Original scientific paper
Measures taken to restrain the epidemics on the Apennine peninsula before the Second Morean War (1713 – 1714) according to English sources
Marija Kocić
; University of Beograd, Beograd,Serbia
Haris Dajč
; University of Beograd, Beograd, Serbia
Abstract
The war over Spanish heritage that ended in 1713 left certain parts of the Apennine peninsula in ruins. The peace agreement that founded relations between the opposed sides changed radically both the overall picture and the balance of powers on the peninsula. Spain was forced to retreat and concede its dominions to Austria; this event marked the beginning of Austrian political presence in certain parts of Italy. When Charles VI decided to send soldiers to the conceded regions, Venetian public was agitated, as it feared that German soldiers might easily bring the plague, which ravaged Vienna at the time. This fact was decisive for citizens’ opinion in some Italian states, indicating that the plague still had the prerogatives of a weapon that may easily alarm the public. On the other hand, the cattleplague, which encompassed the whole Apennine peninsula during 1713, presented a real epidemic with substantially grave consequences. At the time, as well as in the subsequent veterinary and medical studies, Dalmatia – where the disease had been registered several years earlier – was proclaimed the guilty party. Christian Cole, an English resident in Venice, wrote reports that form the basis for the major part of this research, followed – through his official and unofficial contacts – the happenings in the Papal State, showed special interest in the cattle-plague, and informed London regularly about it. His reports reveal to what extent panic took over both the Catholic clergy and the common people.
Keywords
Venice; Papal State; plague; War for the Spanish Succession
Hrčak ID:
131213
URI
Publication date:
19.12.2014.
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