The Italian plague of 1629–1631, also referred to as the Great Plague of Milan, was part of the second plague pandemic that began with the Black Death in 1348 and ended in the 18th century. One of two major outbreaks in Italy during the 17th century, it affected northern and central Italy and resulted in at least 280,000 deaths, with some estimating fatalities as high as one million, or about 35% of the population. The plague may have contributed to the decline of Italy's economy relative to those of other Western European countries.
HINT:
In this Dossier
- ⭐ Core Definition: 1629–1631 Italian plague
- 1629–1631 Italian plague in the context of The Betrothed
1629–1631 Italian plague in the context of The Betrothed
The Betrothed (Italian: I promessi sposi, pronounced [i proˈmessi ˈspɔːzi]) is an Italian historical novel by Alessandro Manzoni. The novel was first published in three volumes in 1827; it was significantly revised and rewritten until the definitive version was published between 1840 and 1842. It has been called the most famous and widely read novel in the Italian language.
Set in the Duchy of Milan in 1628, during the years of Spanish rule, the novel is also noted for its extraordinary description of the plague that struck Milan around 1630.
View the full Wikipedia page for The Betrothed