Concise History of Humanity by Abu'l-Fida
المختصر في أخبار البشر by أبو الفداء
Aliases
Aliases Arabic Abu'l-Fida أبو الفداء Abū al-Fidāʾ أبو الفداء Abulfeda Latinized Ismāʿīl b. ʿAlī b. Maḥmūd b. Muḥammad b. ʿUmar b. Shāhanshāh b. Ayyūb b. Shādī b. Marwān إسماعيل بن علي بن محمود بن محمد بن عمر بن شاهنشاه بن أيوب بن شادي بن مروان Background and Biography Background and Biography
Events August to September 1157 CE Hama and Shaizar Quake(s)
Excerpts English from Ambraseys (2009)
- from Ambraseys (2009)
a.H. 552 [AD 1157–8] In the month of Rejeb of this year [August–September 1157], a strong earthquake took place in Syria and ruined Hamah, Shaizar, Emessa, the fortress of the Kurds (Hisn al-Akrad), Tripoli, Antioch and neighbouring districts. It was so violent that ramparts and castles were overturned by it. In these circumstances Nur ad-Din acted in a completely praiseworthy way, and busied himself in repairing the damaged fortifications and made sallies into the Frankish possessions in order to confine those people back in their own territory. An incalculable number of people died under the debris. To get an idea of the extent of the disaster, it will be enough to know that a schoolmaster at Hamah had gone out [of the town] for a little while, and [when he returned] he found that the building had collapsed and that all the children had been wiped out. “None of the parents came to claim their children”, he said. As the castle of Shaizar had been ruined by the earthquake and its ramparts had been overturned, one of the emirs in the service of Hur ad-Din, finding himself in the neighbourhood, rushed there and took possession of it. Nur ad-Din, to whom he [the emir] gave it, had the walls repaired. Shaizar was the inheritance of the unqidh family: the day that the earthquake happened, the head of the family was giving a great feast in his palace to celebrate the circumcision of his son, and all the members of the family were there together. Suddenly a shock was felt and the palace as well as the castle fell on them and killed them. One of them managed to save himself; however, the moment he went out of the gate, he fell dead, having been knocked over by a kick from the family’s favourite horse (they always kept that horse by the gate of the castle). This was how Nur ad-Din became master of the town and castle of Shaizar(Abu’l-Fida, III. 31–32).English translation of French from Baron (1872)
Year 552 of the hegira (1157-1158 AD) In the month of rajab of this year (August-September 1157), a strong earthquake took place in Syria and destroyed Hama, Shaizar, Emessa, the castle of the Curdes (Hissn el-Acrad), Tripoli, Antioch and the surrounding places. It was so violent that ramparts and castles were overthrown. In this circumstance, Nour ed-Din displayed an activity worthy of all praise, having hastened to repair the fortifications damaged and to stop them from becoming possessions of the Franks. Countless people perished under the rubble. To get an idea of the extent of this disaster, it will suffice to know that a schoolmaster in Hama had just left shortly before the disaster and on his return found that the building had collapsed on the children (and had crushed them all).
- from Baron (1872:31-32)
None of the parents, he said, came forward to claim their son.As the castle of Shaizar had been ruined by the earthquake and its ramparts overthrown, one of the emirs in the service of Nour ed-Din, finding himself in the neighborhood, hastened to it and took possession of it. Nour ed-Din, to whom he gave it, had the walls. Shaizar was the hereditary possession of the Monked family. The day the earthquake took place, the head of the family gave a big party in the palace, to celebrate the circumcision of his son, and all the members of the family were gathered there. Suddenly, a tremor was felt, and the palace, together with the castle, fell upon them and killed them. One of them though had managed to save himself; but, as he was going out the door, he fell dead, having been knocked down by a kick from the head of the family's favorite horse. They always kept that horse near the castle gate. This is how Nour ed-Din found himself master of the city and the castle of Shaizar. — Death of Sultan Sindjar, son of Malec-Chah. — Nour ed-Din takes Ba'albek away from a man from Bekaà, who had seized it.French from Baron (1872)
An 552 de l'hégire (1157-1158 de J.C.). Dans le mois de redjeb de cette année (août-septembre 1157), un fort tremblement de terre eut lieu en Syrie et mit en ruines Hamah, Cheïzer, Emesse, le château des Curdes (Hissn el-Acrad), Tripoli, Antioche el les lieux environnants. Il était si violent que des remparts et des châteaux en furent renversés. Dans cette circonstance, Nour ed-Din déploya une activité digne de toute louange, s étant empressé de réparer les fortifications endommagées ei de faire des courses dans les possessions des Francs, afin de retenir ces gens sur leur propre territoire. Un nombre incalculable de personnes périt sous les décombres. Pour avoir une idée de l'étendue de ce désastre, il suffira de savoir qu'un maître d'école à Hamah venait de sortir peu de temps avant la catastrophe et qu'(à son retour) il trouva que l'édifice s'était écroulé sur les enfants (et les avait écrasés tous).
- from Baron (1872:31-32)
Aucun des parents, dit-il, ne se présenta pour réclamer son fils.Comme le château de Cheïzer avait été ruiné par le tremblement de terre et que ses remparts étaient renversés, un des émirs au service de Nour ed-Din, se trouvant dans le voisinage, y accourut et en prit possession. Nour ed-Din, à qui il le remit, en fit réparer les murailles. Cheïzer était le bien héréditaire de la famille Monked. Le jour où le tremblement de terre eut lieu, le chef de la famille donnait une grande fête dans le palais, pour célébrer la circoncision de son fils, et tous les membres de la famille s'y trouvaient réunis. Tout a coup, un ébranlement se fit sentir, et le palais, ainsi que le château, tomba sur eux et les tua. Un d'entre eux cependant était parvenu à se sauver; mais, au moment où il sortait par la porte, il tomba mort, ayant été renversé par un coup de pied que lui lança le cheval favori du chef de la famille. On tenait toujours ce cheval auprès de la porte du château. Voilà comment Nour ed-Din se trouva maître de la ville et du château de Cheïzer. — Mort du sultan Sindjar, fils de Malec-Chah. — Nour ed-Din enlève Ba'albec à un homme de Bekaà , qui s'en était emparé.Arabic and French from Baron (1872) - embedded
- see bottom paragraph of page 31 starting with
An 552 de l'hégire (1157-1158 de J.C.)- from Baron (1872:31-32)
- from archive.org
Chronology
Date Reference Corrections Notes 9 August - 7 September 1157 CE Rajab A.H. 552 none calculated using CHRONOS Seismic Effects
Locations Online Versions and Further Reading References