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Chronicon Ad Annum 1234

Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Excerpts
English from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

In the year fourteen hundred and twenty-two of the Greeks (1111), on the night of Sunday, 29 Tishrin II [November], there was a severe earthquake and Germanicia, which is Mar`ash, was destroyed and entirely perished. Its houses were destroyed, its whole wall collapsed. Twenty-four thousand died besides strangers, and more than a hundred priests and deacons. The castle of Mansur and many other places were wiped out".
Guidoboni and Comastri (2005) notes that the fact that this report does indeed refer to the earthquake of 1114, is made clear by the fact that the same chronicle gives the right date for the earthquake in a later passage:
In the year fourteen hundred and twenty-five (of the Greeks, 1114) ... at this time the country of Gargar was ruled by an Armenian, whose name was Michael. He was the son of Constantine, who was buried under the prison of Samosata during the earthquake, which destroyed Mar`ash.

Syriac from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

Chron. Ad Annum 1234

1114 November 13

Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

English from Chabot (1916-1937)

273. An earthquake destroys Maras; Disputes between Baldwin and Josselin. - The year 1422 of the Greeks1, on November 29, on Sunday night, there was a strong earthquake, and Germanicia, which is Mar‘as, was destroyed and completely lost; Its houses collapsed and its rampart fell. Twenty-four thousand people died there, in addition to foreigners, and more than one hundred priests and Chammas (deacons). Hisn Mansür was also demolished; Several other places were destroyed from top to bottom.
276. DEATH OF THE KING OF JERUSALEM; REIGN OF BALDWIN, LORD OF EDESSA IN JERUSALEM, AND THAT OF JOSSELIN IN EDESSA. — In 1425 ...

277. Crimes committed by the Turk Balak in the land of Gargar1. - At this time, the country of Gargar was governed by an Armenian named Michel, son of Constantine, who had been buried in the prison in Samosate, during the earthquake which destroyed Mar'as2. This Michel was a proud young man and he caused it evil to everyone; He engaged in brigandage and looting in all these territories.
Footnotes

273. 1 1111; MS III, 200 : in 1426 = 1115; MTED, 289 : in 1114.

277. 1 MS III, 205-206, en 1432 G. = 1122 (+ 310)..

277 2 MTED, 294.

French from Chabot (1916-1937)

273. UN TREMBLEMENT DE TERRE DÉTRUIT MAR AB; DIFFÉRENDS ENTRE BAUDOUIN ET JOSSELIN. — L'an 1422 des Grecs 1, le 29 novembre, la nuit du dimanche, il y eut un fort tremblement de terre, et Germanicia, qui est Mar‘as, fut détruite et totalement perdue; ses maisons s'écroulérent et son rempart tomba. Vingt-quatre mille personnes y moururent, outre les étrangers, et plus de cent prétres et chammas (diacres). Hisn Mansür aussi fut démolie; plusieurs autres endroits furent détruits de fond en comble.
276. MORT DU ROI DE JÉRUSALEM ; RÈGNE DE BAUDOUIN SEIGNEUR D'ÉDESSE À JÉRUSALEM, ET CELUI DE JOSSELIN À ÉDESSE. — En 1425 ...

277. CRIMES COMMIS PAR LE TURC BALAK AU PAYS DE GARGAR1 — En ce temps, le pays de Gargar était gouverné par un Arménien nommé Michel, fils de Constantin, lequel avait été enseveli dans la prison à Samosate, lors du tremblement de'terre qui détruisit Mar'as2. Ce Michel était un jeune homme orgueilleux et il causa du mal à tout le monde; il se livrait au brigandage et au pillage dans tous ces territoires.
Footnotes

273. 1 1111; MS III, 200 : en 1426 = 1115; MTED, 289 : en 1114.

277. 1 MS III, 205-206, en 1432 G. = 1122 (+ 310)..

277 2 MTED, 294.

Chronology
Date Reference Corrections Notes
night of Sunday 29 November 1114 CE night of Sunday 29 Tishrin II [November] A.G. 1422 in one passage and A.G. 1425 in another year changed - see notes
  • 29 Tishrin II [November] A.G. 1422 equates to 29 November 1110 CE (calculated using CHRONOS with Macedonian reckoning). 29 November 1110 CE fell on a Tuesday - not Sunday (calculated using CHRONOS)

  • 29 Tishrin II [November] A.G. 1425 equates to 29 November 1113 CE (calculated using CHRONOS with Macedonian reckoning). 29 November 1113 CE fell on a Saturday - not Sunday (calculated using CHRONOS)

  • 29 November 1114 CE fell on a Sunday as specified in the text (calculated using CHRONOS) and as reported by many other authors. Thus, a correction is needed to list 1114 CE as the year.
Seismic Effects
  • there was a severe earthquake and Germanicia, which is Mar`ash, was destroyed and entirely perished. Its houses were destroyed, its whole wall collapsed. Twenty-four thousand died besides strangers, and more than a hundred priests and deacons.
  • The castle of Mansur and many other places were wiped out.
  • Michael ... the son of Constantine ... was buried under the prison of Samosata during the earthquake, which destroyed Mar`ash.
Locations Sources
Sources

Online Versions and Further Reading
References