Abbot Anselm of Gembloux (Belgium)'s Continuation of Chronica Monasterii Gemblacensis by Sigebert of Gembloux

Background and Biography

Background and Biography

Excerpts

English from Ambraseys (2009)

• from Ambraseys (2009)

1115. The earth opened in the suburbs of Antioch on the day of the Ides of November [13 November], during the night, and it swallowed up a number of towers and houses nearby together with their inhabitants. Certain men, as is human wont, left the place with their wives and children; but when they returned to the places where their homes had been, the earthquake had swallowed them up. (Sigeb. (cont.) 241)

English from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

• from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

1115. On the Ides of November, during the night, the earth opened in the suburbs of Antioch, swallowing up many towers and the houses next to them together with their inhabitants. Some, as is the custom with those people, had gone away from those places with their wives and children; but on the way back the earthquake swallowed them up where they were.

Latin from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

• from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005) citing Bethmann (1844:375-376)

1115. Idibus novembris in suburbio Antiochiae terra noctu dehiscens, turres multas et adiacentes domos, cum habitatoribus absorbuit. Quidam autem, ut est illud hominum genus, cum uxore et filiis de locis illis migraverat; sed in redeundo positum idem terraemotus absorbuit in loco quo erat.

Latin from Bethmann (1844) - embedded

• If required, use left pane to navigate to Scriptores (in Folio) SS -> 6. [Chronica et annales aevi Salici] -> Anselmi Gemblacense continuatio
• see bottom sentence on page 375 starting with 1115. Idibus novembris
• from Bethmann (1844:375-376)
• from Digital Monumenta Germaniae historica Scriptores

Chronology

Date	Reference	Corrections	Notes
Night of 13 November 1115 CE	during the night on the Ides of November 1115 CE	none - but appears to be misdated	The Ides of November was a Roman festival in honor of the Jupiter which took place on 13 November Alexandre (1990:147) suggests that the correct date should be 29 November 1114 CE and opined the following: This earthquake, which actually took place on 29/11/1114, is known in more detail by Eastern sources, notably Gautier the Chancellor and Matthew of Edessa. Anselm placed the event in 1115 and apparently confused it with the earthquake in Cilicia that occurred two weeks earlier, on 13/11/1114. Ambraseys (2009) suggests that the correct date should be 29 November 1114 CE. Ambraseys (2009) notes that there is no evidence that Anselm (N.B. Sigbert died in 1112) ever visited Outremer [The Crusader States], so this story may come from returning crusaders.

Seismic Effects

• during the night, the earth opened in the suburbs of Antioch, swallowing up many towers and the houses next to them together with their inhabitants
• Some, as is the custom with those people, had gone away from those places with their wives and children; but on the way back the earthquake swallowed them up where they were

Locations

• Antioch suburbs

Sources

Sources

Online Versions and Further Reading

References