Continuation of the Damascus Chronicle by Ibn al-Qalanisi
ذيـل تـاريـخ دمـشـق by ابو يعل
Aliases
Aliases Arabic Ibn al-Qalanisi ابو يعل Abu Ya‘la ابو يعل Abu Ya‘la Hamzah ibn Asad ibn al-Qalanisi ابو يعلى حمزة ابن الاسد ابن القلانسي Background and Biography Background and Biography
Excerpts English from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)"During the afternoon of Tuesday 4 Safar [11 October], there was a terrible earthquake at Damascus, causing the earth to shake three times. There were repeated further shocks the following Friday at the hour of sunset. During the first third of the night of Monday 19 Safar [27 October], the earthquake returned and the earth shook three times. Praise be to God and the manifest signs of his unfathomable power. There were more shocks during Wednesday night, and yet more in the last quarter of Friday night. Travellers and reliable witnesses have described these shocks in the north [of Syria]. It was at Aleppo and the surrounding area that the earthquake was strongest, causing a large number of houses to collapse, damaging the city walls and producing cracks in the citadel. The populace abandoned their homes in panic, and fled from the city. According to some exaggerated witness accounts, there were a hundred shocks; according to more reliable witnesses, the number of shocks was eighty, but God the Blessed, Lord of the universe, the Almighty, knows what in hidden and what is clear. In the early hours of the morning of Wednesday 21 Shawwal [21 June], there were some terrifying shocks which struck men's hearts with fear. [...] The chronicles record that the citadel of Al-Atharib was taken by 'Imad al-Din Atabik [the Seljukid governor of Mawsil] on Friday 1 Safar [9 October 1138], and they report a strong earthquake in Syria during the night of Friday 8 Safar [15 October]".
English from Ambraseys (2009)
‘(A.H. 533) On Tuesday 4 Safar a terrible earthquake occurred at Damascus in the afternoon. The earth shook three times. It was followed during the night of Friday, at twilight, by a second earthquake during which the earth shook several times. On 19 Safar the earthquake was repeated three times . . . It occurred again during the night of the following Wednesday and in the last quarter of the night of Friday. A few credible travellers and some people who were coming from the North all agreed in describing the earthquake shocks of which we have just been speaking and in saying that they reached their zenith at Alep and in the surrounding cities, fortresses and provinces, to the point that most of them collapsed, the ramparts buckled and the walls of the citadel collapsed. The people of Aleppo rushed outside their homes and spread outside the city, as they feared for their lives. Some exaggerated and said that the number of tremors had reached 100, whereas others averred that there were 80.’ (Ibn al- Qalanisi 250/268).
- from Ambraseys (2009)
‘(A.H. 533) It was also announced that a great earthquake had taken place in Syria, after those which have been mentioned, in the night of Friday 8 Safar [14 October 1138].’ (Ibn al-Qalanisi 253/270).English from Taher (1979)
On Tuesday 4 çafar, a tremendous earthquake occurred in Damascus in the afternoon. There were three tremors followed by others on Friday night at dusk, shaking the earth several times. On the 19th of Safar, there was another triple shock - glory to God Almighty and Wonderful — and new shakings in the night on Wednesday, then in the last quarter of that of Friday.
- from Taher (1979)
We have from trustworthy people the description of this series in the North of the country (Syria). It was the worst in Aleppo and surrounding areas, collapsing houses in large numbers, cracking the walls, and shaking the walls of the citadel. The people of Aleppo evacuated their homes in the disaster. There were 100 shocks according to those who exaggerate and 80 according to the most precise witnesses. God knows what is true and what is false.
