Plague Epidemics in Lower Carniola between Tradition and Reality

Abstract

The contribution deals with the consequences of infectious epidemics in Lower Carniola, thar is in the part of Carniola where plaques between the 16th and 18th centuries took the most victims. By confronting contemporary sources and the exaggerated summary accounts on the number of the deceased the demographic consequnces of epidemics are in most cases given a more realistic image. Due to temporary closure of the roads the plaque caused most damage in economy, although it was fatal fort he people as well. With sources confirmed portion of the deceased town population during various outbreaks of the plaque exceeded one fifth. In the years 1599 and 1625 the plaque epidemic thoroughly vacated the town Novo mesto, badly affected Metlika and Krško in the years 1646–1647, and in the years 1691–1592 Črnomelj. Not negligible were the human victims of the last large (infectiuos) epidemic in 1715.
 *This article is an updated version of the contribution published in the review Kronika 49, 2001, nos. 1–2, pp. 23–64.