Cologne

In Cologne, a total of 15 epidemic events are known so far. It is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany in Germany. The coordinates are 50° 56' 18.57" N, 6° 57' 33.88" E.

Map of Cologne

Loading map...

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
1147-00-00-Europa	1147 JL	A pestilence with mortality breaks out (in Germany?) after a famine.	Ipso anno fames maxima facta est [...] Famem etiam pestilentia et mortalitas subsecuta est intolerabilis.	This year (1147) was a great famine [...] A pestilence and a mortality succeed dramatically to famine.	Chronica regia Coloniensis, p. 32.	Translation by Thomas Labbé
1173-12-00-Germany and France	December 1173 JL	An influenza-like disease spreads out across Germany and north western France. It affected mainly old persons and children, with a low mortality rate.	Ipso anno Kalendis Decembris tussis intolerabilis et inaudita omne Theutonicum regnum et precipue Galliam Comatam pervasit, senes cum junioribus et infantibus debilitavit, plures morti addixit. Monasteriensis episcopus Luodewicus eadem peste occubuit ; cui imperator Herimannum, fratrem comitis de Kazinelinboge, substituit.	This year (1173), at the beginning of December, an intolerable and unprecedented cough disease developed in the kingdom of the Theutons and in particular in Gallia Comata, affecting the elderly, the young and children. Many have died from this plague. The Bishop of Münster himself died. Which the emperor Henry replaced by the brother of the Count of Kazinelinboge.	Chronica regia Coloniensis, p. 124.	Translation by Thomas Labbé
1189-06-00-Cologne	1189 JL	A mortality among men and cattle breaks out during a warm summer.	Estas ferventissima usque ad augustum mensem fuit, in quo etiam mortalitas hominum et pecudum immensa contigit.	The summer (1189) has been very hot until August, and a mortality among men and cattle occured meanwhile.	Chronica regia Coloniensis, p. 143	Translation by Thomas Labbé
1190-01-00-Cologne	1190 JL	The mortality is high during the cold winter.	Hyemps sicca et calida. Mortalitas hominum immensa.	The winter (1190) has been dry and cold. The mortality has been enormous.	Chronica regia Coloniensis, p. 147.	Translation by Thomas Labbé
1192-08-00-Cologne	August 1192 JL	While the temperature decrease in August, people get sick with fever.	Estas ferventissima in augusto mense subito tempore refriguit; unde febres acutae et quartanae passim in hominibus dominantur.	The weather which was hot abruptly changed in August. Then, people were affected by fever.	Chronica regia Coloniensis, p. 155.	Translation by Thomas Labbé
1349-00-00-Limburg	1349 JL	The Black Death strikes Limburg, but also Mainz and Cologne. In Limburg, the disease killed 2.400 people. From the fear of the plague arose the flagellants movement. A long description of the flagellants movement and their behaviour and rituals follows this source passage.	Item da man schreip dusent druhundert unde in dem nune unde virzigesten jare da quam ein groß sterben in Dusche lande, daz ist genant daz große erste sterben. Und storben si an den drusen, unde wen daz aneging, der starp an dem dretten dage in der maße. Unde storben di lude in den großen steden zu Menze, zu Collen unde also meistlichen alle dage me dan hondert menschen oder in der maße, unde in den kleinen steden als Limpurg storben alle dage zwenzig oder vir unde zwenzig oder drißig, also in der wise. Daz werte in etzlichen stat oder lande me dan dru virtel jahres oder ein jar. Unde storben zu Limpurg me dan vier unde zwenzig hondert menschen, ußgenommen kinde. Item da daz folk den großen jamer von sterbende sach, daz uf ertrich was, da filen di lude gemeinlichen in einen großen ruwen ire sunde unde suchten penitentien unde daden daz mit eigen willen unde namen den babest unde di heilige kirchen nit zu hilfe unde zu rade, daz große dorheit was unde groß vursumenisse unde vurdampnisse ire selen. Unde vurhauften sich di menner in den steden unde in dem lande unde gingen mit den geiseln hondert zweihundert oder druhondert oder in der maße. Unde was ir leben also, daz igliche partie gingen drißig dage mit der geiseten von einer stat zu der andern unde furten cruze unde fanen als in der kirchen unde mit kerzen unde tortisen. Unde wo si qwamen vur eine stat, da gingen si in einer procession zwene unde zwene bit einander bit in di kirchen; unde hatten hude uf, darane stunden vorne roden cruze, unde iglicher furte sine geiseln vur ime hangen unde songen ire leisen […]	In the year 1349, a great mortality occurred in the German lands, which is called the great first dying. They died of glandular disease, and when it started, people typically died on the third day. People died in the large cities like Mainz, Cologne, and almost daily more than a hundred people or thereabouts, and in the small towns like Limburg, twenty or twenty-five or thirty people died daily, similarly. This lasted more than three quarters of a year or a year in some cities or regions. In Limburg, more than twenty-four hundred people died, children excluded. When the people saw