The Anger of God, Plague Lazarettes and Danube Islands. The Vienna plague of 1713 and the authorities

The plague of 1713, which was introduced to Central Europe via Transylvania and Hungary, was probably the result of the last great wave of plague in Europe (1701-1713), which reached as far as southern Germany. This plague epidemic illustrates that the central European cities, in association with the early modern state, probably protected themselves better than during the previous plague waves by improved quarantine management, a rigid plague regime (e.g. isolation from vagrant poverty) and improved "domestication" of hospital services. The plague of 1713 clearly shows that the early modern state now played an increasingly important role in fighting the plague (compared to 1679) - this is clearly demonstrated by a wide publication of laws on plague by the Habsburg central administration. The fight against the plague is causally connected with the discourse of the authorities: City governments were then pleasing to God when no plague was raging within the city walls. Conversely, epidemics that had been overcome were resolved with thanksgiving ceremonies and thank processions in the sense of confessional prophylaxis by the town authorities. Saints, plague columns and votive churches reminded of successful crisis management by the authorities. The processing of fear and thanksgiving to God is not only evident in fraternities, but also in fossilized plague columns, which remind of the events of 1713.