Tunis
From EpiMedDat
In Tunis, a total of 2 epidemic events are known so far. It is a capital city of Tunisia The coordinates are 36° 48' 23.38" N, 10° 10' 53.51" E.
Map of Tunis
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1354-00-00-Tunis | 1354 JL | In Tunis and surrounding areas was a plague of locusts, which destroyed the fields and grass. Their decay corrupted the air, leading to mortality and famine. In the following year, the same thing happened in Cyprus, thus the king issued a decree to contain the plague. | De' grilli ch'abondarono in Barberia e poi in Cipri In questo anno abondarono in Barberia, a Tunisi e nelle contrade vicine tanta moltitudine di grilli che copersono tutto il paese, e rosono e consumarono tutta l'erba che trovarono viva sopra la terra, e del puzzo ch'uscia della loro coruzzione corruppono tanto l'aria del paese, che nne seguitò grande mortalità nelli uomini, e grande fama a tutta la provincia. E questa medesima pestilenzia di grilli nel seguente anno accupò l'isola di Cipri per sì sconcio modo, che' campi e le strade n'erano pieni, alti da terra u mezzo braccio e più, e guastarono ciò che v'era di verde. E per cessare la pistilenzia della loro coruzione i re fece per dicreto che ogni uomo grande e popolare, plelato e cittadino e barone e contadino, ne dovesse rassegnare certa misura alli uficiali eletti sopra cciò per lo re, i quali feciono fare per li campi grandi fosse, ove li mettieno e ricoprieno. E per questa legge i villani si dispuosono a ffare loro civanza, e patteggiarono colli uomini ch'avieno a ffare il servigio che comandato e imposto li era, e avieno della misura certo (p. 480) prezzo, e rasegnavalli per nome di colui che li avea pagati alli uficiali diputati sopra ciò, i quali tenieno il conto di catuno; e durò questa maladizione in questa isola parecchi anni. Con tutto l'argomento che ffu utilissimo ad alleggiare i campi e cessare la coruzione, ma grande noia e confusione fu a tutto il paese. | That year, in Barbaria, Tunis and the neighbouring areas, there were so many crickets that they covered the whole country, eating and destroying all the grass they found on the ground. The stench emanating from their decay so corrupted the air of the land that a great mortality among the people and a great famine followed throughout the province. In the following year this same plague of locusts attacked the island of Cyprus in such a disgraceful manner that the fields and roads were full of them, up to half an arm and more high, and they destroyed all the greenery there was. To put an end to the pestilence of their decay, the king issued a decree that every man, great or small, plebeian or commoner, baron or peasant, should give a certain amount to the officials he chose. These had large trenches dug in the fields, into which they placed the crickets and covered them up again. As a result of this law, the farmers began to set to work and they traded with the men who were to perform the ordered and imposed service and had a certain price for the quantity. They handed them over in the name of the one who had paid them, to the appointed officials who kept a record of each one. This plague lasted for several years on this island. Although the measure was very useful in relieving the fields and stopping the decay, it was a great labour and confusion to the whole country. | Matteo Villani 1995, Vol. 1, p. 479-480. | Translation by ChatGPT-3.5; Translation by DeepL; |
| 1355-08-00-Cyprus | August 1355 JL | In Cyprus and Tunis and surroundings were great abundance of locusts, which destroyed the harvest and the fields. It followed a famine and a mortality among the people. | Come abondarono grilli in Cipri e 'n Barberia In questo tempo abbondarono nell'isola di Cipri tanti grilli, che rimpierono tutti i campi alti da terra un quarto di braccio, e consumarono ciò che verde trovarono sopra la terra, e guastarono i lavori per modo che frutto no se ne poté avere in quest'anno. E 'l simigliante avenne questo medesimo anno MCCCLV i molte parti della Barberia, e massimamente nel reame di Tunisi; ed essendo mancato il pane al minuto popolo di Barberia, metteno i grilli ne'forni, e cotti alquanto incrosticati li mangiavano i Saracini, e con questa brutta vivanda mantenieno la misera vita, ma grande mortalità seguitò di quello popolo. | How crickets were abundant in Cyprus and in Barbaria At that time there were so many crickets on the island of Cyprus that they covered all the fields up to the height of a quarter of an arm and consumed all the greenery they found on the ground. They destroyed the crops to such an extent that no fruit could be harvested that year. Something similar happened in the same year, 1355, in many parts of Barbaria, especially in the kingdom of Tunis. As bread became scarce for the common people of Barbarie, they put the crickets in ovens, and after they were baked and crusted, the Saracens ate them. With this unappetising food they maintained their miserable lives, but great mortality followed among this people. | Matteo Villani 1995, Vol. 1, p. 703. | Translation by ChatGPT-3.5; Translation by DeepL; |
