The Majapahit Black Death: How Plague Shattered an Empire

Majapahit: The Empire That Once Ruled Indonesia — Fexingo History · Oct 1, 2026 · 4m · transcript

In this episode of Fexingo History, we examine the catastrophic arrival of the bubonic plague in late 14th-century Java. While previous episodes explored the empire's military might and diplomatic networks, we now look at how the Yersinia pestis bacteria disrupted the Brantas River delta and the capital city of Trowulan. We trace the disease's likely entry through trade ports like Tuban and Gresik, analyzing the demographic collapse that weakened the central authority of King Wikramawardhana. The conversation explores how the pandemic accelerated the decline of Majapahit…