Death and Disease During the Great Finnish Famine 1695–1697

Abstract

This article deals with descriptions of death and disease during the famine that killed over a quarter of the population of Finland at the end of the 17th century. Court records and letters have been used as a source material. According to the study, the high mortality during the spring and summer of 1697 was caused by epidemics. The diseases were called ‘blodsot’ and ‘brännesjuka’ and were in all likelihood dysentery (shigellosis), typhoid fever and typhus. Contemporary people understood that these diseases were contagious, but only random efforts were made to prevent them from spreading. The sources also reveal that the Crown was not especially interested in diseases or the reasons for the deaths. The Swedish ‘Great Power’ of the 17th century was a state that was based on efficient taxation and legal control, which can also be seen in the source material from the famine. Ultimately, the authorities knew very little about the lives, deaths and livelihoods of the peasantry that financed the existence of the Realm.

Keywords:

• famine
• epidemics
• early-modern history

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCES

Archival sources

Finnish National Archives, Helsinki (FNA)

Court records

District courts, 1696–1698

Etelä-Pohjanmaa

Kymenkartanon lääni ja Lappee

Käkisalmen lääni

Masku ja Mynämäki

Pien-Savo

Piikkiö ja Halikko

Pohjois-Pohjanmaa

Porvoo ja Hollola

Raasepori

Vehmaa ja Ala-Satakunta

Ylä-Satakunta

Town courts, 1696–1697

Helsinki

Kajaani

Kokkola

Kristiinankaupunki

Käkisalmi

Naantali

Nevanlinna

Oulu

Pietarsaari

Pori

Raahe

Rauma

Sortavala

Turku

Uusikaarlepyy

Uusikaupunki

Vaasa

Viipuri

Naantali and Lappajärvi burial records

Swedish National Archives (Riksarkivet), Stockholm (SNA)

Landshövdingarnas skrivelser till Kungl. Maj:t.

Nylands och Tavastehus län

Åbo och Björneborgs län

Österbotten

Lunds University Library (LUB), Lund

De la gardieska samlingen

Topographica, Finland

Notes

1 Muroma, Suurten kuolonvuosien väestönmenetys Suomessa; Lilja, ‘Klimatet, döden och makten,’ 24–33.

2 Sen, ‘Food Entitlement and Economic Chains’.

3 See Jutikkala, ‘The Great Finnish Famine’; Mäntylä, Kruunu ja alamaisten nälkä, 97–8, 134–46, 233–40.

4 Appleby, ‘Epidemics and Famine in the Little Ice Age’, 660–3; Fagan, The Little Ice Age, 103–12, 149–66.

5 Kaukiainen, ‘Tautimaan laulu’; Jutikkala, ‘Jyrkkä tautiteoria’; Vuorinen, Tautinen historia, 77; Kallioinen, Rutto ja rukous, 124–30.

6 Dirks, ‘Famine and Disease’, 160–1; Schaible and Kaufmann, Malnutrition and Infection; Mokyr and Ó Gráda, ‘What do People Die of During Famines’, 341.

7 Larsson, Den dolda transitionen, 93–8.

8 Cullen, Famine in Scotland, 144–5; Parker, Global Crisis, 82–7.

9 Mokyr and Ó Gráda, ‘What Do People Die of During Famines’, 340–1; Ó Gráda, Famine, A Short History, 109–10.

10 ‘Underrättelser om tillståndet i Finland’, Åbo Tidningar, no. 38 (1793).

11 Koskinen, ‘Muutamia lisä-tietoja nälkä-vuosista 1695–1697’, 74.

12 Jutikkala, Hämeen historia, 354.

13 Muroma, Suurten kuolonvuosien, 25–9.

14 Neumann and Lindgrén, ‘Great Historical Events’, 781–4; See also Mokyr and Ó Gráda, ‘What Do People Die of during Famines’, 342.

