When did the Black Death reach Europe?

In October 1347, when ships from the Black Sea carrying infected crews arrived at Messina in Sicily. The exact day is not documented.

How many people died?

Estimates range from a third to half of Europe's population within roughly five years.

Why record a disaster as a museum minute?

The Museum records minutes that changed the record, whether celebrated or catastrophic, with sources attached.

October 1, 1347

1347-10-01 12:00 UTC

Held by The Museum. Not for sale.

Plague ships reach Messina

Galleys arriving in Sicily carry the Black Death into Europe, beginning the deadliest pandemic in recorded history.

Source ↗

What happened in this minute

Genoese galleys from the Black Sea docked at Messina with crews already dying. The city expelled them, but the plague was ashore, and within three years it had killed an estimated third to half of Europe.

The consequences outlived the outbreak. Labour scarcity raised wages and weakened serfdom, land use shifted, and confidence in institutions that had promised protection collapsed.

October 1347 is the conventional arrival month; the day and hour are not documented, so this entry records a midday UTC marker for the start of that month.

Questions and answers

When did the Black Death reach Europe?: In October 1347, when ships from the Black Sea carrying infected crews arrived at Messina in Sicily. The exact day is not documented.
How many people died?: Estimates range from a third to half of Europe's population within roughly five years.
Why record a disaster as a museum minute?: The Museum records minutes that changed the record, whether celebrated or catastrophic, with sources attached.