'Imad ad-Din at-Tâblk conquered the citadel of al-Athârib on Friday 1st Safar. We know that very violent tremors had occurred in Syria during the night from Friday 8 çafar. And on Saturday 17 Cha'aban (9 nisân) thunder resounded with a great crash before noon and a storm broke out, with hailstones weighing 8 “dirham” (some say 17 dirhams). Many birds were killed and plants and fruits were destroyed. On the morning of Wednesday 21 chawal, there were earthquakes which inspired great fear in hearts and souls.English from Taher (1996)
On Tuesday 4 Safar (October 12) in the afternoon a tremendous earthquake occurred in Damascus; three other tremors followed on Friday night at dusk. On Safar 19 (October 27) there was another triple tremor. The maximum power is recorded in the North of Syria, in Aleppo where there were 100 tremors according to those who exaggerate, 80 according to more precise witnesses; many houses are demolished; walls and ramparts are cracked as are the walls of the citadel.
- from Taher (1996)
English from Gibb (1932)
PART II
- Part II
- It's not in here. Gibb (1932) must not have translated the part that discussed the earthquakes
- from Gibb (1932:252-256)
FROM 1132 TO 1159
THE REIGN OF SHAMS AL-MULUK ABU'L-FATH ISMA ‘IL SON OF TAJ AL-MULUK BURI SON OF ZAHIR AL-DlN ATABEK
...A.H.533
The first day of Muharram of this year was Friday [9th September].
In this month, the amIr Tmād al-Dīn Atābek met the Khātūn Safwat al-Mulk, mother of Shihāb al-Dīn, outside Hims, where there was assembled with him a great company of envoys from the Caliph, the Sultan, Egypt, the Greeks, Damascus, and elsewhere. In the same month the Franks made a raid in the neighbourhood of Bānyās. Shihāb al-Din went out with the ‘askar to pursue them, but failing to overtake them returned to the city.
On the morning of Friday 23rd Shawwāl (23rd June), there was made known the plot directed against the amīr Shihāb al-Dīn Mahmūd, son of Tāj al-Mulūk, son of Zahīr al-Dīn Atābek, and his assassination while he was asleep in his bed during the preceding night, by the hands of his accursed slaves, Albaghash (?) the Armenian, to whom he had shown special favour and on whom he relied in all his occupations, the eunuch Yusuf, whom he trusted to sleep by him, and al- Kharkāwī, the groom of the bed-chamber, who used to sleep in proximity to him. . . . These three accursed malefactors used to sleep round about his bed. When this thing was agreed upon with them, they lay down in their places as usual, and at midnight, when they were assured that he was asleep, they attacked and killed him in his bed upon his couch. Another groom who was with them called out and they killed him too. They planned out their course of action, concealed their secret, and so got out of the citadel. When the assassination became known, search was made for Albaghash, but he had fled and his house was plundered. The other two were seized and crucified on the wall over the Jabiya gate. Letters were sent to his brother the amir Jamālal-Dīn Muhammad, son of Tāj al-Mulūk, lord of Ba‘albek, acquainting him with the state of affairs. He came in haste to Damascus, without losing a moment, and took the place of Shihāb al-Dīn. He was formally invested with authority, and the oath of allegiance and loyalty was taken by the amirs, commanders, and notables. Matters were thus settled and calm restored.
When the news reached the Khātūn Safwat ai-Mulk, mother of the amir Shihāb al-Dīn (God’s meicy upon him) she was troubled and distressed, grieved at his loss, and indignant that such a fate should have befallen her son. She wrote to the amir ‘Imād al-Dīn Atābek, who was at Mosul, acquainting him with what had happened, and spurring him on to march without delay to take vengeance. On leaming this news, he was moved with the utmost detestation of the crime and was not one to be content with the continuance of such actions. He therefore devoted his attention to making preparations for the task to which she had invited him, and having mustered his forces for this purpose, bent the reins of his determinations towards Syria, marching with all speed upon Damascus in order to attain every object of his ambition. A series of reports brought confirmation of this purpose to Damascus, where all precautions were taken and preparations made to guard the city against him. This was followed by news of his descent upon Ba‘albek on Thursday, 20th Dhul-Hijja, with a numerous army and vast host.