the great misery of the dying that was upon the earth, they generally fell into deep remorse for their sins and sought penance, doing so of their own will without seeking the aid and counsel of the Pope or the Holy Church. This was great folly, a great omission, and damnation of their souls. The men in the cities and the countryside banded together and went with the Flagellants in groups of one hundred, two hundred, or three hundred, or in similar numbers. Their way of life was such that each group went for thirty days with the Flagellants from one town to another, carrying crosses and banners as in church, with candles and torches. And when they came near a town, they would proceed in a procession, two by two, up to the church. They wore hats adorned with red crosses in the front, and each carried his scourge hanging before him, singing their chants [...]	Limburger Chronik 1883, p. 31.	Translation by Martin Bauch; None;
1358-00-00-Cologne	1358 JL	A plague along the Rhine, in Cologne, with inclement weather, cold in wintern and dearth of foodstuffs.	Eo tempore est facta pestilencia valida in partibus inferioribus et in Colonia et inibi. Eo tempore antequam vindemia inciperet vinum fuit tam preciosum, quod vinum venale non inveniebatur; sed postea statim quando uve erant collecte vinum optimo foro erat, sicut unquam in decem annis antea factum est: ita ego vidi et audivi. Hyeme sequenti Rhenum est compactum circa tres septimanas.	At that time (1358), a severe pestilence occurred in the lower regions and in Cologne and its vicinity. At that time, before the grape harvest began, wine was so precious that it was not available for sale; but afterward, as soon as the grapes were collected, the wine was of the best quality ever seen in the market, as it was never in the past ten years: so I saw and heard. The following winter, the Rhine was frozen for about three weeks.	Chronicon Moguntinum 1885, p. 7.	Translation by Martin Bauch; None;
1365-10-00-Cologne	October 1365 JL	Outbreak of plague in Cologne, in Westphalia and Hesse.	In mense Octobri (1365) et infra vel citra sicut hucusque insanuit pestilencia inguinaria, sed maxime in Colonia, in Westvalia, in Hassia et in multis aliis partibus circumcirca.	In the month of October (1365) and in the months before or after, as the groin pestilence has raged so far, but mainly in Cologne, in Westphalia, in Hesse, and in many other surrounding parts.	Chronicon Moguntinum 1885, p. 14.	Translation by Martin Bauch; None;
1374-06-21-Germany	21 June 1374 JL	This passage talks about the "dancing mania" in the region along the Rhine and Moselle. People danced uncontrollably, sometimes for half a day. Some participants exploited the situation for money and immoral behavior. The event seen as a heresy lasted around sixteen weeks and was believed by some to be a sign of the coming Antichrist.	Item da man schreip druzenhondert jar unde in dem vir unde sibenzigesten jare zu mittesomer da irhup sich ein wunderlich gedinge uf ertrich unde sunderlichen in Duschem lande uf dem Rine unde uf der Moseln, also daz Iude huben an zu danzen unde zu rasen, unde stunden i zwei gen ein unde danzeten uf einer stat einen halben dag, unde in dem danzen so filen si etwan dicke nider uf di erden unde lißen sich mit fußen dretten uf iren lip; da von namen si sich an, daz si genesen weren. Unde lifen von einer stat unde von einer kirchen zu der andern unde huben gelt von den Iuden, wo in daz sin mochte. Unde wart di dinge also vil, daz man zu Colne in der stat me dan funfhondert denzer fant. Unde fant man, daz cz duisserie was unde ketzerie, unde geschach umb geldes willen, daz ir endeiles! frauwen unde manne in unkuscheit mochten leben unde di vollen zu bringen. Unde fant man, daz zu Collen me dan hondert frauwen unde dinstmeide, di nit eliche manner enhatten, di worden in der danzerie alle kinde tragen. Unde wanne das si danzeten, so bonden unde knebelten si sich umb den lip hart zu, daz si deste geringer weren. Heruf sprechent endeiles meister, sunderlichen di guden arzide, daz endeiles worden danzen, di von heißer naturen waren, unde von anderen gebrechlichen naturlichen sachen, Danne der was wenig, den daz geschach. Di meister von der heiligen schrift di besworen der denzer endeiles, di meinten, daz si beseßen weren von dem bosen vigende. Also nam ez ein betrogen ende. Unde werte wol seszen wochen in disen landen oder in der maße. Auch namen di vurgenanten denzer, so manne so frauwen, sich ane, daz si kein rot gewant mochten gesehen. Unde was ez allez duisserie, unde ist ez vurbotschaft gewest Endecristes nach mime bedunken.	