Roman Plague of 590
The Roman Plague of 590 was an epidemic of plague that affected the city of Rome in the year 590.[1] Probably bubonic plague, it was part of the first plague pandemic that followed the great plague of Justinian, which began in the 540s and may have killed more than 100 million Europeans[2] before spreading to other parts of the world[3] and which lasted until the end of Late Antiquity. The plague was described by the bishop and chronicler Gregory of Tours and later chronicler Paul the Deacon.[1]
History
The winter before the plague broke out, many of Rome's
Gregory had previously served as an
Papal processions
When the plague was in Rome in 590 and Gregory was still a deacon, he organized such a procession to take place in Rome wherein seven groups would hold processions through the streets of the city and ending at the
The Marian aspect of the procession was perhaps unusual at the time, since Rome was traditionally associated with St Peter's protection, but it may have been a result of Byzantine influence, since Constantinople was often put under the Theotokos's protection during times of crisis.[4]
The seven processional groups were: 1) clergy, 2) abbots and monks, 3) abbesses and nuns, 4) men 5) married women 6) widows and 7) children (also perhaps including the poor of Rome).[4]
The reason for the processions was because plagues and other national disasters were typically interpreted at the time as being the chastisement of God for sinfulness, and therefore to appease God's wrath, these measures were taken.[citation needed]
Eighty people collapsed during the procession as a result of being infected by plague.[1]
Pope Gregory's Vision
According to later legend, Pope Gregory saw a
The 2nd century AD imperial tomb, which became a fortress in late Antiquity, subsequently became known as
References
- ^ ISBN 9781438129235
- ^ Frerichs, Ralph R. "An Empire's Epidemic". Ph.ucla.edu. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
- ^ "Texas Department of State Health Services, History of Plague". dshs.texas.gov. Archived from the original on 19 June 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ ISBN 9780739152751
- ^ a b c "Plague in Rome". Roman-catholic-saints.com. Retrieved 7 July 2018.