For Poison, a total of 13 epidemic events are known so far. It is a social response.
Table
| Page | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1347-00-00-Middle East | 1347 JL | Fire comes out of the earth or falls from heaven in Middle East and beginning of the Black Death at the mouth of the Don and in Trabizond. | Ma infinita mortalità, e che più durò, fu in Turchia, e in quelli paesi d'oltremare, e tra' Tarteri. E avenne tra' detti Tarteri grande giudicio di Dio e maraviglia quasi incredibile, e ffu pure vera e chiara e certa, che tra 'l Turigi e 'l Cattai nel paese di Parca, e oggi di Casano signore di Tartari in India, si cominciò uno fuoco uscito di sotterra, overo che scendesse da cielo, che consumò uomini, e bestie, case, alberi, e lle pietre e lla terra, e vennesi stendendo più di XV giornate atorno con tanto molesto, che chi non si fuggì fu consumato, ogni criatura a abituro, istendendosi al continuo. E gli uomini e femine che scamparono del fuoco, di pistolenza morivano. E alla Tana, e Tribisonda, e per tutti que' paesi non rimase per la detta pestilenza de' cinque l'uno, e molte terre vi s'abbandarono tra per la pestilenzia, e tremuoti grandissimi, e folgori. E per le lettere di nostri cittadini degni di fede ch'erano in que' paesi, ci ebbe come a Sibastia piovvono grandissima quantità di vermini [p. 487] grandi uno sommesso con VIII gambe, tutti neri e conduti, e vivi e morti, che apuzzarono tutta la contrada, e spaventevoli a vedere, e cui pugnevano, atosicavano come veleno. E in Soldania, in una terra chiamata Alidia, non rimasono se non femmine, e quelle per rabbia manicaro l'una l'altra. E più maravigliosa cosa e quasi incredibile contaro avenne in Arcaccia, uomini e femmine e ogni animale vivo diventarono a modo di statue morte a modo di marmorito, e i signori d'intorno al paese pe' detti segni si propuosono di convertire alla fede cristiana; ma sentendo il ponente e paesi di Cristiani tribolati simile di pistolenze, si rimasono nella loro perfidia. E a porto Tarlucco, inn-una terra ch'ha nome Lucco inverminò il mare bene x miglia fra mare, uscendone e andando fra terra fino alla detta terra, per la quale amirazione assai se ne convertirono alla fede di Cristo. | But the mortality was much greater and much more severe in Turkey and in Outremer, and among the Tartars. And a great judgment of God occurred among these Tartars, a marvel almost unbelievable but which was true, clear, and certain. Between the Turigi and the Cattai in the land of Parca, presently ruled by Casano, lord of the Tartars in India, a fire began to burn forth from the ground, or indeed to fall from the sky. It consumed men, animals, houses, trees, and (p. 138) the stones, and the earth, spreading a distance of more than fifteen days’ travel all around, with such great harm that those who did not flee were consumed—every creature and every inhabitant—as it ceaselessly spread. The men and women who escaped this fire died of pestilence. At Tana and Trebizond, and in all those lands, not one person out of five survived and many cities were abandoned because of the pestilence and terrible earthquakes and lightning. We learn from letters sent by trustworthy citizens of our city who were in those lands that a very great quantity of little worms rained down on Sibastia. Each was one span in length, colored black with eight legs and a tail. They fell both alive and dead and were terrifying to behold, filling the city with their stench, and those whom they stung were poisoned as with venom. In Soldania, in a city called Alidia, only the females remained and these [worms], driven by rage, ate one another. [The letters] tell of an even more marvelous and almost unbelievable thing that occurred in Arcaccia: men and women and every living animal became like dead statues of marble. Nearby lords saw these signs and considered converting to the Christian faith, but when they heard that the West and the Christian lands were suffering from these same pestilences, they persisted in their wickedness. At Porto Talucco, in a city called Lucco, the sea was filled for ten miles with worms that crawled out of the water and across the land all the way up to the city. Many people were so astonished by this that they converted to the faith of Christ. | Giovanni Villani 1990, vol. 3, pp. 486–487 | None |
