The last major outbreak of the plague in Europe occurred in 1720 and is known as the “Plague of Marseille.” It claimed 40,000 lives out of the 75,000 inhabitants of the Phocean city, which was experiencing its twentieth epidemic of this disease since antiquity. In the 15th century, the city was struck nine times. In the 17th century, thanks to the efforts of Cardinal Richelieu and later Louis XIV, suspicious ships were barred from docking, port authorities were vigilant, and sanitary certificates were required before docking. Based on these documents, quarantines were imposed when necessary. However, under the Regency and its relaxed attitudes, the situation changed drastically.
How Did the Plague Reach Marseille in 1720?
On May 14, 1720, a Dutch merchant ship, the Grand Saint Antoine, approached one of the islets of the Frioul archipelago near Marseille. It carried precious fabrics and bales of cotton worth 100,000 écus from Asia. According to some accounts, the ship had departed from Seyde on January 31 and stopped at ports where the plague was active, such as Damascus. In Tripoli, after a storm damaged the sails, it replaced them with those from a vessel whose crew had died of the plague. Others claim the ship had “clean bills of health,” certified by non-infected ports.
Despite these claims, deaths occurred on board: a passenger, seven sailors, and the ship’s surgeon. Aware of the severity of the illness, the captain stopped in Livorno to obtain a diagnostic certificate from Italian authorities mentioning “malignant pestilential fever” before docking in Marseille. Another sailor died on May 27.
The ship’s cargo, owned by Captain Chataud and notable citizens of Marseille, including Alderman Estelle, was unloaded within just four days to be sold quickly at the Beaucaire markets. Normally, suspicious ships were rigorously inspected and quarantined. Although slightly concerned, the authorities imposed only a light quarantine on the Grand Saint Antoine at the island of Jarre, releasing the sailors after just 20 days. By then, the plague had already infiltrated the city’s streets.
First Victims of the 1720 Plague
On June 20, a 58-year-old washerwoman collapsed in a street with a bubo near her lip. On June 28, a tailor and his wife in the same neighborhood died, followed by another woman on July 1 with a sore on her nose. The first victims had come into contact with the infected cargo; the plague-carrying fleas were in the folds of the fabrics. A rat flea bite led to septicemia, killing the patient within three days.
The disease spread rapidly, with one or two deaths daily in the overcrowded city, where hygiene was appalling. By July 9, doctors suspected the plague when they discovered a 13-year-old boy infected and informed the authorities. Guards were stationed outside the boy’s house, but the municipality tried to conceal the deaths to prevent disrupting commerce. From that moment, the disease was acknowledged as the plague—the bacterium was later named Yersinia pestis in 1894, after researcher Alexandre Yersin.
Whole neighborhoods were affected when Dr. Peyssonel, one of the city’s physicians, warned the aldermen on July 18 that the danger was imminent. On July 23, 14 people died in a single street. The terrified population began to realize the plague’s presence, but authorities merely stationed guards at infected streets, relocating sick families under the cover of night.
Dr. Peyssonel alerted neighboring towns, prompting swift reactions. Trade and travel with Marseille were banned, and across Languedoc, Provence, and as far as Rodez and Toulouse, individuals from Provence were quarantined. Goods were aired for 40 days, and travel required health certificates. Letters from Marseille and nearby areas had to be disinfected in the presence of local consuls.
Plague Peaks
By July 30, there were 40 deaths daily. On August 9, the toll rose to 100. By August 15, it reached 300, and on August 30, 1,000 daily deaths were recorded. The city ran out of space for corpses. The finest promenade, the Cours, was overrun by the sick. Forced laborers, or “corbeaux,” collected bodies for burial in mass graves. With no laborers left, the municipality conscripted convicts to transport corpses, but even they succumbed within six days.
