Michael the Syrian wrote that a violent earthquake struck at dawn on Sunday, 29 November 1114 CE, when the city of Marash was entirely swallowed up and overturned ... so that it became a grave for its inhabitants. He recorded that the church of Mar John of Kaishum and that of the Forty Martyrs collapsed, and that Samosata fell and many people died. He added that in every city and village numerous places collapsed.