An earthquake in central Asia released the plague bacillus. The area was under the control of the Mongol Khanate.
An outbreak of plague killed large numbers of Mongol troops that were besieging the port of Kaffa. The leader of the troops, Kipchak Khan catapulted dead bodies over the city walls.
The plague reached the port of Messina, Sicily. It had been carried from the East by trading ships. Boccaccio described the symptoms “The first signs of the plague were lumps in the groin or armpits. After this, livid black spots appeared on the arms and thighs and other parts of the body. Almost all died within three days”. The plague became known as The Black Death.
People believed that the Jews had caused the plague by poisoning the wells.
The plague reached the Spanish port of Coruna, probably carried on a ship from Bordeaux.
A religious group called the Flagellants attempted to rid Europe of the Black Death by touring the continent whipping themselves as atonement for people’s sins. They believed that the disease was a punishment from God for people’s sinfulness.
Probably brought on a ship from Norway.
