An effect of climate fluctuation on the 1775 and 1821 rebellions in the Czech Lands

Rebellions of peasants against nobility or social order during the 18th–19th centuries in Central Europe were usually the consequences of previous long-term societal problems. Furthermore, the general social dissatisfaction might have been often amplified by negative impacts of climate fluctuation, unfavourable weather or hydrometeorological extremes. Here, we analyse the causes of two outstanding rebellions in 1775 and 1821 in the Czech Lands with respect to climate and weather variability as well as social, economic and political issues. Analysis of both rebellions is allowed based on rich documentary evidence available for the Czech Lands in the studied period (chronicles, weather diaries, grain prices etc.). Temperature and precipitation fluctuations, the occurrence of drought and wet periods, the impacts of the Tambora eruption or changes in grain prices during 1750–1830 were taken into account.  Despite some joint causes of both uprisings (unfavourable weather, poverty, harsh corvée conditions, high taxes), each of both rebellions was characterised by its special reasons. While rainy weather, poor harvest, high grain prices and subsequent famine preceded the 1775 rebellion, the emerging agrarian crisis and sudden grain price fluctuations caused by the Tambora eruption and grain overproduction in 1818 contributed to the 1821 rebellion. The previous results of climate fluctuation will also be completed by recently published datasets and analysed from the new point of view. Moreover, former approaches to studying the causes of both rebellions will be discussed with regard to the modern ones. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of past negative climate and weather impacts on human society and help to fill the gap in interdisciplinary research.