15 Vilkuna, ‘Jokapäiväinen ravinto’.

16 Lappalainen, Jumalan vihan ruoska, 113–5.

17 Finnish National Archives (FNA). Pohjois-Pohjanmaa jurisdiction (KO a:17), Kemi district court 30 June–3 July 1696; FNA. Oulu (Uleåborg) and Hailuoto (Carlö) district court 28–29 July 1696, 126–7.

18 Lappalainen, Jumalan vihan ruoska, 73–86.

19 Swedish National Archives (SNA). Landshövdingarnas skrivelser till Kungl: Maj:tt, vice governor in Helsinki, 7 October 1696.

20 SNA. Landshövdingarnas skrivelser till Kungl: Maj:tt, governor Ehrenskiöld to Stockholm, 23 November 1696; also in Snellman, ‘Pohjanmaan maaherra Johan Ehrenskiöldin’, 28.

21 SNA. Landshövdingarnas skrivelser till Kungl: Maj:tt, Lorentz Creutz in Turku, 20 March 1697.

22 SNA. Landshövdingarnas skrivelser till Kungl: Maj:tt, Lorentz Creutz in Turku, 14 May 1697.

23 Dirks, ‘Famine and Disease’, 157–8; Mokyr and Ó Gráda, ‘What Do People Die of during Famines’, 341.

24 Lappalainen, Jumalan vihan ruoska, 105–15.

25 Neumann and Lindgrén, ‘Great Historical Events’, 781–4; Lappalainen, Jumalan vihan ruoska, 105–13.

26 The petitions of Jääski, Ranta and Äyräpää and Pohjois-Pohjanmaa in Muutamia suuria nälkä, 175–8; Johan von Königstedt to Elsa Cruus in Helsinki, 6 April 1697, in Koskinen, ‘Muutamia lisä-tietoja’, 86–8.

27 Neumann and Lindgrén, ‘Great Historical Events’, 781–4.

28 Lähteenmäki, Kalotin kansaa, 262.

29 FNA. Turku town court (z:64), 30 March 1697, 286.

30 FNA. Etelä-Pohjanmaa jurisdiction (KO a:15), district court in Ilmajoki, 11 January 1697, 56–62.

31 Dirks, ‘Famine and Disease’, 158.

32 Lunds University Library (LUB), Topographica (Finland). Kumo, Forsby, Ånäs, vol. 47. Jacob Saringius to Sophia Juliana Forbus, 28 March 1697.

33 The petition of Jääski, Ranta and Äyräpää, in Lindeqvist, ‘Muutamia suuria nälkä- ja katovuosia’, 175–6.

34 FNA, Käkisalmi jurisdiction (KO a:18), district court in Tiurula and Kurkijoki, 2–8 November 1697, ff. 334v–337.

35 FNA Pohjois-Pohjanmaa jurisdiction (KO a:17), Ii and Pudasjoki district court, 9–11 July 1696, 63.

36 Muroma, Suurten kuolonvuosien, 198–9.

37 FNA, Raasepori jurisdiction, II KO a:5, Lohja district court 1–3 April 1697, 203.

38 Finne, ‘Kulkutauti vuonna 1697’, 247–8.

39 Muroma, Suurten kuolonvuosien, 34–5.

40 FNA. Vaasa town court (v:8), 31 March, 105–7; FNA. Jääski, Ranta and Äyräpää jurisdiction (II KO a:8), district court in the castle of Viipuri, 17–19 April 1697, 37.