In 1374, at midsummer, a marvellous thing happened on earth, especially in the German lands along the Rhine and the Moselle. People began to dance and race and stood two against one and danced in one place for half a day. While dancing they often fell to the ground and had their feet stamped on their bodies; they assumed that they had recovered. They ran from one town and from one church to another, collecting money from the people where it was given to them. And there were so many of them that more than five hundred dancers were found in the city of Cologne. And it was found that it was fraud and heresy, and was done for the sake of money, so that some of them, women and men, could live in unchastity and perform it. And it was found that in Cologne more than a hundred women and maids, who had no husband, were all carrying children at the dance. When they danced, they bound and gagged themselves tightly around the waist to appear slimmer. Some masters, especially the good doctors, said that some of them danced because they were of a hot-tempered nature, and for other vicious reasons. But there were few to whom this happened. The masters of the Holy Scriptures conjured up some of the dancers and thought that they were possessed by the evil enemy. And so it came to a fraudulent end. And it lasted sixteen weeks or about that long in this country. The aforementioned dancers, both men and women, also pretended that they could not see a red robe. But it was all deception and, methinks, a premonition of the Antichrist.	Limburger Chronik 1883, p. 64	Translation by DeepL
1381-00-00-Mainz	1381 JL	Outbreak of plague in Cologne and Mainz.	Tunc temporis fuit pestilencia gravis Colonie, Maguncie et aliis multis locis.	In this time 1381 there was a plague in Cologne and Mainz and many other places.	Chronicon Moguntinum 1885, p. 48	Translation by Martin Bauch; None;
1387-03-00-Belgium-South West Germany	March 1387 JL	A influenza-like epidemic breaks out around the middle of March in the bishoprics of Cologne and Liège and in the counties of Loon and Namur. Affected people cought a lot, experience hoarness, and some of them die.	Anno Domini M°CCCLXXXVII, circa medium marcii, venit quedam pestis super cunctum populum in episcopatu Leodiensi, Coloniensi, comitatu Losensi et Namureensi, tussis scilicet et raucitas, unde plures mortui sunt. Et pauci tamen citius sanabantur aliis eruentando per nares vel alio modo.	In the year of the Lord 1387, a kind of plague affected everyone in the bishoprics of Liège and Cologne, and in the counties of Namur and Looz. It was characterized by coughing and hoarseness, and several people died. Some healed very quickly, others expectorated a lot through the nostrils or otherwise.	La chronique liégeoise de 1402, p. 404	Translation by Thomas Labbé
1398-00-00-Köln	1398 JL	Outbreak of plague in Cologne, in the aftermath of the local jubilee (ostensio reliquarum ?), with 30.000 victims.	Post iubileum in Colonia venit inmanissima pestilencia, in qua plus quam triginta milia hominum morte preventi sunt.	After the jubilee in Cologne, a very severe plague came, in which more than thirty thousand people died.	Chronicon Moguntinum 1885, p. 74.	Translation by Martin Bauch; None;
1401-08-00-Cologne	August 1401 JL	A mortality breaks out in Cologne from August to October.	In dem selven jar augusti, septembri, octobri stroven de lude sere in Colen an den brosen inde van boser hizen van inbinnen.	In the same year (1401) in the month of August, September and October the people died in Cologne because of brosen and of bad heat (fever) from inside.	Cölner Jahrbücher, p. 91.	Translation by Thomas Wozniak
1438-00-00-Rhine	1438 JL	Great mortality around the Rhine, in Cologne, Freiburg, Nuremberg, Augsburg and Lake Constance. In addition, only little wine, due to the weather.	Item uff das selb jar [1438] vorgenant starb man allenthalb in den landen und gar vast am Rin, ze Cöln, ze Auch bis gen Fryburg und ze Nürenberg und ze Ogsburg, ze Ulm und allenthalben on an dem Bodensee. Es kam des jars och ain gar großer schutz an den reben und kam darnach regen und viel der win vast ab, das lützel win ward.	In the same year 1438 many died on the Rhine, in Cologne, and also in Freiburg, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Ulm and on Lake Constance. In that year there was frost on the vines and afterwards much rain and the wine fell off, so there was little wine.	Gebhard Dacher: Konstanzer Chronik 1891, p. 203.	Translation by Moritz Uebelhack
1462-01-21-Cologne	21 January 1462 JL	A comet appeared over Cologne, then wars and plague.	Int selve jaer openbaerde een commeet int beginsel van jaer die omtrent Sinte-Agnietendach stont boven die stadt van Coelen teghen dat teyken geheten Lijbra. Ende hadde een langhe staert te wesstenwaert omtrent xxx graden. Ende op Sinte-Blasiusdach stont se int teyken geheten Aries mitten staert ad Pilades ten oestenwaert. Sij was seer wilt, onderwijlen wit ende somwijle vuyerich, mit veel straalen. Hiernae volchden in veel landen oerlogen ende pestilencien.	In the same year (1462) a comet appeared in principle on Saint Anne's Day above the town of Cologne against the mountain called Lijbra. And had a long stand to the west about 30 degrees. And on Saint Blasiusday she stood in the sign called Aries with her standing in Pilades in the east. It was very white and sometimes dirty, with many rays. After this, many countries suffered from wars and pestilence.	Die historie of die cronicke van Hollant, p. 547	Translation by DeepL

Authority data: FactGrid: Q10400 Wikidata: Q365