In July 1184, Henry VI, King of Germany (later Holy Roman Emperor), held court at a Hoftag in the Petersberg Citadel in Erfurt. On the morning of 26 July, the combined weight of the assembled nobles caused the wooden second story floor of the building to collapse and most of them fell through into the latrine cesspit below the ground floor, where about 60 of them drowned in liquid excrement. This event is called Erfurter Latrinensturz (lit. 'Erfurt latrine fall') in several German sources.
Had to be mostly the fall through the first floor into the cellar that did most of them in.
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What a crappy way to die!
ReplyDeleteLike the old joke where the devil takes the dude around the different doors of Hell and he's got a choice of his poison. First door is all the fires, everybody inside burning up. Guy says nope. Second door is wild animals ripping apart limbs and faces. Guy says nope. Last door is everyone standing around in shite up to their waists drinking coffee. Guy says ok, this one for all eternity. Ten minutes later a demon walks in and says ok, coffee break is over, back on your heads.
DeleteSorry, I gotta go now.
Government contract, always taking the low bid.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it was around 1858 that the British Parliament had to stop meeting for some time due to the stench that London sewage created in the Thames River.
ReplyDeleteHenry VI was holding court in a hall built over a cesspool? Yes, there may be some historical corroboration, but does anyone else have a problem believing that German architects and engineers would actually do this? The stench would have been unbearable, especially in warm weather. All I have to say about this is, "Shit ain't right."
That's a novel way of getting rid of politicians and lobbyists. Worth keeping in mind.
ReplyDeleteAndy, where can I subscribe to your newsletter?
ReplyDeleteAt that time it is doubtful they were storing shit "in house" as evaporation was the normal way of dealing with it (off site drain fields). This one doesn't pass the smell test.
ReplyDeletePrior to modern plumbing all cities of any size were extremely odiferous places in all but the coldest weather.
ReplyDelete