an earthquake occurred in the region west of Aleppo, destroying many places. It was followed by another earthquake on 7 November 1404 CE.
| Text (with hotlink) | Original Language | Biographical Info | Religion | Date of Composition | Location Composed | Notes |
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| Text (with hotlink) | Original Language | Biographical Info | Religion | Date of Composition | Location Composed | Notes |
AD 1404 Feb 20 Aleppo
An earthquake occurred in the region west of Aleppo,
destroying many places. The earthquake was followed by
aftershocks, some ofwhichwerenotfeltinAleppo.These
may have lasted until June and caused considerable concern. Many buildings were destroyed in Tripoli, and as a
result of this shock or of its aftershocks part of the castle
of Marqab collapsed in mid March, together with other
buildings elsewhere.
Ibn Hajar dates this event to a.H. 806, 8 Shaban,
and notes that aftershocks, which were apparently more
numerous in the region west of Aleppo, continued for the
rest of the Islamic year, which finished on 9 July 1404.The
social effects are commented on by Ibn al-Shihna (died
1485), who may well have been in Aleppo at the time. In
the last ten days of Shaban (3–12 March 1404) al-Jauhari
received news while in Cairo of a destructive earthquake
in the Tripoli area. He also notes the collapse of the castle
of Marqab ‘and elsewhere’ at the beginning of Ramadan
(13 March to 12 April). The information about Tripoli is
corroborated by the Egyptian historian al-’Ayni (1361
1451).
Al-Maqrizi (died 1441) confuses this event with
the great earthquake of 29 December 1408, which caused
destruction in Latakia and ash-Shughr, and elsewhere
(q.v.). These errors are copied by later writers (Sibt b. al
’Ajami, viii. 17b/11; al-Ghazzi, Nahr iii. 20; Katib C¸elebi
(ad ann. 806); al-’Umari f. 151v).
In this year, on 8 Shaban [806], a strong earthquake shook Aleppo and its districts and many places were destroyed. Before that, on Friday 3rd of latter Jumada, around midday(?), there was another, then it ceased. Then many separate earthquakes occurred throughout the year; the shocks were more numerous to the west of it (i.e. Aleppo).
In this year, a mighty earthquake shook Aleppo, and many places to the west were destroyed. Then there were numer ous earthquakes in this year, and in the year following Aleppo was again shaken by a great earthquake, which lasted a [long] while. That was in prior Jumada [807]. The people prayed fer vently and repented.’(Ibn Hajar2/262).
In this year [a.H. 806] there was a mighty earthquake in Aleppo and many towns, which destroyed many places; it was followed by a number of weaker shocks. Earthquakes and dis orders came together, and only did so at that time, and it was clear that the world was approaching the void. The rebellious people became God-fearing through those earthquakes, which heralded the earthquake of the Day of Resurrection. It spread through parts of the world, just as shivering spreads through the fevered . . .’(Ibnal-Shihna, f.131a).
(806) In the last ten days of Shaban news arrived [in Cairo] that a great earthquake had happened in the Tripoli dis trict, and many buildings had been destroyed. Most of the castle of Marqab, and elsewhere, fell at the beginning of Ramadan . . .’ (al-Jauhari, ii. 186).
(806) News came in the last ten days of Shaban that a great earthquake had happened in the Tripoli district, and many buildings had been destroyed.’ (al-’Aini, ‘Iqd; Taher1979,199).
In this month [Shaban 806] news arrived that a great earthquake had shaken the district of Tripoli, and destroyed numerous buildings, among them one side of the castle of Marqab.
It was general through Lattakia, Jibla, the castle of Bal atuns, and Thughr Bukas (sic.), and a number of towns in the mountains and on the coast. A number of people perished beneath the wreckage.’ (al-Maqrizi, iii. 1122)
AD 1404 Nov 7 Aleppo
A strong earthquake was felt in Aleppo and ino ther
towns in the region. It probably lasted longer than the
previous events and was followed by a few aftershocks. It
caused great alarm in Aleppo, but no damage.
This is referred to by Ibn Hajar in two passages,
the first of which gives the full date (a.H. 807, 3 Jumada
I/7 November 1404) and the time (midday). The second
passage gives the important information that ‘nothing was
spoilt’. Al-Suyuti also refers to this event, and implies that
it affected the same area as the earthquake of 20 February
1404.
‘(a.H. 807) In this year, on 3rd of prior Jumada, the city of Aleppo was shaken by an earthquake at noon; it was a frightening time. The people cried out in supplication, then it ceased. It was widespread through a number of towns in that region. The Qadi ‘Ala al-Din informed me of that.’(IbnHajar,2/290).
‘(a.H. 807) In this year, during prior Jumada, a great earthquake shook the city of Aleppo; the people were terrified and prayed to God, then it ceased. Then it returned a few times, but nothing was spoiled by it, praise be to God.’(IbnHajar,2/296).
‘[One or several earthquakes] took place in the month of prior Jumada [5 November to 4 December 1404], and this was a terrible time. As a result these earthquakes overwhelmed several of these places [Aleppo and environs].’ (al-Suyuti, 113/39).
〈104〉 1404 February 20
Intensities
Ambraseys and Melville (1995): 1404 February 20, 806 Sha’ban 8, a damaging earthquake took place affecting the region west of Aleppo, where many places were destroyed. There was a long sequence of aftershocks which caused consider able concern, particularly to the west of Aleppo (Ibn Hajar; Ibn Al-Shihna). Other accounts mentioned that the most effects were experienced in the district of Tripoli, where many buildings were destroyed (Al-Jauhari). Either as a result of this shock, or of further strong aftershocks, part of the castle of Marqab collapsed at the beginning of Ramadan (mid March), together with other structures elsewhere (Al-Jauhari; Al-Maqrizi).
Al-Ghouneim (no date): In 806 A.H. Sha’ban (from 1404 February 13), news received that a great earthquake was at Tripoli region, destroying many buildings including a part of Qalaat Al Marqab, Lattakia, Jableh, Blatnes citadel, Bkas, and other towns in the mountain and the coastal areas, killing many people under the debris (Al Maqrzi). In this year [806 A.H.] Shaaban 8, a strong earthquake was in and around Aleppo, destroying many places. It was shocked on mid-day of Friday 3rd Jamada II. Many shocks were felt during this year (Al-Asqalani). In the latest third of Sha’ban, news brought from Tripoli region, that there was a great earthquake destroying many buildings and most parts of Qalaat Al-Mar qab fell down (Al-Sayrafi).
Sieberg (1932): 1402, an earthquake was in Syria, causing landslides with damage in a few cities. There were sea waves in the coastal area.
〈105〉 1404 November 5-December 4
Intensities
Ambraseys and Melville (1995): 1404 November 7, 807 A.H. Jamada I 3 at midday, The shock was of long duration and was widely felt in other towns of the region. It caused great alarm, and was followed by a few aftershocks, but no dam age was reported (Al-Suyuti; Ibn Hajar).
Al-Ghouneim (no date): 807 A.H. Jamada I (from 5 November 1404), a great earthquake in Aleppo, causing a large panic without damage (Al-Asqalani).
Sieberg (1932): 1404, an earthquake in Syria.
AL-GHOUNEIM, A.Y. (no date): Asbab Al-Zlazel wa
Houdutheha fi Al-Tourath Al-Arabi (Causes of Earth
quakes and their Events in the Arabic Literature).
AMBRASEYS, N.N. and M. BARAZANGI (1989): The 1759
earthquake in the Bekaa Valley: implications for earth
quake hazard assessment in the Eastern Mediterranean
region, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 4007-4013.