| 1348-00-00-Germany | 1348 JL | Jews were accused of poisoning the water and wells. Thus they were persecuted and burned in many parts in Germany | [115.] De mala fama et infortunio Iudeorum in diversis terris et regionibus. Et infamati sunt Iudei, quod huiusmodi pestilenciam fecerint vel auxerint fontibus et puteis iniecto veneno. Et cre*mati sunt a mari usque ad Alamanniam preterquam Avinionis, ubi ipsos papa Clemens sextus defendit. Post [p. 265] hec tortis quibusdam in Berna, in comitatu Froburg et alibi, et reperto in Zovingen veneno, extinctisque Iudeis in pluribus locis, scriptoque *de hoc consulibus Basiliensis, Friburgensis et Argentinensis civitatum, maioribusque ad defensionem nitentibus Iudeorum, ac quibusdam eciam nobilibus Basilee pro quadam iniuria Iudeis illata ad longum tempus bannitis: ecce irruit populus cum baneriis ad palacium consulum. Quibus territis et querente magistro, quid vellent, responderunt se nolle abire nisi bannitis reversis. Pro quibus illico est transmissum, consulibus non audentibus egredi, quousque venerunt. Adiecitque populus se nolle, quod inibi amplius remanerent Iudei. Et iuratum est per consules et populum, quod in ducentis annis inibi nunquam residerent Iudei. Conveneruntque pluries nuncii meliores earundem trium civitatum, quibus cordi erat reten*cio Iudeorum, set populi timuerunt clamorem. Capti sunt autem undique in partibus illis Iudei. […][p. 266] Et sic modo in uno loco, postea in alio sunt cremati. Alicubi autem sunt expulsi. Quos vulgus apprehendens hos cremavit, aliquos interfecit, alios in paludibus suffocavit. [...] |
116. Of the slander and persecution of the Jews in various countries and kingdoms. And the Jews were accused of having caused or aggravated this plague by throwing poison into springs and wells. They were burned from the seashore to Germany, except in Avignon, where Pope Clement VI protected them. After some had been tortured in Bern, in the county of Froburg and in other places and poison had been found in Zofingen, they were murdered in many places and written about to the councillors of the cities of Basel, Freiburg and Strasbourg, and since the rulers sought to protect them and even some nobles of Basel were banished for a long time because of an injustice done to the Jews, the people rushed to the town hall with their banners. The councillors were startled by this and the mayor asked: "What did they want?", to which they replied: "They would not leave until the exiles had returned"; so they were immediately sent for, because the councillors did not dare to leave until they had returned. Then the people said: "They would no longer tolerate the Jews in the city," and the councillors and the people swore that within two hundred years no Jew should live in the city. But the nobles of these three cities, who were anxious to keep the Jews, repeatedly came together, but they feared the clamour of the people. But the Jews were captured everywhere in that region. [...] and so they were burned sometimes in this place, sometimes in that. In some places they were merely expelled, but the people caught up with them, burned some and beat others to death or suffocated them in swamps. [...] | Matthias de Nuwenburg Chronica 1924-40, pp. 264-266. | None |
| 1348-00-00-Italy 004 | 1348 JL | Report of Gabrielle de Mussis: Describes how the plague came from the city of Feodosia (Caffa) through sailors to Genoa and how it spreads rapidly about complete Italy, killing thousands and leading to mass deaths and panic. The society was overwhelmed by death and grief. The suffering is seen as a punishment from God. | Sane, quia ab oriente in occidentem transiuimus, licet omnia discutere que vidimus et cognouimus probabilimus argumentis, et que possumus deij terribilia Judicia declarare. audiant vniuersi et lacrimis habundare cogantur. Inquit enim conctipotens, delebo hominem quem creaui a facie terre. quia caro et sanguis est , in cinerem et puluerem conuertetur. Spiritus meus non permanebit in homine. Quid putas bone deus, sie tuam creaturam delere, et humanum genus, sic jubes, sic mandas subito depperire . vbi misericordia tua, vbi fedus patrum nostrorum.vbi est uirgo beata, que suo gremio continet peccatores. vbi martirum preciosus sanguis vbi confessorum et uirginum Agmina decorata, et tocius exercitus paradixi. qui pro peccatoribus rogare non desinunt . vbi mors Christi preciosa crucis, et nostra redemptio admirabilis. Cesset obsecro ira tua bone deus, nec sic conteras peccatores, ut fructu multiplicato penitencie. Aufferas omne malum nec cum iniustis iusti clampnentur quia misericordiam vis et non sacrificium. Te audio peccatorem, uerba mein auribus instillantem. Stille jubeo . Misericordie tempora deffecerunt. Deus uocor ulcionum. libet peccata et scelera vindicare. dabo signa mea inorientibus preuenti studeant animarum prouidere saluti. Sic euenit a preffata Caffensi terra,nauigio discedente, quedam paucis gubernata nautis, eciam uenenato morbo infectis Januam Applicarunt quedam venecijs quedam (p. 50) alijs partibus christianorum. Mirabile dictu. Nauigantes, cum ad terras aliquas accedebant, ac si rnaligni spiritus comitantes, mixtis hominibus Intererint. omnis ciuitas, omnis locus, omnis terra et habitatores eorum vtriusque sexus, morbi contagio pestifero uenenati, morte subita corruebant. Et cum unus ceperat Egrotari, mox cadens et moriens vniuersam familiam uenenabat. Iniciantes, ut cadauera sepelirent, mortis eodem genere corruebant. Sic sic mors per fenestras Intrabat. et depopullatis vrbibus et Castellis, loca, suos deffunctos acolas deplorabant. Dic dic Janua, quid fecisti. Narra Sijcilia, et Insule pellagi copiose, Judicia deij. Explica venecia, Tuscia, et tota ytalia, quid agebas. Nos