Prior to his arrival before it, the town had been garrisoned by men-at-arms and supplied with aU equipment, and the appointment of its commander left to Mu ‘īn al-Din Unur, whose position had become firmly established in the kingdom, in which he held the highest rank and his commands and injunctions were executed. The atābek set up a number of catapults against the city, engaged the garrison in constant attacks, and rigorously blockaded it. It is said that the number of catapults mounted against it were fourteen, by which it was bombarded in tum night and day, until the inhabitants were on the verge of destruction. This went on until news arrived that it had surrendered on terms, owing to the greatness of the distress suffered by the inhabitants, the blockade and the breaching of the wall. The tower held out, defended by a party of the bravest of the Turks who had been specially deputed to protect it and prevent it from being captured, but when they despaired of help reaching them from Mu‘īn al-Dīn1 and of the arrival of any force to deliver them from the impending disaster, they surrendered it to Imād al-Dīn Atābek, after receiving from him solemn assurances, confirmed by his oath, of their personal safety. But when the fortress was in his hands he violated his pledge and went back on his guarantee of security, owing to a personal grudge and irritation against its defenders which he nursed in secret. He ordered them all to be crucified and none of them escaped except those whose destiny guarded them. The people were*horrified at his action and at such an unheard-of breach of oath on his part.
Prior to this, news had been received of ‘Imād al-Dīn Atābek’s capture of the castle of al-Athārib, on Friday, ist Safar (7th October), of this year.
In Ramadān of this year (May) the report was received that the amir al-Afdal Rudwān b. al-Walakhshi, the holder of power in Egypt, had left the country on account of a certain matter which had put him in fear of his lord the [Fātimid] Imām al-Hāfiz li-Dīn Allāh, Commander of the Faithful. He came to Sarkhad, and it was reported that its governor, Amin al-Dawla Gumushtagīn al-Atābekī, had received him with honour and the greatest respect. He stayed for some time enjoy ing his hospitality and generosity, and thereafter left him to retum to Egypt in pursuit of a plan which he had devised and a purpose upon which he had decided. When he arrived in Cairo, this plan miscarried with him, and he failed to attain what he had set his mind upon, and was placed in honourable confinement in the palace.Footnotes1 There is a play of words in the original on the name Mu'in al-Dln "Helper of the Faith.”
Arabic from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)
Ibn al-Qalanisi
1138 October 11 — 1139 June
Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)
Ibn al-Qalanisi
1138 October 11 — 1139 June
Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)Chronology Chronology Tables
Year Reference Corrections Notes Afternoon 11 Oct. 1138 CE - three shakes none
Year Reference Corrections Notes Sunset Friday 14 Oct. 1138 CE - repeated further shocks none
- counted forward from Tuesday
Year Reference Corrections Notes first third of the night Monday 24 Oct. 1138 CE - three shakes Day of Week considered likely to be more accurate than date - see Notes
- Calculated with CHRONOS
- 26 Oct. 1138 CE fell on a Wednesday (calculated with CHRONOS)
- 24 Oct. 1138 CE fell on a Monday (calculated with CHRONOS)
- Guidoboni and Comastri (2005), in an apparent mistake, dates this to 27 Oct.
Year Reference Corrections Notes Wednesday night 26 Oct. 1138 CE - more shocks none
- Counted forward from Monday
Year Reference Corrections Notes last quarter of Friday night 28 Oct. 1138 CE - yet more shocks none
- Counted forward from Monday
Year Reference Corrections Notes early hours of the morning of Wednesday 21 June 1139 CE - there were some terrifying shocks none
Year Reference Corrections Notes the night of Friday 15 Oct. 1138 CE - a strong earthquake none Seismic Effects
Locations
- Damascus
- the north [of Syria]
- Aleppo and the surrounding area
Sources Sources
Online Versions and Further Reading References