne meetit nulles torches aux huxes devant les maisons. | In this year, while the mortality was so great in the city, the rulers of the council of the Thirteen fled in their manors in the countryside. It remained no one of the Thirteen within the walls. Subsequently, all meetings and entries ceased, as well as the trials at the clerics court. However, since some cases remained to be solved every day, they commanded that hearings should be held before the cloister of Saint-Girgonne. They let come to them only two people and gave their sentences immediately. Two or three sergeants were always there to prevent people moving forward and to keep everybody in silence during the audiences. Because of this mortality, it has been forbidden by the council, in order not to frighten people, to put candles in front of doors when someone die in the city. | Journal de Jean Aubrion, pp. 418-419 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1500-02-00-Rhône | February 1500 JL | An mortality of pigs breaks out in the Lyonnais and in the Forez. | In mense Februarii, illo anno, fuit magna pestillencia porcorum in pluribus tam patrie Forensis quam Lugdunensis locis. | In February of that year (1500), a great pestilence affected pigs in several places of the Lyonnais and of the Forez. | Chronique de Benoît Mailliard, p. 194. | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
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