Januensis et venetus dei Judicia reuellare compellimus. Proh dolor Nostris ad vrbes, classibus applicatis, Intrauimus domos nostras. Et quia nos grauis Infirmitas detinebat . et nobis de Mille Navigantibus vix decem supererant, propinqui, Affines, et conuicini ad nos vndique confluebant. heu nobis, qui mortis Jacula portabamus, dum amplexibus et osculis nos tenerent, ex ore, dum uerba uerba loquebamur, venenuni fundere cogebamur. Sic illi ad propria reuertentes, mox totam familiam venenabant . et Infra triduum, percussa familia, mortis Jaculo subiacebat, exequias funeris pro pluribus ministrantes, crescente numero deffunctorum pro sepulturis terra sufficere non ualebant. presbiteri et medici , quibus Infirmorum cura rnaior necessitatis Articulis Iminebat, dum Infirmos uisitare satagunt, proh dolor, recedentes Infirmi, deffunctos statim subsequuntur. O, patres. O, matres, O, filij, et vxores, gros diu prosperitas, Incollumes conseruauit, nec Infelices et Infeliciores, pre ceteris, vos simul, eadem sepultura concludit qui pari numdo fruebamini leticia et omnis prosperitas aridebat . qui gaudia uanitatibus miscebatis, idem tumulus vos suscepit, vermibus esca datos. O mors dura, mors Impia, mors aspera, mors crudelis, que sic parentes diuidis, dissocias coniugatos, filios Interficis, fratres separas , et sonores . plangimus, miseri calamitates nostras. | Since we have traveled from the east to the west, we are permitted to discuss all that we have seen and known with probable arguments and to declare the terrible judgments of God that we can. Let everyone hear and be compelled to overflow with tears. For the Almighty says, "I will destroy the man whom I have created from the face of the earth, because he is flesh and blood, and he will be turned into ashes and dust. My spirit will not remain in man." What do you think, good God, about thus destroying your creation and commanding the human race to suddenly perish in this way? Where is your mercy, where is the covenant with our fathers? Where is the blessed Virgin who holds sinners in her lap? Where is the precious blood of the martyrs, where are the decorated bands of confessors and virgins, and the entire army of paradise? They do not cease to pray for sinners. Where is the precious death of Christ on the cross and our admirable redemption? Cease, I beseech you, your anger, good God, and do not crush sinners so that the fruit of penance may multiply. Remove all evil, and do not let the just be condemned with the unjust, for you desire mercy, not sacrifice. I hear you, sinner, instilling my words in your ears. I command you to stop. The times of mercy have ended. I am called the God of vengeance. I am pleased to avenge sins and crimes. I will give my signs to those in the east, let them strive to ensure the salvation of their souls. Thus it happened that from the aforementioned land of Caffa, a certain ship, governed by a few sailors, even infected with the venomous plague, set sail and arrived at Genoa. Some went to Venice, others to other parts of Christendom. It is incredible to say. When the sailors approached any lands, as if accompanied by malignant spirits, mixing with the people, every city, every place, every land and its inhabitants of both sexes, infected by the contagious pestilence, suddenly collapsed in death. And when one began to fall sick, soon falling and dying, he poisoned the entire household. Those who came to bury the corpses fell by the same kind of death. Thus, death entered through the windows, and with the cities and castles depopulated, the places mourned their dead inhabitants. Tell, Genoa, what have you done? Tell, Sicily, and the numerous islands of the sea, declare the judgments of God. Explain, Venice, Tuscany, and all of Italy, what were you doing. We Genoese and Venetians are compelled to reveal the judgments of God. Oh, sorrow, when we arrived at our cities with our fleets, we entered our homes. And since we were held by a severe illness, with scarcely ten of us out of a thousand sailors surviving, relatives, friends, and neighbors flocked to us from everywhere. Alas for us, who bore the arrows of death, as they held us in their embraces and kisses, while we spoke words, we were compelled to pour out poison from our mouths. Thus, they returning to their homes, soon poisoned their entire household. And within three days, the family struck by the arrow of death lay dead, and those attending the funerals of many could not find enough earth for burials, as the number of the dead increased. Priests and doctors, whose care for the sick was most needed, while striving to visit the sick, oh sorrow, leaving the sick, immediately followed the dead. Oh, fathers, oh mothers, oh sons, and wives, whom prosperity long preserved unharmed, neither the unfortunate nor the most unfortunate were buried together in the same grave. Those who enjoyed equal prosperity and happiness, the same tomb received, given as food for worms. Oh harsh death, impious death, bitter death, cruel death, that thus divides parents, separates spouses, kills sons, and separates brothers and sisters. We, the miserable, lament our calamities. | Template:Gabrielle de Mussi, pp. 49–50 | Translation by ChatGPT-3.5 |
