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Chronicle by Michael the Syrian

Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Excerpts
English from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

In the year fourteen hundred and twenty-six (of the Greeks, 1114), on 29 Tishrin II [November], He who has only to look at the earth for it to shake, did look; and there was a very violent earthquake in which the city of Mar`ash was entirely swallowed up and overturned, that is to say its foundations rose up and its buildings collapsed, so that it became a grave for its inhabitants and a terror to those who saw it. In this earthquake, the church of Mar John of Kaishum and that of the Forty Martyrs collapsed, and they were rebuilt by the care of Mar Dionysius, bishop of Kaishum. Samosata also fell in that earthquake, and Constantine, lord of the fortress of Gargar, was suffocated there [at Samosata, not Gargar] with many people. In every city and village numerous places collapsed".

English from Ambraseys (2009)

In the year 1426, on 29th tesrin II [November], at the dawn of Sunday, He Who looketh on the earth and it trembleth (Ps. 96.4) looked and there was a very violent earthquake in which the town of Mar’as was completely swallowed up. It was overturned, that is to say that its foundations were tossed up high and the buildings thrown down. It became the tomb of its inhabitants and a source of terror to all who saw it. In this earthquake the church of Mar John of Kaysum collapsed, along with that of the Forty Martyrs; they were rebuilt under the care of Mar Dionysius, bishop of Kayˇsum. Samosata also collapsed in this earthquake, and in that town Constantine, seigneur of the fortress of Gargar, was suffocated along with many other people. Large parts of all these towns and of villages collapsed. (Mich. Syr. xv. 11/iii. 200f.)

English from Chabot (1899-1910)

In the year 1426, on the 29th of Tesrin II (November), at dawn on Sunday, he "who looks at the earth and it trembles"4, looked and there was a very [595] violent tremor in which the city of Mar'as was completely engulfed5. It was overturned: that is to say, its foundations were thrown upwards and the buildings downwards. It became the tomb of its inhabitants, and a subject of terror for those who saw it.

In this earthquake the church of Mar John of Kaisoum collapsed, as well as that of the XL Martyrs; they were rebuilt by the care of Mar Dionysius, bishop of Kaisoum.

Samosata also collapsed in this earthquake, and, in this city, with many other people, Constantinus, lord of the fortress of Gargar, was suffocated.
Footnotes

4. Cf. Ps. xciv, 4. — 5, In 1114. Compare Matthew of Edessa, translation, p. 289.

5 footnote is missing

French from Chabot (1899-1910)

En l'an 1426, le 29 de tésrîn II (nov.), à l'aube du dimanche, celui "qui regarde la terre et elle tremble"4, regarda et il y eut un tremblement très [595] violent dans lequel la ville de Mar'as fut totalement engloutie5. Elle fut renversée: c'est-à-dire que ses fondations étaient projetées en haut et les édifices en bas. Elle devint le tombeau de ses habitants, et un sujet d'effroi pour ceux qui la voyaient.

Dans ce tremblement de terre l'église de Mar Jean de Kaisoum s'écroula, ainsi que celle des XL Martyrs; elles furent rebâties par les soins de Mar Dionysius, évoque de Kaisoum.

Samosate s'écroula aussi dans ce tremblement de terre, et, dans cette ville, avec beaucoup d'autres personnes, Constantinus, seigneur de la forteresse de Gargar, fut suffoqué.
Footnotes

4. Cf. Ps. xciv, 4. — 5, En 1114. Comp. Matthieu d'Édesse, trad., p. 289.

5 footnote is missing

Syriac from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

Michael the Syrian

1114 November 13

Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

French from Chabot (1899-1910) - embedded

  • see lower left column of page 200 starting with En l'an 1426, le 29 de tésrîn II (nov.), à
  • Volume 3, Book XV, Chapter XI
  • from Chabot (1899-1910:200)
  • from archive.org


Syriac from Chabot (1899-1910) - embedded

  • bookmarked to page 695
  • hand copied manuscript which shows some of the original layout
  • appears to be the manuscript which was written for Chabot between 1897 and 1899 CE in Edessa
  • ordered right to left
  • from Chabot (1899-1910)
  • from archive.org


Chronology
Date Reference Corrections Notes
Dawn on Sunday 29 November 1114 CE Dawn on Sunday 29 Tishrin II [November] A.G. 1426 none
  • calculated using CHRONOS
  • 29 November 1114 CE fell on a Sunday (calculated using CHRONOS)
Seismic Effects
  • there was a very violent earthquake in which the city of Mar`ash was entirely swallowed up and overturned, that is to say its foundations rose up and its buildings collapsed, so that it became a grave for its inhabitants and a terror to those who saw it
  • In this earthquake, the church of Mar John of Kaishum and that of the Forty Martyrs collapsed
  • Samosata also fell in that earthquake, and Constantine, lord of the fortress of Gargar, was suffocated there [at Samosata, not Gargar] with many people
  • In every city and village numerous places collapsed
Locations Sources
Sources

Online Versions and Further Reading
References