Cioclu în vremea ciumei: „Azi am adunat 15 morți, dar n-am putut îngropa decât 14, fiindcă unul a fugit și nu l-am putut prinde“

During the plague outbreaks in the Romanian Principalities, people faced not only the disease but also the feared gravediggers who charged for their services. Significant figures like Iancu de Hunedoara and Nicolae Mavrocordat succumbed to the plague, which had devastating effects on the population. The disease, which had not been reported in Europe for decades, resurfaced after a researcher’s death in Siberia, raising concerns. Historical records reveal that the plague had struck Romania multiple times since the 15th century, with the most notorious outbreak occurring between 1813-1814, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. Efforts to manage the epidemic included establishing hospitals and appointing gravediggers to handle the sick and deceased. The impact of the plague on society was profound, leading to widespread fear and significant loss of life.