| 1348-01-25-Erfurt | 25 January 1348 JL | Earthquake in Erfurt and outbreak of the plague in the Mediterranean region. Well poisoning is seen as the cause. | Eodem anno (1348) conversione sancti Pauli fuit terre motus magnus Erfordie. [...] Eodem anno fuit magna pestilencia in partibus transmarinis, videlicet in Gallia, Grecia, Francia et in provinciis paganorum ac circa Veneciam adeo quod tota Cristianitas ac alie naciones interierunt ratione foncium et aquarum infectarum veneno, ut dicitur. | In the same year (1348), on the feast day of the conversion of Saint Paul, there was a great earthquake in Erfurt. [...] In the same year, there was a great pestilence in overseas regions, namely in Gaul, Greece, France, and in the regions of the pagans, and around Venice to the extent that the entire Christendom and other nations perished due to the poison of contaminated fountains and waters, as it is said. | Template:Chronicon Sancti Petri 1899, p. 394 | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1348-03-03-Constance | 3 March 1348 JL | Jews were burned in Constance and Swabia, because they were accused of poisoning the people. This accusations was according to the author wrong. In addition the flagellants appeared. | Item anno domini 1348 an dem dritten tag im Mertzen wurdent die Juden verbrent ze Costentz, und wurdent och gar an mengen stetten in Schwaben verbrent. Und beschach das darumb, daß der erst groß tod angefangen hatt und zich man die Juden, sy trügent gift umb und dorumb stürbent die lüt. Es befand sich aber darnach, das den Juden unrecht beschach, dan der selb sterbet darnach vil lang weret, nachdem und sy verbrent wurden und och verschickt und verbotten. Und in dem gemelten jar giengen die lüt, die sich selbst geiselten. | In the year of Our Lord 1348, on the third day of March, the Jews were burned in Constance, and they were also burned in many towns in Swabia. This happened because the first great plague had begun, and people accused the Jews of carrying poison, which they believed was causing people to die. However, it was later found that the Jews were wronged, as the plague continued for a long time after they were burned, exiled, and banned. And in the same year, the people who flogged themselves also appeared. | Konstanzer Chronik 1891, p. 55 | Translation by ChatGPT-3.5 |
| 1348-04-08-Perugia | 8 April 1348 JL | Outbreak of the Black Death in Perugia; description of contempory medical responses and cultural coping mechanisms | Adi 8 d'aprile cominciò in Perugia la moria grande, che a chi veniva male non vivea più che due giorni. Cominciò questa mortalità in Toscana , et spezialmente a Pisa. Fo questa mortalità generale quasi che per tutto il mondo. Si facevano grandissime processioni , discipline et orazioni. Fecero qui da noi alcuni medici notomia : trovarono che vicino al cuore nasceva una biscica piena di veneno: facevano sanguenare per la vena del cuore, et si facevano fuochi grandi, et si cibava chi potesse di cose buone et delicate : non bastavano i cimiteri et le sepolture per li corpi morti. Ognuno usava triaca, et chi non poteva usasse la scabbiosa o marobio o erbella , et embuono et asenso o ruta , santonico, et sopratulto si costuma sempre di portare erbe odorifere , et ordinarono un succo con molte cose aromatiche da portar sempre al naso. | On the 8th of April, the great plague began in Perugia, where anyone who fell ill would not live more than two days. This mortality began in Tuscany, and especially in Pisa. This mortality was almost universal throughout the world. Large processions, flagellations, and prayers were conducted. Some doctors here performed autopsies: they found that near the heart a bladder filled with poison was forming. They would bleed the patients through the vein of the heart, and large fires were made, and those who could would eat good and delicate foods. The cemeteries and burial grounds were not sufficient for the dead bodies. Everyone used theriac, and those who could not would use scabiosa or horehound or erba bella, and embuono and asenso or rue, santonica, and above all, it became customary to always carry fragrant herbs, and they ordered a juice with many aromatic things to always be carried to the nose | Fabretti 1850, p. 68. | Translation by ChatGPT-3.5 |
