Black Death

Plague doctor. Etching from Jean-Jacques Manget's book on bubonic plague, circa 1721

September 21 1348 – 28 Tishrei 5109

Swiss Jews were accused of causing an outbreak of the Black Death, or bubonic plague. Riots broke out in the cities of Bern, Chillon and Zurich. Jews held in Chillon Castle were forced to admit under torture to poisoning wells in the environs of Venice. Many Jews were burned alive in the riots; others were expelled from the cities where they lived.