The heat worsened the situation, as decaying bodies produced a nauseating stench. Burial pits were covered with lime and earth, and churches opened their crypts for the deceased. Eventually, infected houses were fumigated, and bodies were incinerated. Helpers wore the iconic plague doctor costume designed by Dr. De Lorme, featuring a beaked mask stuffed with aromatic herbs, leather boots, gloves, and a protective coat.
A City in Crisis
By mid-September, Marseille was sealed off, and letters, fabrics, and the Grand Saint Antoine were burned on Jarre Island on September 26. However, the plague had already spread inland to Provence and Languedoc. On September 21, 400 deaths were recorded. Prominent individuals, such as the Chevalier Roze and Bishop Belsunce, worked tirelessly, risking their lives to help the sick, bury the dead, and provide spiritual support.
The epidemic left a profound mark on Marseille, remembered as one of Europe’s last devastating outbreaks of the plague.
Toward the End of Misery
At the end of September 1720, a few poor individuals, leaning on sticks nicknamed “the sticks of Saint Roch,” wandered the streets in search of food. These people had survived the plague. From their accounts, it was concluded that one does not catch the plague twice. Meanwhile, residents began returning to Marseille, only to be astonished by a deserted and nearly lifeless city.
The death toll began to decline from October 1. Beggars were sent to La Charité hospital, which became specialized in treating the plague. On November 1, 1720, Bishop Belsunce placed the city under the protection of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, celebrating a Mass with a procession and the offering of a candle bearing the city’s coat of arms. By November 30, the daily death toll had dropped to just two to five people.
In response, the Papal States constructed the Plague Wall in Vaucluse (near Gordes and Murs) to protect the Comtat Venaissin. This dry-stone wall stretched 27 kilometers. In March 1721, another wall was built, guarded by French troops, to protect surrounding territories. This second wall, spanning between the Durance River and Mont Ventoux, prevented any interaction between the Comtat Venaissin and the Dauphiné, which had not yet been affected.
Following Years
By February 1721, the plague had subsided in Marseille. However, the disease spread to Toulon and Aix-en-Provence. Strangely, in March-April of the same year, cases reappeared in Marseille, causing around 250 deaths. These cases, though, were less contagious and were considered relapses.
The city authorities acted swiftly. They closed the city gates and built two hospitals—one for the wealthy and one for the poor, the latter funded by the city. The epidemic was contained, and life slowly returned to normal. Survivors emerged, happy to reunite and resume their lives.
In June, however, another twenty people were struck by the disease. Physicians reassured the public and implemented procedures. Each neighborhood was assigned a commissioner with workers tasked with cleaning infected houses marked by red crosses. After disposing of all belongings, three fumigations were carried out: one with aromatic herbs, another with gunpowder, and the last with arsenic and other substances. Finally, one or two layers of lime were applied to the walls and floors.
The issue of disinfecting ships arose as well, requiring cargo to be sent to nearby islands. Churches, where bodies had been stored in crypts, had their doors sealed and all joints cemented. The last task in eradicating the plague was to recover stolen goods. When residents fled their homes, thieves often took advantage of the situation. Extensive searches were conducted, and the community worked together to restore peace and normalcy.
Toll of the 1720 Plague in Marseille
Marseille’s population, which was about 90,000 at the start of 1720, was halved: 40,000 people died in the city, and another 10,000 in the surrounding areas. In total, 120,000 deaths were recorded in southeastern France.
Captain Chataud, blamed for causing the disaster, was accused of deception and imprisoned. On September 8, 1720, he was sent to Château d’If, charged with “violating health ordinances, making false declarations, allowing goods to enter before proper quarantine, and facilitating the escape of a crew member during quarantine.” On April 7, 1721, he was transferred to the royal prisons of the Admiralty. Forgotten until July 8, 1723, he was finally declared “beyond prosecution” and released on August 3.
In 1802, a statue of Bishop Belsunce was erected on the Cours, later moved to the forecourt of the Cathédrale de la Major. Streets in the city bear the names of the city aldermen, and a commemorative plaque honoring them is displayed in the Museum of the History of Marseille.
