William of Tyre records that in 1114 CE
an earthquake struck the whole of Syria which was so
great that it destroyed many cities and countless towns,
most of all around
Cilicia,
Isauria, and
Coele-Syria
.
In
Cilicia,
Mamistra and many other
towns were said to be
completely prostrated
. The
earthquake
also threw down Maresia together with its
suburbs, so that scarcely any traces remained
.
William further reports that
towers shook and the larger
buildings fell down, causing countless deaths; and cities,
like stone ramparts, formed great mounds, and crushing
their penitent citizens, entombed them
. Frightened
inhabitants
fled their homes in the cities, fearing the
ruin of their houses
, seeking safety
under the open
sky
.
This description implies energetic and continuing
aftershocks. A specific date for the earthquake was not
given—only the year 1114 CE.