| 1348-04-08-Perugia2 | 8 April 1348 JL | Outbreak of the Black Death in Perugia; remarkable information from Paris and all across the known world via the papal court in Avignon | in questa nostra cita de Peroscia, alli 8 de aprile, comenzó la peste in Peroscia talmente, che per fina al mese de agosto proximo fuoro numerati esser morti in dieta cita cento migliaia de persone, cioè fra la cita et ci contado; et tutti quelli che morivano confessi e contriti , li era concessa dal papa indulgenzia plenaria insino alla festa de santo Agnolo de setembro; et non se trovava chi sepellissc gli morti. Stavano tutte le gente de le cita e de castella ode ville in processione et in discipline e letanie (p. 149) e li medici fecero la nottomya de alcuni corpi che de cio morivano , et trovaro che atorno al cuore nasceva una bessica picola piena de veneno, del quale moriva et atossicava le persone : anco trovaro clic dicto umore generava molte vermi pessimi e mortali ; onde che gli medici predicti trovarono questo remedio quale preserva e mantiene la vita dell' homo sana da tale infirmità; cioè prima che se purgasse et mangiasse de buoni cibi et bevesseno buono vino e sutile, usassero fuochi con fiamma de legnia seche, con manco fumo che sia possibile , maxime de legni odoriferi , como genepri o altri simili ; sanguinarse de la vena del cuore; davano li dicti medici per cessare questo veneno a quelli che erano infetti de tale infirmità, che l'homo usasse de prendere tyriaca, et chi non aveva tyriaca usasse la scabiosa, o marobio, o erbella, o ysopo, volesse o cotto o crudo ; et per confondere et occidere gli verme che nascano de ciò, pigliassero asenzo o ruta o erba vermenaria o santonico : et generalmente dissero che ciascuno devesse portare sempre erbe odorifere per odorare, et ogni altra cosa che desse odore : et ordenaro una palla odorifera fatta coninvolte cose aromatice , quale se devesse portare sempre al naso, puoi alle anguenaglie: et quasi per tutte le parte del corpo nascevano molte nascenze, le quale tutte erano piene de veneno. Et fu la magiore mortalità che se recordasse già mai; et fu sì terribile che non bastavano li cimiterii nè sepolture de le chiese per sepelire gli morti, et per gli cimiterii furono fatti pozze molto cupe, et tutte se rempivano de corpi morti, et ad ogni modo non bastavano. | In this our city of Perugia, on the 8th of April, the plague began in Perugia such that by the end of the following August, a hundred thousand people had been counted dead in the said city and its countryside. And to all those who died confessed and contrite, the Pope granted plenary indulgence until the feast of Saint Michael in September; and there was no one to be found to bury the dead. All the people of the cities, castles, and villages were in processions, doing penance and prayers. The doctors performed autopsies on some bodies that died from this and found that around the heart a small blister full of poison would form, which caused death and poisoned the people. They also found that this fluid generated many very bad and deadly worms; therefore, the aforementioned doctors found this remedy to preserve and maintain a healthy life from such an illness: first, to purge oneself and eat good food and drink good and light wine, use fires with flames from dry wood, with as little smoke as possible, especially from fragrant woods like juniper or others similar; to bleed from the vein of the heart. The said doctors recommended to stop this poison in those infected by this illness, that one should use theriac, and if they did not have theriac, they should use scabiosa, or horehound, or erba bella, or hyssop, either cooked or raw; and to destroy and kill the worms that came from this, they should take wormwood, or rue, or verminaria, or santonica: and generally, they said that everyone should always carry fragrant herbs to smell, and anything else that gives off a scent. They ordered an aromatic ball made with various aromatic things, which should always be carried to the nose, then to the groin: and almost all over the body, many swellings would form, which were all full of poison. And it was the greatest mortality ever remembered; and it was so terrible that neither the cemeteries nor the burial grounds of the churches were sufficient to bury the dead, and in the cemeteries, very deep pits were made, and all were filled with dead bodies, and even then, it was not enough. | Cronaca di Perugia 1850, p. 148 | Translation by ChatGPT-3.5 |
| 1348-06-24-Constance | 24 June 1348 JL | Persecutions of Jews in the total kingdom of Arelat, except the city Avignon, because they were accused for being the reason for the plague. | De cremacione Iudeorum, et in quibus terre locis, et propter quid. Anno eodem a festo Iohannis baptiste [24.06.] usque ad festum omnium sanctorum [01.11.] Iudei per totum regnum Arelatensem, excepta civitate Avinionensi, quam papa comparaverat scilicet Clemens vi., qui Iudeos ibi degentes defendebat, omnes cremati sunt et occisi usque ad oppidum Solodorensem, in quo eciam cremati sunt, propter mortalitatem que viguit predicto anno et sequenti, que Iudeis adscribebatur. Nam dicebatur et fama communis hoc habuit et ipsi idem fatebantur, hoc idem prout in gestis anni sequentis patebit, quod fontes intoxicassent. Unde Constantienses tunc preceperunt, ut sui aquam de lacu et non de fontibus haurirent, et quod Iudei fontibus et puteis uterentur tantum Christianorum, puteos Iudeorum fimo ac lapidibus obruentes. |
