Das isländische "Regimen contra pestilenciam" im Kontext der europäischen Pestschriften

The story of the plague has been recounted repeatedly in recent years. However, considerably less attention has been paid to the texts that, from the time of the Black Death in the mid-14th century onward, attest to the emergence of a distinct literary genre.

Plague literature is one of the richest forms of medieval medical literature. Some of these practical texts are characterized by their widespread reception and considerable influence well into the modern era; moreover, they often allow us to draw conclusions about the social conditions of their time. While the majority of these writings originate from Central and Southern Europe, Scandinavia also produced works on the plague. Even distant Iceland contributed to this tradition.

The parchment manuscript "AM 696 II 4to" in the Arnamagnæan Collection in Copenhagen contains a "Regimen contra pestilenciam" from the 15th century in Icelandic. Despite its reliance on continental sources, it represents, in its specific form, an independent work with its own ideas.