Dancing Plague of 1518 in Strasbourg
- When
- 1518
- Where
- Strasbourg, Holy Roman Empire
- Episodes
- 3
In July 1518, a dancing mania outbreak began in Strasbourg, then part of the Holy Roman Empire. Frau Troffea and her daughter started uncontrollable dancing, which spread to hundreds. The event lasted until September, with disputed reports of daily fatalities.
Episodes
- Outbreak Onset
Frau Troffea and her daughter began uncontrollable dancing in a Strasbourg street in July 1518.
- Spread and Duration
Between 50 and 400 people danced for weeks, with the outbreak lasting until September 1518.
- Reported Fatalities
Some sources claim around fifteen people died per day, but contemporary records do not confirm specific fatality numbers.
Background and detail
Event Details. The outbreak started in July 1518 when Frau Troffea and her daughter Fräulein Emma Götz began dancing fervently and uncontrollably in a street. Between 50 and 400 people joined them over several weeks. Some sources claim around fifteen people died per day, though contemporary city records do not confirm specific fatality numbers.
People involved
- Frau Troffea · Initial participant who began the dancing outbreak
- Fräulein Emma Götz · Daughter of Frau Troffea and initial participant
Sources
- Dancing plague of 1518 Wikipedia
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