Did a siege in 1347 trigger the Black Death across Europe via biological warfare?

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The Crimean port of Feodosiya, once known as Kaffa, holds a dark distinction in history. During a 1346 siege, invading forces reportedly catapulted plague-ridden corpses over the city walls. This desperate act is often cited as the earliest documented instance of biological warfare, potentially sparking a continent-wide pandemic.

Originally founded as the Greek colony Theodosia in the 6th century BCE, the city has undergone numerous transformations. By the 4th century BCE, it had evolved into a vital port for shipping wheat to Athens. After a period of decline, the city re-emerged in the 13th century as Kaffa, a thriving Genoese administrative center and a key terminus for the Silk Road. At its peak, Kaffa boasted a diverse population of approximately 80,000, serving as a major hub for east-west commerce and a significant slave market.

The city's most infamous chapter began in 1346, when the Kipchak khan Janibeg led a yearlong siege against the Genoese defenders. As the invading army succumbed to the Black Death, they allegedly used trebuchets to launch infected corpses into the city. While this event is frequently cited as the first instance of biological warfare, historians note that the plague's spread into Europe was complex. Some Genoese ships fled Kaffa believing they were disease-free, but they likely carried the infection to Italy, contributing to the pandemic's rapid expansion across the continent.

Following the Ottoman conquest in 1475, the city was renamed and eventually fell under Russian control in 1783. It was officially designated Feodosiya in 1802. Today, the city serves as a popular health resort and maritime port, preserving remnants of its complex past, including the restored Genoese citadel and an ethnographic museum. The site remains a testament to centuries of shifting empires, from the ancient Greeks and the Genoese to the Turko-Tatar khans, each leaving an indelible mark on its coastal landscape.

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