580 dysentery epidemic in Gaul explained

There was a large outbreak of a disease in Gaul (Francia) in the year 580.^[1] It is largely known from the writings of Gregory of Tours who claimed it was dysentery. This epidemic took the lives of several prominent Franks of the period, including:

• Austregilde wife of King Guntram
• several children of King Chilperic I^[2]
• Nantinus, Count of Angoulême

Contagion

See also: History of smallpox.

Some authors have argued that the contagion may have been something other than dysentery on the basis of Gregory's description of the symptoms. Several authors writing on the history of disease have claimed that this was an epidemic of smallpox.^{[3] [4]} If true, this would be one of the earliest known outbreaks of the disease in European history.^[5]

Gregory's use of the Latin term "variola" (meaning 'spotted') for this disease in his writings, which he believed to be dysentery, is also the first recorded use of this term to refer to what may have been smallpox (which today has the scientific name 'Variola').^[6]

Gregory of Tours

Gregory of Tours, from whose writings this epidemic is largely known, described the epidemic:

Austregilde, the wife of King Guntram, reportedly ordered for her doctors to be killed when she died of the disease, as she blamed them for her sickness. Her husband carried out her wishes after she succumbed.

Notes and References

1. Arnold . Ellen F. . Rivers of Risk and Redemption in Gregory of Tours' Writings . Speculum . 2017 . 92 . 1 . 117–143 . 12 August 2023 . JSTOR . 10.1086/689460 . 26154889 . 164992196 . 0038-7134.
2. Book: Delsalle . Paul . Une histoire de l'archivistique . 1998 . Presses de l'Université du Québec . 978-2-7605-0898-9 . 71–96 . 1st . 13 August 2023 . 10.2307/j.ctv18pgz4r.8 . j.ctv18pgz4r.8 . JSTOR . Dans Les Chancelleries et Les Chartriers Ve–XVe Siècle..
3. Mathewson . Henry S. . The Prophylactic Value of Vaccination . Public Health Reports . 1907 . 22 . 15 . 421–427 . 10.2307/4558913 . 4558913 . 13 August 2023 . 0094-6214. JSTOR .
4. Book: Nelson . Robert . Asiatic Cholera: Its Origin and Spread in Asia, Africa, and Europe . 1866 . William A. Townsend. . New York . 31.
5. Voigt . Emily A. . Kennedy . Richard B. . Poland . Gregory A. . Defending against smallpox: a focus on vaccines . Expert Rev Vaccines . September 2016 . 15 . 9 . 1197–1211 . 10.1080/14760584.2016.1175305 . 27049653 . 1744-8395 . 5003177 . Epub 2016 Apr 28..
6. Web site: Barrett . Peter . A Shot in the Arm: The Origins of "Vaccine" . Vocabulary.com . IXL Learning .