General Enea Silvio Piccolomini, an Austrian commander, faced a severe cholera outbreak in the city of Skopje during his military campaign in the late 17th century. Concerned that the unsanitary conditions and close living quarters in the city would allow the disease to spread uncontrollably among his troops and the local population, Piccolomini took the extraordinary step of ordering the complete destruction of Skopje. This included setting the city ablaze to eradicate possible carriers of the cholera bacterium. The decision was deeply controversial, reflecting the desperate measures often adopted in response to public health crises of that time.

Unfortunately, the ironies of fate struck when Piccolomini himself fell victim to the very disease he sought to combat. Soon after the burning of Skopje, he contracted cholera, succumbing to the illness he had tried to fight against. His death not only marked a profound personal loss but also raised questions regarding the effectiveness of his extreme measures and the overall impact of military leadership on public health matters. The event became emblematic of the struggles faced by leaders during epidemics, torn between protecting their people and the harsh realities of warfare.

This incident during the late 17th century is crucial for understanding the intersection of military, public health, and leadership decisions during times of crisis. Brigadier generals like Piccolomini had to navigate not just battlefield strategies but also the health outcomes of their troops and local populations. Though extreme, such actions were not unheard of in that era and serve as a stark illustration of the lengths to which military leaders would go in the name of public health.