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Liber Pontificalis

Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Excerpts
English from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

Here are the prodigies which occurred at that time: an earthquake destroyed all the town walls and houses at Mamistra; and most of the inhabitants were caught up in the disaster. One knight, for example, who was trying to flee to Antioch, was swallowed up by the earth together with his horse when a fissure suddenly appeared, so that he was buried alive.

And on that same occasion, an ox was caught in another crack in the earth, and while its body disappeared into the abyss, its horns remained attached to the surface
(Liber Pontific., p.301)

English from Duchesne (1892)

  • from Duchesne (1892:301)
  • Footnotes not included. They refer to manuscript variations. See embedded text for footnotes
  • Machine translated (Google)


161 PASCHA II (1099-1118)

PASCHALIS, who was formerly also called Ranierius, a native of the province of Flamrain, in the country of Bled, from his father Crescentius, son of Alfatia, sat for 18 years, 5 days



... The wonders (prodigies) of these times. At Mamistra an earthquake overthrew all the walls and houses; A greater part of the people is involved in the fall than when a soldier tries to flee hurrying to Antioch, he was suddenly swallowed up by a gap in the earth with his horse, and was buried before he died. In the same place, the ox was intercepted by another gap in the earth, while the lower part of the body flowed, and the upper part of the horn was stuck. Rome, Lateran, in the Basilica of the Savior, the lightning struck the sacred tower, the partern of the summit and the bronze cock of Versailles he also threw down the bells, and by shaking the corner of the same basilica completely collapsed the tomb of the pope that was below. I will eat of St. Paul from Iribunal, a fire touched from heaven, so that the lead of the roof was blown and the pipes burned visibly; surely the whole would burn, unless the water and the water of the apostles confluenles the people of the city; show the evidence of the beam. Beneventi's two-headed calf was born without feet. At Rome, in the portico of Galla, I also saw that prodigy, the Glorious Name and that the young man Bonumfilius, a most daring young man, who was then carrying a sword and a spear, took him with his right arm, and took him up. "Are you," said he, "that wicked man who killed my husband?" Those who wanted revenge on their mother: "Why, she said, did he kill my husband?" Thus he remained gloriously glorious as a punishment.

In the 17th year of the pontificate of P. Pope II, in the tenth year of peace, in the first month, on the 31st day of the month, the day of the passing of the Lord, wrath went up from the earth out of the hand of his cup. ...

Latin from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

Huius temporibus prodigia. Apud Mamistram terremotus muros omnes domosque subvertit; maiorem hominum partem ruina involvit, quam dum miles quidam fugere nititur ad Antiochiam properans, subito hiatu terrae cum equo absorptus, prius est sepultus quam mortuus.

Ibidem, alio hiatu terrae bos interceptus, dum corpore inferius fluxit cornibus superius hesit.
(Liber Pontific., p.301)

Latin from Duchesne (1892)

  • from Duchesne (1892:301)
  • Footnotes not included. They refer to manuscript variations. See embedded text for footnotes


CLXI. PASCHAUS II (1099-1118)

PASCHALIS, qui et Ranierius antea vocabatur, natione Flamraineae provintiae, Blede patrie, ex pâtre Crescentio, roatre Alfatia, sedit annos XVIII menses V dies



... Huius temporibus prodigia. Apud Mamistram terremotus muros omnes domosque subvertit; maiorem hominum partem ruina involvit, quam dum miles quidam fugere nititur ad Antiochiam properans, subito hiatu terrae cum equo absorptus, prius est sepultus quam mortuus. Ibidem, alio hiatu terrae bos interceptus, dum corpore inferius fluxit cornibus superius hesit. Rome, Lateranis, in basilica Salvatoris, fulmen turrim sacram percussit, partern culminis et gallum aeneum vento versalilem campanasque deiecit, et quassato angulo eiusdem basilicae sepulchrum papae quod erat inferius omnino deslruxit. Edem sancti Pauli ex Iribunali igné de caelo tactara, ut et tecti plumbum conflaretur et tvabes visibililer ardèrent; profecto arderet tota, nisi aqua et auiilio aposlolorum confluenles populi Urbis obslarenl; monstrant indicia trabes. Beneventi bicipitem vitulum sine pedibus natum. Rome, ïn porticu Gallae, vidi id quoque prodigium, Gloriosam nomme et virlule Bonumfîlium, iuvenem audacissimum, gladium tune ferentem et hastam, armo dexlro cepisse, suscipiensque eum: "Tune es, ait, ille nequam qui virum meum interfecisti?"" Et abstracto cultello de supparo, quem tenuit evisceravit. Volentibus su mère vindictam: "Ut quid, illa inquit, virum meum interfecit?" Sic pro pena gloriose Gloriosa mansit.

Anno XVII ponticatus domni P. papae II, anno pacis decimo, mense primo, XXXI die mensis, die transitus Domini, ira de manu calicis eius de terra ascendit. ...

Latin from Duchesne (1892) - embedded



Chronology
Date Reference Corrections Notes
13 Aug. 1114 to 12 Aug. 1115 CE 16th year of Pope Pashal II none
  • The sentence immediately after the paragraph describing the earthquakes(s) refers to the 17th year of Pope Pashal II which suggests that the earthquake(s) struck during the 16th year of the reign of Pope Pashal II. According to wikipedia, Paschal II ruled from 13 August 1099 until 21 January 1118 CE. If these regnal dates are correct, The 16th year of Pope Pashal II would have spanned from 13 Aug. 1114 to 12 Aug. 1115 CE (Calculated using CHRONOS).

  • Guidoboni and Comastri (2005) attribute the damage in Mamistra to an earthquake on 13 November 1114 CE, which fits into the 16th year of Pope Pashal II, however they take the story of the Knight fleeing to Antioch as a report of a fissure in Antioch which they say amalgamates in an earthquake which they date to 29 November 1115 CE and Ambraseys (2009) dates to 29 November 1114 CE. It must be pointed out, however, that the Knight was reported to be fleeing to Antioch. It does not say he was in Antioch. The location where the Knight got swallowed up by the earth is unspecified and may be somewhere between Mamistra and Antioch.

  • Guidoboni and Comastri (2005) state that The Liber Pontificalis similarly attributes some of the damage caused by the earthquake of 13 November 1114 to that of 1115. For while the complete collapse of Mamistra did indeed occur on 29 November 1115, the surface faulting at Antioch was in fact caused by the previous earthquake
.
Seismic Effects
  • an earthquake destroyed all the town walls and houses at Mamistra; and most of the inhabitants were caught up in the disaster
  • One knight, for example, who was trying to flee to Antioch, was swallowed up by the earth together with his horse when a fissure suddenly appeared, so that he was buried alive
  • on that same occasion, an ox was caught in another crack in the earth, and while its body disappeared into the abyss, its horns remained attached to the surface
Locations
  • Mamistra
  • an unknown distance from Antioch (incident occurred to a Knight fleeing to Antioch, not necessarily in Antioch)
Sources
Sources

Online Versions and Further Reading
References