1438-00-00-Constance 001
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| Date startStart date of the disease. | 1438 | + |
| Date endEnd date of the disease. | + | |
| SeasonSeason (spring, summer, fall or winter) | Autumn | |
| Date otherOther mentioned dates. | ||
| PlacePlace(s), city or location of the disease. | Basel, Constance, Einsiedeln, Todtmoos | |
| RegionHistorical region(s) | ||
| CountryCurrent country | ||
| RiverMentioned river(s) | ||
| Natural eventMentioned natural event(s) | Weather | |
| 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 | Hospital | |
| LanguageLanguage of the original text | German | |
| KeywordFurther keyword(s) | Crops, Epidemics, Harvest, Mortality, Wine | |
| last edited | 23. 12. 2025 by EpiMedDat-Bot. |
Great mortality in Constance and in Basel. In Basel the people tried to appease God with a procession to Einsiedeln and Todtmoos. In the same year was the autumn really warm and mice made great damage to the fields. The Council of Constance passed several laws to curb bad social behaviour.
Text originalOriginal text
Des jaurs, als man zalt von der geburt Christi 1438 jar, do was ain sölicher sterbet das selb jar ainher, das man rechnot, das mer dan viertusent menschen zu Costentz gestorben warent. Es kam dazu, das man zu Crützlingen fünf oder sechs menschen in ain grub lait, desglichen och ze sant Stefan und das man an den enden und im spital gruben machet, in die vil lüt gelait wurdent. Und gieng die sterbet durch die land und alsbald der tod uffgehört, do wyst niemant umb kain tod, dan jederman num umb den sin.
In dem vorgemelten jaur umb pfingsten vieng man an ze Costentz zu sterben und starb nach der uffart Ulrich Stainstrauß, darnach in acht tagen sin wyb, darnach erstach sich selb Peter Stainstrauß des selben bruder, in Diebolt Gumposts hus obnan mit ainem schwertlin und messer vor laid.
In dem vorgeschriben jaure starb man gar vast in allen landen und kam gen Basel vor pfingsten. Also was der sterbet ze Basel so groß, das dero von Basel wol uff tusent personen sich uffhubent und giengent mit zwölf priestern gen Ainsidlen zu unser lieben froen. Die priester viengent an zu Basel in der statt ze singend und sungend bis zu unser lieben froen. Do sungent sy ain mettin und ain löblich meß von unser lieben froen und bichtotent und giengent zu dem hailigen sacrament mit ernst und andacht und zugent do wider haim. Sy ruftent unser lieben froen an, das sy gott bäte, das er sinen zorn gegen inen abließe, also ungestümenlich täten sy mit sterben.
Derglichen giengent och wol fünfhundert personen von Basel in das Todmos in den Swartzwald zu unser lieben froen, als die vordrigen gen Ainsideln.
In menger gegni do sturbent di lüt uß über das halb tail oder mer und an mengen enden zu ainlitzigen, zwain oder dryen höfen ganz uß, das die öd stundent one inwoner und was ain recht landsterbend und pestilenz. Und was der herbst als warm als der Ogst. In dem jar (p. 207) ward och der best win am Ottenberg, der in allen landen war und gab man ain fuder umb nün und umb acht pfund pf. Des jars wuchsent gar vil veldmüs und tätent großen schaden an dem korn und samen uff dem veld.
In demselben jar saßtent die rät ze Costentz und verbutent den blatz und das spilen an 5 pfund ₰ und verbutent das lang häß und das kain man kainer froen in dem münster reden solt an 1 pfund ₰ ; och das kain man dehain kindbettern gesenhen solt und das och niemant sweren solt und vil solicher sachen.
Item sy satzent och, als vormals ain ratsknecht in der rautstuben was, der uß und inließ, dann ethin enkainer mer sölt darinne sin und söltent die ratsherren ye ainer ain wochen in- und ußlon. Und das was ain gut gesatz.
Text translationEnglish translation of the text
In the year 1438 after the birth of Christ, there was such a mortality that year that it was estimated more than four thousand people died in Constance. It came to the point that in Kreuzlingen, five or six people were buried in a single grave, the same at St. Stephen’s, and that graves were dug at the town’s outskirts and in the hospital where many people were laid to rest. The mortality spread through the lands, and once it stopped, no one noticed any more deaths—everyone was just focused on their own. In the mentioned year around Whitsun, people began to die in Constance. After the Ascension of Ulrich Stainstrauß, his wife died eight days later, and then his brother Peter Stainstrauß killed himself in Diebolt Gumpost’s house with a small sword and knife out of grief. That same year, there was heavy mortality across all lands, and it reached Basel before Whitsun. The death toll was so high in Basel that around a thousand people from the city set out with twelve priests to Einsiedeln to Our Lady. The priests began singing in the city of Basel and sang all the way to Our Lady. There they sang Matins and a solemn Mass for Our Lady, confessed, and approached the Holy Sacrament with seriousness and devotion before returning home. They called upon Our Lady to ask God to ease His wrath, as the deaths were overwhelming. Similarly, about five hundred people from Basel went to Todtmoos in the Black Forest to the shrine of Our Lady, just like those who went to Einsiedeln. In many regions, more than half of the population or more died, and in some areas, entire farms with one or two families were completely wiped out, leaving them deserted without any inhabitants. It was truly a widespread death and pestilence. The autumn was as warm as August. In that year, the best wine came from Ottenberg, considered the finest wine in all lands, and a barrel sold for nine or eight pounds. In that year, many field mice grew and caused significant damage to crops and seeds in the fields. That same year, the council in Constance issued a ban on games and gatherings with a fine of five pounds, forbidding long coats and prohibiting men from speaking to women in the cathedral with a fine of one pound. They have also forbidden men to be present at births and no one is allowed to swear, among many other things. Moreover, they decided that as before, only one town servant was to be in the council chamber to let people in and out, and no one else was allowed inside. The councilors had to take turns each week handling the in- and outgoing matters, which was a good policy.
