the black death in early ottoman territories - Bilkent University

of two carboni and a jandusa al scaro 235 for the last twelve days. The ruler was
still in great pain and to his physical discomfort was added the agony that some
had arrived in his campsite who were from a plague-bearing nation. No one had
access to the wooden house he had ordered to be built for him, but his physicians
and his own subjects. The Baylo ended his report with the observation that Selim
most certainly feared for his life.
But the news of Selim's sudden death was not to cause excitement with the
Venetians only. As soon as the King of Hungary, 236 was informed by some
Venetians, he called the Venetian orator to give him the good news. For in his
opinion, Selim's successor would not be a threat to him, nor to any Christians. 237 In
November, another confirmation of Selim's death reached the Venetians from their
orators in Edirne. Their letters had arrived in Ragusa, confirming that Selim had
died of plague on the 22nd of September. 238 Finally, in December, the official
declaration of the Porte reached Venice. In a short letter, the new ruler, Suleyman,
announced his father's death and availed of the opportunity to express his wish for
235
These are indeed typical plague symptoms. The baylo sir Piero Bragadin, who had been ill with
plague but recovered, also described himself as suffering from a carboni, which he described as
being a sort of giandusa.
Sanuto, , I diarii di Marino Sanuto, vol. 41, col. 525-534
Sumario di la relatione di sier Piero Bragadin venuto Baylo di Constantinopoli, fatta in Pregadi a
dì 9 Zugno 1526.
“Ha portà grandissima fatica et pericolo di vita per la peste, che mai si ha riguardato esso Baylo, sì
che miracolose si pol dir sia preservato, et sl li vene un carbon, ch' è specie di giandusa, et varite.”
236
The king himself had decided to return to Buda, because there was a great plague outbreak in
Bohemia.
237
Sanuto, , I diarii di Marino Sanuto, vol. 29, col. 340
Di Hongaria, di sier Lorenzo Orio el dotor orator nostro, in Possonia, a dì 7 Octubrio.
“Soa Maestà mandò per esso orator dicendoli in quel momento aver auto nove vere et infalibel che il Signor
turco era morto di peste nel loco dove fu il conflito col padre...dicendo debi scriver bona nova a la Signoria,
perché succederia persona non daria molestia ni a Soa Maestà, ni a cristiani.”
238
Sanuto, , I diarii di Marino Sanuto, vol. 29, col. 341
Fo leto una letera di la comunità di Ragusi, sotoscrita divotissimi servitori, rectores consilium et
comunitas civitatis Ragusii, data in Ragusi, a dì 21.
“Come, haveano auto letere di soi oratori di Andernopoli di 5 Octobre, che li avisa avano a dì 22.”
Septembrio morite Selim signor, di peste, ...
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