Fun Fact #336 The Pestilance

 Fun Fact #336

The Pestilence 

In early 811 the skies turned orange as what many thought was blood rained down onto Europe. While we now know this was actually dust from The Shara suspended within water vapor that caused this odd weather, it was seen as a very bad sign by Europeans. That summer would be cold leading to poor crop yields and mass famine. The Famine would then be followed by disease, killing off much of the horse and cattle populations; being blamed on the dust left by the rain referred to as “The Pestilence”.

This poor weather would continue until the start of 881 contributing to the decline of the Carolingian Empire which had ruled much of central Europe encouraging the Vikings to invade. While the empire would be saved for a time under Emperor Charles the Fat, he was seen as weak for making peace with “The Great Heathen Army” (Vikings) and his inability to create a cavalry after a plague killed most of his horses. Then his nephew Arnuf of Carinthia started a rebellion that would break the empire apart after Charles died in 888 causing the various Cathanginain dukes war amongst themselves –just as rumors spread of scouts in the east known as The On-Ogar. 

Image of Carolingian Empire in 887 by WIkiwand