Erfurt latrine disaster facts for kids
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The Erfurt latrine disaster was a very unusual event that happened on July 26, 1184. It took place in Erfurt, a city in what is now Germany. Henry VI, who was the King of Germany at the time, was holding an important meeting called a Hoftag. This was like a big assembly where important nobles and leaders gathered to discuss issues.
On that morning, many nobles were gathered in a building at the Petersberg Citadel. The wooden floor of the second story couldn't hold everyone's weight. It suddenly collapsed! Most of the people fell through the floor and into the latrine cesspit below. This was basically a large pit for human waste. About 60 people drowned in the pit. This strange event is known as the Erfurter Latrinensturz in German, which means "Erfurt latrine fall."
Why the Meeting Happened
There was a big disagreement between two powerful leaders: Landgrave Louis III of Thuringia and Archbishop Conrad of Mainz. Their argument had become very serious. King Henry VI was traveling through the area on a military trip. He decided he needed to step in and help solve the problem.
So, King Henry called for a special meeting, or diet, in Erfurt. He invited many important people to join the discussions. The goal was to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
The Floor Collapse
Many nobles from all over the Holy Roman Empire arrived for the meeting. They gathered on July 25, 1184. The next day, as the assembly began, disaster struck. The wooden floor of the building where they were meeting suddenly broke. It couldn't support the weight of all the people.
Everyone on that floor fell through into the cellar below. This cellar was actually a large latrine pit. Around 60 people sadly died by drowning in the waste. Some of the important people who died included Count Gozmar III of Ziegenhain and Count Friedrich I of Abenberg.
King Henry VI was very lucky. He survived because he was sitting in a special area with a stone floor. He was later rescued using ladders. He left Erfurt as quickly as he could after the terrifying event. Landgrave Louis III of Thuringia, one of the people involved in the original feud, also survived the collapse.
