Hunger winter in Graubünden 1622/23
The hunger winter in Graubünden 1622/23 marks the time of need in the old Free State of the Three Leagues between autumn 1622 and spring 1623.
prehistory
The Prättigau uprising during the Bündner turmoil was finally crushed by the Habsburg troops under Colonel Alois Baldiron in August 1622. In the Lindau Treaty of September 30, 1622 the Old Rhaetian Free State had to cede the Münstertal , the Lower Engadine , the Schanfigg , Davos and the Prättigau to Austria. Massive re-Catholicization began in these areas , leading to the emigration of large parts of the population. Destroyed and abandoned villages and fallow fields resulted in an almost complete crop failure in some areas.
The starvation winter
In addition to the shortage of supplies, the plague broke in Graubünden at the end of 1622. The number of victims in Graubünden is estimated in the high four-digit range. There was no longer any space in the cemeteries, so that mass burials in collective graves took place.
In a desperate letter of appeal to the Chur bishop Johann V. Flugi , who was actually hated in the valley , the people of Prättigau complained "for the sake of Jesus Christ" for help.
“Unfortunately, God have mercy, then ir Hochfürstl. Grace must have reported how we get into extreme poverty, so that a lot of people die of hunger among us ... "
Even after this appeal, aid was not delivered.
In some cases, frozen turnips were dug up and makeshift boiling. Emd was also boiled in milk to ensure survival.
literature
- Der "Hungerwinter 1622/1623", in: Bündner Kirchengeschichte Vol. 3: Albert Frigg: Die Gegenreformation, S. 74/75
Individual evidence
- ↑ Bündner Kirchengeschichte (see under "Literature"), p. 75.
- ^ History / chronology at ortschaft.fanas.ch