EpiMedDat
The Open Data Collection for Historical Epidemics and Medieval Diseases

1341-00-00-Iceland 002

From EpiMedDat

Map

Loading map...

Factbox

Date startStart date of the disease. 1341 +
Date endEnd date of the disease. 1341 +
SeasonSeason (spring, summer, fall or winter) Spring, Summer, Winter
Date otherOther mentioned dates.
PlacePlace(s), city or location of the disease. Eyjafjöll, Herðubreið, Hnapparvallarjökull
RegionHistorical region(s)
CountryCurrent country Iceland
RiverMentioned river(s) Fljótsdal
Natural eventMentioned natural event(s) Fire, Hekla, Volcanic eruption
PersonMentioned persons(s)
GroupGroup(s) of people mentioned
VictimIndication of victims +
AnimalMentioned animal(s) Cattle, Sheep
DiseaseMentioned disease(s)
Epidemic waveAssociated epidemic wave
Social responseSocial response that happened in reaction to the disease
LanguageLanguage of the original text Icelandic
KeywordFurther keyword(s) Mortality
last edited 23. 12. 2025 by EpiMedDat-Bot.

Great mortality among sheep and cattle in southern Iceland in 1341

Text originalOriginal text

Snio vetr sva micill fyrir sunnan land at engi vissi dæmi til annars þviliks. lagði a fyrir vetr ok helltz til sumars ok fylgði fiar fellir micill allz háttar. Elldz vpp quama inn setta í Heklu felli einni nótt eptir festum Dunstani. með sva miklu myrkri af ósku fallinu at í sumum stóðum fra dagmalum til nóns sa ekki skrím vti helldr enn menn væri blindir. ok var þo mikit myrkr allan daginn ok marga aðra siðan tok askan i aukla undir Eyia fióllum. ok fylgði naut fellir micill. annarr elldr var vppi í Hnappar vallar iókli. hinn priði i Herði breið yfir Fliotzdals heraði ok voru allir jafnsnemma vppi.

Text translationEnglish translation of the text

A winter with such a great snowfall in the south of the country that no one knew of anything alike. [The snow] laid before the winter and stayed until the summer, and was followed by a great mortality of all kinds among sheep. The last volcanic eruption of Mount Hekla one night after the feast of St Dunstan (= 19 May) [happened] with so much darkness from the fall of ash that in some places it was impossible to see anything outside from daytime to the ninth hour, and people were blind. And it was very dark all day and many others were covered by the ash under Eyjafjöll and there followed a great loss of cattle. Another fire was up in Hnapparvallarjökull, the third in Herðubreið above the region of Fljótsdal and they were all up at the same time.

References

  1. ^ ''Skálholtsannáll''. In: Gustav Storm: ''Islandske Annaler indtil 1578''. Kristiania 1888 
  2. ^ Translation by Carina Damm 

Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.