The early 14th century in Europe is often remembered for the Black Death, but before the plague swept across the continent, another disaster struck: the Great Famine of 1315–1317. This devastating event marked the end of centuries of relative prosperity and growth, plunging much of Europe into years of hunger, disease, social upheaval, and mass mortality. The Great Famine’s impact was so profound that it shaped the course of European history for generations to come.
A Prosperous Europe on the Brink
For centuries leading up to 1315, Europe experienced a period of expansion and relative stability. This era, sometimes called the High Middle Ages, saw the population triple due to advancements in agriculture, such as the heavy plow and three-field crop rotation. The generally warm and stable climate of the Medieval Climate Anomaly allowed farmers to cultivate marginal lands, supporting a population boom.
However, this prosperity was fragile. The population had grown to the limits of what the land could support, and food reserves were minimal for all but the wealthiest. Even a modest drop in harvests could spell disaster for millions.
The Onset: Unrelenting Rain and Failed Harvests
The catastrophe began in the spring of 1315, when Europe was struck by unusually heavy and persistent rains. These deluges continued through the summer, accompanied by abnormally cool temperatures. The result was catastrophic for agriculture:
- Grain could not ripen, and fields became waterlogged, making plowing and planting impossible.
- Hay and straw for livestock could not be dried, leading to a shortage of fodder and widespread animal deaths.
- Flooding affected lowland areas, especially in England, where entire regions were submerged and infrastructure destroyed.
The rains did not relent in 1316, and by 1317, Europe was in the grip of a full-blown famine. Crop failures were near total in some regions, and livestock populations collapsed as disease and starvation took hold. In some areas, cattle and sheep numbers fell by as much as 80%.
Economic Collapse and Soaring Prices
As food became scarce, prices skyrocketed. In England, the price of food doubled between spring and midsummer of 1315. In Lorraine, wheat prices rose by 320%, making bread – a dietary staple – unaffordable for peasants. Salt, essential for preserving meat, became scarce as wet conditions made evaporation impossible, further compounding the crisis.
The government attempted to intervene. In England, King Edward II’s parliament issued price controls in 1316, but these measures proved ineffective in the face of overwhelming scarcity and black market activity.
Desperation and Social Breakdown
The famine’s effects rippled through every layer of society:
- Hunger and Disease: Weakened by malnutrition, people succumbed to diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and dysentery. Children and the elderly were especially vulnerable.
- Crime and Social Unrest: Desperate for food, people resorted to theft, violence, and even murder. There were widespread reports of parents abandoning children, and of people eating dogs, horses, and, in the most extreme cases, rumors of cannibalism.
- Breakdown of Order: Lawlessness increased, and local authorities struggled to maintain control. The social contract between lords and peasants frayed, and faith in the Church and monarchy was shaken as prayers and processions failed to bring relief.
Why Was the Famine So Severe?
Several factors combined to make the Great Famine uniquely devastating:
- Climate Change: The end of the Medieval Climate Anomaly and the onset of the Little Ice Age brought colder, wetter weather to Northern Europe, disrupting agricultural cycles.
- Population Pressure: Centuries of population growth had stretched resources thin. There were few reserves, and even the nobility and clergy were not immune to shortages.
- Livestock Disease: Malnourished animals were more susceptible to disease, leading to a collapse in meat and dairy production.
- Limited Relief: Medieval transportation and storage systems were primitive. Food could not be easily moved from surplus to deficit regions, and spoilage was common.
- Economic Vulnerability: The economy was heavily reliant on agriculture. When crops failed, there were few alternatives for work or sustenance.
The Human Toll
Estimates of mortality vary, but historians believe that between 5% and 12% of the population of Northern Europe died from starvation or related diseases during the famine years. In some regions, the toll was even higher. Chroniclers described entire villages abandoned, fields left fallow, and the countryside dotted with mass graves.
The famine’s effects lingered long after the rains stopped. Even after harvests returned to normal in 1317, it took years for food supplies and livestock herds to recover. Many who survived were weakened, making them more susceptible to disease – including the Black Death, which would strike just a generation later.
Long-Term Consequences
The Great Famine had profound and lasting effects on European society:
- Demographic Shifts: The population decline created labor shortages, which eventually contributed to the weakening of feudalism as peasants gained more bargaining power.
- Economic Changes: With fewer mouths to feed, wages for laborers began to rise, and the rigid social hierarchy of the Middle Ages began to erode.
- Psychological Impact: The trauma of mass starvation and social breakdown left deep scars. Faith in traditional authorities – both secular and religious – was shaken, setting the stage for future upheavals.
- Prelude to Crisis: The famine was the first in a series of calamities that struck Europe in the 14th century, including the Black Death and the Hundred Years’ War. It marked the end of the High Middle Ages and the beginning of a more turbulent era.
Climate, Crisis, and the “Great Famine Mode”
Modern research has shed new light on the climatic causes of the famine. Tree-ring data and historical records confirm that the years 1314–1316 were among the wettest in over 700 years. Scientists have identified a pattern of hydroclimatic variability – termed the “Great Famine mode” – that underlies some of the most severe droughts and floods in European history.
This research underscores the vulnerability of pre-modern societies to climate shocks, especially when combined with demographic and economic pressures.
Lessons from the Great Famine
The Great Famine of 1315–1317 is a stark reminder of the fragility of human societies in the face of environmental change. Its legacy can be seen in the social, economic, and political transformations that reshaped Europe in the centuries that followed.
- Vulnerability to Climate: Even advanced societies can be brought to their knees by sustained climate anomalies.
- Importance of Reserves: The lack of food storage and distribution systems made the crisis far worse.
- Social Resilience: The famine tested the limits of social order, revealing both the strengths and weaknesses of medieval institutions.
While the Great Famine is less well-known than the Black Death, its impact was arguably just as profound. It marked the end of an age, the beginning of another, and serves as a powerful cautionary tale for our own times.