41 SNA. Landshövdingarnas skrivelser till Kungl: Maj:tt, C.G. Maydell in Helsinki, 17 May 1697.

42 SNA. Landshövdingarnas skrivelser till Kungl: Maj:tt, governor Ehrenskiöld to Stockholm, 17 June 1696.

43 SNA. Landshövdingarnas skrivelser till Kungl: Maj:tt, Lorentz Creutz in Turku, 24 June 1697.

44 SNA. Landshövdingarnas skrivelser till Kungl: Maj:tt, C.G. Maydell in Helsinki, 9 September 1697.

45 Peasants’ petitions from 1697, in Lindeqvist, Muutamia suuria nälkä- ja katovuosia, 175–9.

46 Mäntylä, Kruunu ja alamaisten nälkä, 46–53; Lappalainen, Jumalan vihan ruoska, 215–21.

47 Bolle Luxdorph to the court in Copenhagen, 26 June 1697, in Fryxell, Handlingar, 116.

48 LUB. Topographica (Finland). Kumo, Forsby, Ånäs, vol. 47. Letters from bailiff Jacob Saringius 1697.

49 FNA. Turku town court (z:64), 14–15 May 1697, 465–8.

50 FNA. Etelä-Pohjanmaa jurisdiction, KOa:15, Mustasaari district court 6 June 1697, 530–2.

51 FNA. Raasepori jurisdiction (KO a:5), district court 14 September 1697, 532–5.

52 FNA. Helsinki town court (g:22), 20 July 1697, 160–3; 6 December 1697, 240–2.

53 Muroma, Suurten kuolonvuosien, 41.

54 FNA. Pori town court (a:5) 19 April 1697, 47–8.

55 FNA. Turku town court (z:64), 6 May 1697, 435.

56 FNA. Helsinki town court (g:22), 20 July 1697, 162.

57 See for example FNA. Piikkiö and Halikko jurisdiction (KO a:13), Halikko and Uskela district court, 8–9 June 1697, 135.

58 FNA. Piikkiö and Halikko jurisdiction (KO a:13), Paimio district court 12 June 1696, 69.

59 FNA. Raasepori jurisdiction (KO a:5), district court 14 July 1697, 525–35, 1–2 December 1697, 804–10.

60 FNA. Turku town court (z:64) 21 August 1697, 894.

61 FNA. Naantali and Lappajärvi burial records; Muroma, Suurten kuolonvuosien, 26–7.

62 FNA. Naantali burial record.

63 FNA. Etelä-Pohjanmaa jurisdiction (KOa:15) Ilmajoki district court 8 February 1697, 213–24.

64 FNA. Kymenkartano and Lappee jurisdiction (KO a:11), Savitaipale and Lappeenranta district court, 11–13 October 1697, 213.

65 Petition of Pohjois-Pohjanmaa, in Lindeqvist, ‘Muutamia suuria nälkä- ja katovuosia’, 178.

66 Cipolla, Miasmas and Disease.

67 Kallioinen, ‘Plagues and Governments’.

68 FNA. Etelä-Pohjanmaa jurisdiction (KOa:15), Vöyri district court 12 January 1697, 1–15.

69 FNA. Etelä-Pohjanmaa jurisdiction (KO a: 15), Mustasaari district court, 7 August 1697, 546–59.

70 FNA. Helsinki town court, 15 February 1697, 45.

71 SNA. Landshövdingarnas skrivelser till Kungl: Maj:tt, C.G. Maydell to Stockholm, 1 April 1697.

72 SNA. Landshövdingarnas skrivelser till Kungl: Maj:tt, C.G. Maydell to Stockholm, 8 October 1697.

73 Muroma, ‘Suuret kuolonvuodet’, 33–5.

74 FNA. Kajaani town court 12–15 April 1697.

75 See for example, FNA. Pohjois-Pohjanmaa jurisdiction (KO a:18), Ii and Pudasjoki district court, 22–23 February 1697, 382–9; FNA. Liminka district court, 30–31 August 1697, 200–1; FNA. Uusikaarlepyy town court (o:4), 3 March 1697, 41–3.

76 FNA. Raasepori jurisdiction (II KO a:5), district court, 14 September 1697, 524–32.

77 Neumann and Lindgrén, ‘Great Historical Events’, 783.

78 Muroma, Suurten kuolonvuosien, 202; Cullen, Famine in Scotland, 131; Lappalainen, Jumalan vihan ruoska, 194.

79 FNA. Pori town court (a:5), 16 December 1696, 93; FNA. Pietarsaari town court (h:6), 1 February 1696, 13–14.

80 Dirks, ‘Famine and Disease’, 160; Mokyr and Ó Gráda, ‘What Do People Die of During Famines’, 342; Parker, Global Crisis, 83.