Concerning the burning of the Jews and in which places on earth and for what reason. In the same year (1348), from the feast of John the Baptist [24 June] to the feast of All Saints [1 November], all the Jews throughout the kingdom of Arelat, with the exception of the city of Avignon, which had been acquired by Pope Clement VI and in which the Jews residing there were protected, were burnt and killed, until the city of Solothurn, where they were also burnt, on account of the plague which raged in that and the following year and was attributed to the Jews. For it was said and it was generally believed, and the Jews themselves admitted, and this will be shown in the following years, that they had poisoned the springs. Therefore the people of Constance at that time ordered that they should draw their water from the lake and not from the springs, and that the Jews should only use the Christians' springs and wells, while the Jews' wells were blocked up with faeces and stones. | Henricus de Diessenhofen 1868, p.68. | None |
| 1349-00-00-Strasbourg 002 | 1349 JL | Great mortality all over the world. In Marseille died more the half of the people. In the summer the plague arrived in Strasbourg and 16 thousend people died. The Jews were blamed for poisoning the water, which brought the plague. As a consequence they were burned in Strasbourg and other cities along the Rhine. | Von dem grossen sterbotte und Judenbrande Do men zalte 1349 jor, do was der groeste sterbotte der vor ie gewas: das sterben ging von eime ende der welte untz an das ander; gynesit und hie dissit des meres. in der heidenschaft was der sterbotte groesser denne in der cristenheit. Menig lant starp gerwe us, daz nieman me do was. men vant ouch menig schif uf dem mere mit koufmanschatz, do inne die lüte alle dot worent und nieman die schiffe furte. der bischof von Marsilien und pfaffen und müniche und alles volg do, das starp me denne das zweitel. In andern künigrichen und stetten starp so vil volkes, das es were gruwelichen zu sagende. der bobest zu Avion lies alles gerihte under wegen und beslos sich in eine kammer und lies nieman zu ime und hette allewegen ein gros für vor ime. und wovon dirre sterbotte [p. 760], das kundent alle wise meistere noch arzote nüt gesagen anders, denne das es were gottes wille. und so der sterbotte ignote hie was, so was er denne anderswo, und werte me denne ein gantz jor. Dirre sterbotte kam ouch gein Strosburg in dem summer des vorgenanten jores, und sturbent do also men schetzete uf 16 tusent menschen. Von diesem sterbotte wurdent die Juden in der welte verlümet und gezigen in allen landen, das sü es gemaht hettent mit vergift die sü in wasser und in burnen soltent geton han, also men sü zech. und derumb wurdent die Juden verbrant von dem mer untz in dütsche lant, one zu Avion, do beschirmete sü der bobest. […] (p. 763) Men brante die Juden An dem samstage, das was sant Veltins dag [14.02.], do verbrante men die Juden in irme kirchofe uf eime hültzin gerüste: der worent uf zwei tusent. Wele sich aber woltent lossen touffen, die lies men lebende. es wurdent ouch vil junger kinde us dem füre genomen über irer muter und vatter wille, die getouffet wurdent. und was men den Juden schuldig was, das wart alles wette, und wurdent alle pfant und briefe die sü hettent über schulde widergeben. aber das bar gut das sü hettent, das nam der rot und teilete es under die antwerg noch margzal. das gelt was ouch die sache (p. 764) dovon die Juden gedoetet wurdent: wan werent sü arm gewesen und werent in die landesherren nüt schuldig gewesen, so werent sü nüt gebrant worden. do nu dis gut geteilet wart under die antwerg, so gobent etliche ir teil an unser frowen werg oder durch got, noch ihres bihters rote. Sus wurdent die Juden gebrant zu Strosburg und des selben jores in allen stetten uf dem Ryne, es werent frige stette oder des riches oder der herren. in etlichen stetten brante men sü mit urteil, in etlichen one urteil. in etlichen stetten stiessent die Juden ire hüser selber ane und verbrantent sich dinne. |
Of the Great Plague and the Burning of the Jews
In the year 1349, there was the greatest plague that had ever been seen. This plague spread from one end of the world to the other, across seas and lands. It was worse in pagan lands than in Christendom. Many countries were so devastated that no one was left alive. It was common to find ships at sea with the goods where all the people on board were dead, and no one was left to steer the ship. In Marseille, the bishop, priests, monks, and nearly everyone perished—more than half of the population. In other kingdoms and cities, so many people died that it was horrific to recount. The Pope in Avignon abandoned all official duties, locked himself in a chamber, and allowed no one near him, always keeping a large fire burning before him. No wise master or physician could explain this plague except to say it was God's will. When the plague ceased in one place, it would begin elsewhere, lasting more than a year. This plague also reached Strasbourg in the summer of the aforementioned year, where an estimated 16,000 people died. Because