Basel
From EpiMedDat
In Basel, a total of 7 epidemic events are known so far. It is a city on the Rhine, in Switzerland in Switzerland. The coordinates are 47° 33' 38.00" N, 7° 35' 26.00" E.
Map of Basel
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1356-00-00-Basel | 18 September 1356 JL | There was an earthquake in Basel followed by a plague. | Item anno Domini 1356 in die sancti Luce ewangeliste post meridiem in Basilea super ripam Reni terre motus factus magnus et multa castra subvertit et plures interfecit, et secuta est pestilencia. | In the year of the Lord 1356 at the day of St Luke the apostle after midday the earth shook fiercely in Basel and many castles were destroyed and many [people] were killed and following this there was a plague. | Annales Wratislawienses maiores, in: Monumenta Poloniae Historica III, p. 690. | Translation by Christian Oertel |
| 1438-00-00-Constance 001 | 1438 JL | 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. | 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. | 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. | Gebhard Dacher: Konstanzer Chronik 1891, pp. 206-207. | Translation by ChatGPT-3.5 |
| 1439-00-00-Basel | 1439 JL | A plague causes great mortality in Basel during a famine. The death toll is estimated to 8000 dead people, both adults and children. | Anno Domini 1439 fuit magna karistia in Basilea, et etiam cum hoc fuit magna pestilencia et in orribilibus obierunt in numero plus qum octo milia hominum cum pueris; et presertim in ecclesia majori inter canonicos dominus Kaspar thesaurius, dominus prepositus Turicensis, dominus Michahel de Reno prepositus in Sancto Ursicino, et bene viginti cappelanos. | The year 1439 occured a great dearth in Basel. A pestilence broke out simultaneously and more than 8000 persons, adults and children, died dramatically. Among the canons of the cathedral died the treasurer master Kaspar, the prior master Turicensis, master Michael de Reno, prior of Sanctus Ursinus and 20 other canons. | Ehrard von Appenwiler chronicle, pp. 251-252 | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1451-00-00-Basel | 1451 JL | A plague breaks out in Basel and lasts two years. | Anno domini 51 was pestilency zu Basel, aber nit zu grosz. Aber dem der sine abegieng und schaden beschach, hatte sich zu clagen. Doch starb me mannesnamen denne frowennamen. | In year 1451 was a pestilence in Basel, but not severe. In the beginning it injured people. Some of them died, both men and women. | Ehrard von Appenwiler chronicle, p. 308. | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1463-07-00-Basel | July 1463 JL | A plague breaks out in Basel. | Anno domini 63 post Margarete incepit pestilentia in minori Basilea primo modicum, post in magna civitate. | The year 1463 began a pestilence in Basel after Margeret's Day (15 July). It broke out first, without being severe in Klein-Basel, then it spread in the city. | Ehrard von Appenwiler chronicle, p. 344. | Translation by Thomas Labbé |
| 1464-00-00-Germany | 1464 JL | Plague in all german territories with many deaths. | Item in dusseme jare [1464] unde in deme jare hiir bevoren was en grot unde en gemeyne pestilencie in allen Dudeschen landen, alzo dat in [p. 361] deme jare, alse men scref 63, se was boven uppe deme Ryne to Basel, Strasselborch, Spire, vordan in Doringhen, in Sassen, in Myssen unde in der Marke; mer in deme 64. jare by pinxsten quam se by de see, also to Luneborch, Hamborch, Lubeke, Wismer, Rostoke, Sund unde in de lant ummelank, unde darna by assumpcionis Marie, qwam se in Dennemarken, in Prussen unde in Liflant. In dusser pestelencien storven vele lude to Lubeke, vrouwen unde man, unde sunderliken junc volk, unde [p. 362] leghen gans kort, wente in dat gemen storven se in deme dorden dage. Unde also de ersten seden, so was id en zelfene pestelencie, wente alle arstedie, der me plecht to brukende teghen de suke, de halp gar wenynich, unde unwantlik arstedye, dede na wane der arsten to der pestelencien schedelik is, halp velen luden. Unde dusse pestilencie warde to Lubecke wente omnium sanctorum. | Lübecker Ratschronik (1401–1469), pp. 360–362. | Translation needed | |
| 1465-00-00-Basel | August 1465 JL | August was wet and cool and after that a great plague in Colmar, Rouffach, Guebwiller, Thann, Altkirch and Basel. | Der zitt [1465] was ein kalter fucht augt, dem nach volgte ein grosse pestilenz zu Colmar, Ruffach, Gebwiler, Tann, Altkyrch, Basell. […] ausz fuchtigkeitt des augst und manigfaltigkeitt der reyffen, die vor dem herbst und in dem herbst viellen, ward trefflicher seurrer wein in allen landen. | In this time (1465) was also a cold moisture, and afterwards great plague in olmar, Ruffach, Gebwiler, Tann, Altkyrch, Basel, and other places. Due to the humidity in August and the good ripeness in autumn, it became an excellent sour wine in all countries. | Maternus Berler Chronik, p. 73. | Translation by Thomas Wozniak |