81 FNA. Naantali burial records.

82 Patterson, ‘Bacillary Dysentery’, 604–5; Castenbrandt, Rödsot i Sverige, 16; see also Pitkänen, Deprivation and Disease, 77.

83 FNA. Etelä-Pohjanmaa jurisdiction (KO a: 15), Mustasaari district court, 7 August 1697, 546–59.

84 FNA. Etelä-Pohjanmaa jurisdiction (KO a: 15), Mustasaari district court, 7 August 1697, 560.

85 Larsson, Den dolda transitionen, 105–9.

86 FNA. Piikkiö and Halikko jurisdiction (KO a:14), Sauvo district court 31 January and 3 February 1698, 42–6.

87 Larsson, Den dolda transitionen, 109; Muroma, Suurten kuolonvuosien, 28.

88 Pitkänen, Deprivation and Disease, 69–74.

89 Pitkänen, Deprivation and Disease, 74; LeBaron, and Taylor, Typhoid Fever, 1073–4; Wirgin, ‘Typhus Abdominalis’.

90 Appleby, ‘Disease or Famine?’, 408–9; Harden, ‘Typhus’; Cullen, Famine in Scotland, 144–5.

91 Harden, ‘Typhus’, 1081; Björnström, ‘Fläcktyfus’.

92 FNA. Vaasa town court (v:8), 31 March 1697, 105–7; FNA. Uusikaarlepyy town court (o:4), 12 March 1697, 43–7.

93 Harden, ‘Typhus’; Sejvar et al. ‘Neurologic Manifestations’.

94 FNA. Ylä-Satakunta jurisdiction (KO a:17) Huittinen district court 13–15 October 1697, f. 500–4.

95 Dirks, ‘Famine and Disease’, 158–60.

96 Ibid.

97 FNA. Käkisalmi jurisdiction (KO a:19), Pielisjärvi district court 21–26 February 1698, f. 82v–84, (Koa:20) 16–21 January 1699, f. 8–8v. This is a well-known case in the history of Finland.

98 FNA. Käkisalmi jurisdiction (KO a:18), Ilomantsi and Suojärvi district court, 1–5 March 1698, f. 111v–114.

99 FNA. Vehmaa and Ala-Satakunta jurisdiction (II KO a:9), Lappee district court, 30 July 1697, 135–50.

100 FNA. Kristiinankaupunki town court (k:2), 6 April 1697, 29–34.

101 FNA. Pohjois-Pohjanmaa jurisdiction (Koa: 18), Oulu district court, 15 November 1697, 457–60.

102 FNA. Raasepori jurisdiction (II KO a:5), district court, 14 September 1697, 524–32.

103 FNA. Masku and Mynämäki jurisdiction (KO a:4), Kemiö and Merimasku district court, 30 June 1697, ff. 110v–112v.

104 FNA. Masku and Mynämäki jurisdiction (KO a:4), Lieto district court, 17 May 1697, f. 280–282v.

105 FNA. Uusikaupunki town court (p:7), 28 June, 272–3.

106 FNA. Uusikaupunki town court (p:7), 19 April, 152–3.

107 FNA. Uusikaupunki town court (p:7), 12 April 1697, 109–10.

108 FNA. Piikkiö and Halikko jurisdiction (KO a:13), Parainen district court, 8–10 February 1698, 55–63.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mirkka Lappalainen

Mirkka Lappalainen, born 1975, is a Research Doctor of Finnish and Scandinavian history at the University of Helsinki. Her area of specialty is the history of 16^th- and 17th-century Finland and Sweden, especially the history of state-building, the nobility and the judicial system.