of this plague, the Jews were accused and blamed throughout the world. They were charged in all countries with having caused the plague by poisoning wells and springs. As a result, the Jews were burned from the Mediterranean to the German lands, except in Avignon, where the Pope protected them. The Burning of the Jews. On Saturday, the day of Saint Valentine's [February 14th], the Jews in Strasbourg were burned in their cemetery on a wooden platform. About two thousand were burned. Those who agreed to be baptized were spared. Many young children were taken from the fire against the will of their parents and were baptized. All debts owed to the Jews were canceled, and all pledges and documents they held were returned. However, their movable goods were taken by the city council and divided among the authorities. This wealth was also the reason the Jews were killed: if they had been poor and not owed anything to the lords, they would not have been burned. When this wealth was divided among the authorities, some gave their share to the work of the Virgin Mary or for the sake of God, as directed by their confessor. Thus, the Jews were burned in Strasbourg and that same year in all towns along the Rhine, whether they were free cities, under the Empire, or under local lords. In some cities, the Jews were burned with a formal judgment, in others without one. In some places, the Jews set fire to their own houses and burned themselves inside. |
Jacobus Twinger von Könishofen: Chronik 1870-71, pp. 759-764 | Translation by ChatGPT-3.5 |
| 1349-00-00-Trier | 1349 JL | Outbreak of the Black Death and other disesases, maybe dysentery and fever - all blamed on the Jews. Unusual symptoms of plague. | Isto etiam anno (1349) Deus genus humanus triplici plaga flagellavit: ita quod plusquam medietas hominum cessit ab humanis; primo percussit ipsum epidemia, cui gibbus grevit quacunque corporis parte; et omnes anhelitum ejus capientes celerius interierunt; secundo hemeroida; tertio sacro igne, ita quod corpora in seipsis celerius fuerant consumata; sic quod orbis initio non fuerant tempore periculosiora. Que plaga fuerat Judaeis imposita, sic quod aquam in omni terra intoxicassent, de quo aer infectus, tales plagae in omnia climata pullulassent. [...] (p. 264) Et ista per sequentem annum duraverunt. | In the same year (1349), God afflicted the human race with a triple scourge: so that more than half of humanity departed from the living; first, it struck with an epidemic, which oppressed with a hunchback anyone in any part of the body; and all who caught its breath perished swiftly; secondly, with hemorrhoids; thirdly, with a sacred fire, so that bodies were consumed more rapidly within themselves; thus, since the beginning of the world, there had not been more dangerous times. This scourge had been blamed on the Jews, so as if they could poison water in all lands, from which infected air such plagues spread into all climates. [...] (p. 264) And these plagues continued into the next year. | Gesta Baldewini 1838, pp. 263-164. | Translation by Martin Bauch |
| 1349-02-09-Strasbourg | 9 February 1349 JL | In Strasbourg, three leaders were expelled after the city granted protection to the Jews. Accusations arose that Jews had poisoned wells, leading to to torture, and persecutions. Around 2,000 Jews were burned, except those who converted to Christianity. This event coincided with the rise of the flagellant movement and a severe outbreak of plague. | Die nüwe anderunge zu Strosburg Do man zalt 1349 jor, an sente Appollonien dag [9. Februar] der uf einen [p. 127] mendag geviel, und diese drie meister zu Strosburg worent: her Goße Sturm und her Cuntze von Wintertur und her Peter Swarber ammanmeister, do wurdent sü alle drie verstoßen. und kam daz alsus. Die stat hette gut genomen von den Juden, und hetten sü getrofte uf ein zil und hette in des briefe wol versigelt geben und hetten ouch solichen friden: wer in ut hette geton, er muest es swerlicher hon verbeßert, wan hetters eim kristen geton. deruf ließent sich die Juden und wurdent also hochtragendes mutes, daz sü niemanne woltent vorgeben, und wer mit in hette zu dunde, der kunde kume mit in uberein kummen. darumbe wurdent sü verhaßet von meneglichen. Derzu viel ein gezig uf die Juden, daz sü soltent die bürnen und die waßer han vergiftet. des murmelte daz volk gemeinliche und sprochent, man solt sü verburnen. des wolt der rot nüt dun, man mohte danne beweren uf sü daz es wor were, oder daz süs selber verjehen. dar uf fing man ir etwie vil und kesteget sü sere mit dümende, der verjohent drie weis viere andere sachen, der sü schuldig worent, darumbe man sü radebrehte. doch verjohent sü nie, daz sü an der vergift schuldig werent. […] [p. 130] An der mittewoche swur man den rot, an dem dunrestage swur man in deme garten. an deme fritage ving man die juden, an dem samestage brante man die Juden, der worent wol uffe zwei tusent alse man ahtete. wele sich aber woltent lon toufen, die lies man leben. es wurdent ouch vil junger kinde von dem für genomen uber irre mueter und irre vetter wille, die geteufet wurdent. waz man den Juden schuldig waz, daz wart alles wette, unde wurdent alle pfant und briefe die sie hettent uber schulde wider geben. daz bar gut daz sü hettent, daz nam der rot und teiletes under die antwerg noch marczal. daz was ouch die vergift die die Juden dote. […] Des selben jores zu suneihten erhub sich die geischelfart und daz große sterben zu Strosburg, von dem do vor geschriben stot. |
