„Tollwut“ der Franken und wandernde Pest

Abstract

Following the account of the Byzantine historian Agathias of Myrina, in 554 AD a Franconian army was hit by a “plague” while invading Italy. Causes of the disease (which befell the leader Leutharis in an abominable kind of „rabies“) were numerous: wrong diatetics, air-pollution etc. But, Agathias emphasized, the barbarian insults should be regarded as the “real” cause. The historian mixed up different causes, a method which has to be regarded in its context. The deployment of medical and theological concepts was related to the literary genre, and imitation of classical literature (“mimesis”) played here a crucial role. Plague was explained in two ways: on the one hand as being carried by the wandering armies (Agathias’ view). On the other hand, plague itself could be regarded as moving: like a diligent tax collector, plague seemed to move through imperial mainland and islands, taking its toll of death. Whereas epidemics of barbarian troops could be explained conventionally by medical and theological concepts, the great “Justinianic” plague could only be comprehended from unconventional points of view. Description took the place of explanation.