Prisoners

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There were many reasons people were sent to prison during the Middle Ages. Kings imprisoned people for those who displeased them. Churches imprisoned blasphemers, heretics, and their own criminal clergy. Cities would keep actual criminals and debtors or those who could not meet their financial obligations. Mediterranean seaports, such as Marseille and Venice, kept prisoners of war and convicts as gallery slaves, serving as oarsmen and were often chained to their posts when in port.

Prisons during this time were inhuman, often lacking of sanitation, poor quality food and water, little sun or light, and were overcrowded.

During the plague, Prisons and Prisoners were greatly ignored. If the administrator overseeing the prison took ill or died, the inmates could be left without food or water for days or even weeks.