The New Changes in Strasbourg. In the year 1349, on the day of Saint Apollonia [February 9th], which fell on a Monday, these three leaders in Strasbourg were: Herr Goße Sturm, Herr Cuntze von Winterthur, and Herr Peter Swarber, the magistrate. All three were expelled, and it happened as follows: The city had taken goods from the Jews, and they had set a target and given them sealed letters of protection, ensuring them such peace: if anyone had harmed them, they would have to make severe amends, just as if they had harmed a Christian. The Jews relied on this and became so arrogant that they refused to submit to anyone, and anyone who had dealings with them could hardly come to an agreement. Because of this, they became hated by many. Furthermore, an accusation fell upon the Jews that they had poisoned the wells and the water. The common people murmured about this and said that they should be burned. The council did not want to do this unless it could be proven against them or unless they confessed themselves. As a result, many Jews were captured and severely tortured. Some of them confessed to three or four other charges they were guilty of, for which they were broken on the wheel. However, they never confessed to being guilty of poisoning. [...] On Wednesday, the [new] council took an oath, on Thursday they swore in the garden, on Friday they seized the Jews, and on Saturday they burned the Jews, who were estimated to be around two thousand in number. Those who wanted to convert to Christianity were allowed to live. Many young children were also taken from the fire against the will of their mothers and fathers and were baptized. Whatever was owed to the Jews was all gone, and all pledges and documents they had over debts were returned. The movable goods they had were taken by the council and divided among the authorities. That was also the alleged poisoning that killed the Jews. In the same year, during Solstice, the flagellant movement arose and the great mortality in Strasbourg, which has been written about before. | Fritsche Closener 1870, p. 126-130. | Translation by ChatGPT-3.5 |
| 1350-00-00-Germany | 1350 JL | The dying by the Black Death ends, but now the jews were burned in Germany because they were accused of poisoning the Christians. | Item in dem selben jubileo [1350], da daz sterben ufhorde, da worden di juden gemeinlichen in disen Duschen landen irslagen und vurbrant. Daz daden di fursten, greben, herren unde stede, ane alleine der herzoge von Osterrich, der enthilt sine juden. Unde gap man den juden scholt, daz si den cristenluden vurgeben hetten, umb daz si also sere gestorben waren. Da wart ir fluchen kundig, daz si selbes in getan hatten uf den heiligen karfridag, want man in der passien leset: "Sanguis eius super nos et super filios nostros. Daz bedudet also: Sin blut ge ober uns under ober unse kinde. | In this jubilee year (1350), when the dying stopped, the Jews were generally slain and burned in these German lands. This was done by the princes, counts, lords and cities, without the Duke of Austria, who kept his Jews. And the Jews were blamed for poisoning the Christians, which is why so many of them had died. Then their curse came true, which they themselves had put on the holy Good Friday, as we read in the Passion: "Sanguis eius super nos et super filios nostros". This means: His blood be on us and on our children. | Limburger Chronik 1883, p. 35. | Translation by DeepL |
| 1357-00-00-Magdeburg | 1357 JL | Plague strikes Magdeburg, symptoms of bubonic plague are described and Jews were persecuted, expelled and killed as they were blamed for the epidemic outbreak | Dar na [1350] aver seven jare / wart hir echt ein stervent sware (...) In dem jare wart hir grot stervent in der stadt, und was de suke der lude vor wesen hadde over seven jare, also dat den luden drose worden under den armen edder an dem halse edder boven an den beinen. Dit stervent lede men den joden to, dat ed van orer gift were. Dar umme vordref men de joden, und orer wart vele vordelget | But after that 1350 there was a very heavy mortality here for seven years. ... In that year [1357] there was a great dying in the city. And it was the same thing that had affected the people seven years earlier. People got swellings under their arms, on their necks or on the upper part of their legs. The Jews were blamed for the deaths, saying it was caused by their poison. That is why the Jews were expelled, and many of them were also killed. | Magdeburger Schöppenchronik 1869, pp. 3, 223 | Translation by Martin Bauch |
