The Great Plague of Justinian began in 541 AD, marking the first recorded outbreak of bubonic plague in history. This devastating epidemic swept through the Byzantine Empire, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 25 to 50 million people, significantly impacting the population and economy. The plague had profound social and political repercussions, contributing to the decline of the Byzantine Empire and altering the course of European history.

The Great Plague of Justinian, beginning in 541, had a profound effect on literary output in the region, effectively ending classical Roman forms. This shift led to a focus on somber, salvation-oriented Christian verse, as poets sought to address the existential crises wrought by the epidemic.