EpiMedDat
The Open Data Collection for Historical Epidemics and Medieval Diseases

1383-00-00-Florence 001

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Date startStart date of the disease. 1383 +
Date endEnd date of the disease. +
SeasonSeason (spring, summer, fall or winter)
Date otherOther mentioned dates.
PlacePlace(s), city or location of the disease. Florence
RegionHistorical region(s)
CountryCurrent country
RiverMentioned river(s)
Natural eventMentioned natural event(s)
PersonMentioned persons(s)
GroupGroup(s) of people mentioned
VictimIndication of victims +
AnimalMentioned animal(s)
DiseaseMentioned disease(s) Plague
Epidemic waveAssociated epidemic wave
Social responseSocial response that happened in reaction to the disease
LanguageLanguage of the original text Latin
KeywordFurther keyword(s) Epidemics, Migration, Mortality
last edited 19. 12. 2025 by EpiMedDat-Bot.

The plague raged again in Florence and many people fled. To stop the exodus, a law was passed forbidding the Florentines to leave their homes. However, the fear of death was so great that the law had no effect.

Text originalOriginal text

Eo qui secutus est anno pestis iampridem coepta desaevivit, et fugae civium secutae sunt, per quas vacuefacta urbs suspicionem dedit, ne a plebe infima invaderetur. Itaque lex lata est, ne quis civis florentinus domo abesset, quo frequentior esset urbs, nec deserta a bonis in perditorum relinqueretur potestate. Sed neque lex neque prohibitio tenere potuit fugas; quippe adversus timorem mortis propositae timor omnis alter tamquam levior succumbebat. Ea pestis aliquot menses civitatem afflixit et insignes aliquot viros absumpsit. Ob eam causam nihil dignum memoria domi vel foris eo anno est gestum.

Text translationEnglish translation of the text

In the following year (1383), the plague that had begun some time before vented its rage anew, whereupon the citizens took to flight. The emptying of the city caused anxiety that it would be seized be the lowest class. So a law was passed forbidding Florentine citizens from leaving their homes, to keep the city populated and not leave it in the power of depraved men, deserted by the good. But no law or prohibition could restrain people from fleeing; indeed in the face of a visible fear of death all other fears yielded as being of lesser weight. The plague afflicted the city for several months and carried off a number of distinguished men. For this reason nothing worthy of memory was accomplished this year either at home or abroad.

References

  1. ^ Leonardo Bruni: Historiarum Florentini populi libri XII 
  2. ^ None 

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