Chapter Four

John Kelly, The Great Mortality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time (2005)

Chapter Four: Sicilian Autumn

Overview of the Mediterranean Sea

  • The Mediterranean Sea is described as a

    • Sea of secrets

    • Contains submerged mountains linking Tunisia, Sicily, and Spain

    • Holds mysteries of the Tethys Sea, which existed before Eurasia

Historical Figures and Events

  • Mention of the Vivaldi brothers who disappeared while searching for a passage to the Indies.

  • Discussion of the plague survivors from Caffa fleeing with sickness.

The Plague Ships

  • Plague fleet from Caffa and its rumored existence through literature related to the Black Death

    • This fleet consisted of ships carrying infected sailors

    • Reports of varying numbers of ships (2 to 12) influenced by earlier works

    • Locations affected by these ships included:

    • Black Sea port of Pera

    • Constantinople

    • Messina (Sicily)

    • Genoa

    • Marseille

Europe in Early 1347

  • England

    • Summer of 1347 characterized by a sense of normalcy, including tournament seasons.

  • Siena

    • Agnolo di Tura focuses on his family and historical documentation.

  • Paris

    • Focus on church funding and community life.

  • Thonon

    • Mention of gossip in the Jewish community.

  • Naples

    • Joanna of Naples, accused of murder, exemplifying the turmoil backdrops of the era.

Constantinople: The Plaguing Epicenter

  • The city witnessed great mortality figures:

    • Venetian estimates claimed 90% of the population might have perished.

    • Demetrios Kydones described daily burials and societal changes due to fear, showing a sense of despair and abandonment.

    • Personal account from Ioannes IV regarding the death of his son.

Spread of the Plague

  • Geography of Plague Spread

    • From Constantinople to Dardanelles

    • Division at the Dardanelles between Europe and Asia Minor

    • Plague strains spread north, south, and east affecting various territories, including Cyprus

    • Earthquakes and tidal waves hit Cyprus leading to chaos and social upheaval.

Sicily's Plight

  • Historical Context of Sicily

    • Berating accounts of a dark history reflected in societal attitudes, causing a pessimistic outlook.

    • Arrival of Genoese galleys in Messina in October 1347, depicting a false sense of normalcy before disaster struck.

  • Friar Michele's Observations

    • First reports of illness began with boils and respiratory symptoms, suggesting a progression from bubonic to pneumonic plague.

    • Discussions about the immunity of the Genoese sailors.

    • Descriptions of societal breakdown as fear rose and loyalty abandoned, where animals were the only companions to the dying.

The Dual Nature of Society during the Plague

  • Divisions within Messina

    • Infected vs. Uninfected populace; fear began creating rifts among families.

  • Fate of the Cities

    • Catania's view of Messina as prideful leading to bitterness, with accounts of diverging spiritual beliefs highlighted by St. Agatha’s relics.

  • Impact of Leadership

    • Duke Giovanni's cowardice impacting the societal response to the plague.

The Chronicle of Despair and Devastation

  • Death Toll

    • Estimations suggest a third of Sicily had died by autumn of 1348.

  • Genoa's Response to the Influx

    • Genoa suffered but failed to document adequately, only known through limited accounts, hinting at chaotic conditions.

  • Emotional Responses

    • Accounts of heroism amid calamity, with the story of Simonia illustrating personal sacrifice against the backdrop of widespread mortality.

Responses in Other Italian Cities

  • Venice

    • Noted for organizing effectively against the plague through health inspections and precautionary measures, as opposed to fatalistic acceptance.

  • Florence and Siena

    • Reaction to plague emboldened local authorities into stringent health measures alongside public mourning.

  • Coping Mechanisms

    • Authorities prioritizing public order while attempting reforms and healthcare directives to combat the spread.

    • Individual fates shaped by social isolation and wartime distractions.

Conclusion: Plague's Broader Implications

  • Resistance documented as varying: success in Venice contrasted sharply with the despair in Messina and Catania.

  • The narrative provides a comprehensive insight into the societal, pivoting fortitude amid death and a collective societal unraveling during the plague's peak.

This reading explores Chapter Four of John Kelly's The Great Mortality, titled "Sicilian Autumn." It details the arrival and initial spread of the Black Death in Europe during 1347 and 1348, focusing on the transit of the disease via trade routes and "plague ships" originating from Caffa. Key highlights include:

  • Geographic Origins and Spread: The narrative traces the plague's path through Constantinople—where mortality rates were estimated at 90%—to Mediterranean ports like Messina, Genoa, and Marseille.

  • The Sicilian Experience: It provides a harrowing account of the plague's arrival in Messina in October 1347, describing the shift from bubonic to pneumonic symptoms and the subsequent social breakdown as fear drove families to abandon one another.

  • European State of Mind: The chapter contrasts the initial sense of normalcy in cities like London and Paris with the catastrophic reality that soon followed.

  • Societal Responses: It compares different administrative reactions, highlighting Venice’s organized public health inspections and precautionary measures against the fatalistic despair and administrative cowardice seen in Sicilian cities like Catania and Messina.

  • Human Impact: Through the observations of figures like Friar Michele and chronicler Agnolo di Tura, the reading captures the emotional and demographic toll, noting that nearly one-third of Sicily's population perished by the autumn of 1348.

The reading illustrates panic in human nature as a catalyst for the total breakdown of social and familial bonds. According to the notes, when the plague hit Messina and Constantinople, fear led to a rapid transition from community-oriented living to desperate isolation. Key observations include:

  1. Fracturing of Loyalty: Friar Michele notes that as fear rose, loyalty was abandoned. This was not just a societal breakdown but a personal one, where family members often abandoned one another, leaving the dying with only animals for companionship.

  2. Extreme Despair and Abandonment: In Constantinople, the panic was so pervasive that it resulted in a sense of mourning and abandonment evidenced by daily mass burials and the loss of societal norms.

  3. Administrative Cowardice and Social Rifts: Panic manifested as cowardice in leadership, such as with Duke Giovanni, and as tribalism between cities, where Catania viewed Messina's suffering with pride and bitterness rather than empathy.

  4. Survival Instinct vs. Organized Logic: The reading contrasts the fatalistic panic of Sicily—where society unraveled—with the organized desperation of Venice, which managed to channel panic into health inspections and precautionary measures to maintain public order.