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Kitab al-muntazam by Ibn al-Jawzi

by ابن الجوزي

Aliases
Aliases Arabic
Ibn al-Jawzi ابن الجوزي
Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Events
August to September 1157 CE Hama and Shaizar Quake(s)

Excerpts

English from Ambraseys (2009)

It was learnt during Ramadan that an earthquake had shaken Sham in the month of Rajab. It had touched 13 towns: eight in Muslim territory, and five in the pagan possessions. In the Islamic territory it shook
  • Aleppo
  • Hamah
  • Caesarea
  • Kafr-Tab
  • Afamaya
  • Homs
  • Ma’arrat
  • Tell Harran
The Frankish possessions [affected] were
  • Hisn al-Ak’rad
  • ‘Ararat
  • Latakia
  • Tripoli
  • Antioch
We have the number of victims from a teacher present in Hamah. He mentions that he had left the school to attend to some business of his, when the earthquake came and destroyed the greatest part of the town, and the school collapsed on all of the children. The master said, “I found no one to tell me news of the pupils”.

. . . The list of victims can be established as follows:
  • Aleppo: 100
  • Hamah: Almost all the inhabitants perished: there were few survivors
  • Caesarea: All were killed except for a woman and her servant
  • Kafr-Tab: No survivors
  • Afamyas: The citadel was destroyed
  • Homs: Very heavy casualties among the inhabitants
  • Ma’arra: Part of the population disappeared
  • Tell Harran: The town split in two and tombs appeared in the middle. Numerous houses were destroyed.
(Ibn al-Jauzi, al-Munt. 10/176).

English from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

Syrian territories in the month of Rajab [August — September 1157], and had destroyed thirteen towns, eight in Muslim territory and five in that of the pagans [the Franks]. The Muslim towns were
  • Aleppo
  • Hamat
  • Shayzar
  • Kafar Tab
  • Afamiyya
  • Hims
  • Al Ma'arra [Maarrat an Numan]
  • Tall Harran
the Frankish towns were
  • the fortress of Akrad [Hisn al-Akrad]
  • Arqa
  • Laodicea
  • Tripoli
  • Antioch
  • [Ibn Zubdat alHalab, II, 306, adds the fortress of Shumays, near Salamiyah]

  • There were a hundred victims at Aleppo
  • Hamat was almost completely destroyed
  • at Shayzar only one woman and her servant survived
  • at Kafar Tab there were no survivors
  • the citadel of Afamiyya collapsed
  • at Hims there were many victims
  • Al-Ma'arra was partly destroyed
  • Tall Harran split into two, and tombs and houses [i.e. the stratum of the ancient town] came to the surface
  • Akrad and Arqa were completely destroyed
  • at Laodicea there were many victims, and a statue appeared in a fissure, which subsequently filled with water
  • most of the inhabitants of Tripoli were killed
  • few people survived at Antioch

(al-Muntazam, X, 176)

Chronology
Date Reference Corrections Notes
9 August - 7 September 1157 CE an earthquake had shaken Sham in the month of Rajab A.H. 552 none calculated using CHRONOS
Seismic Effects
Seismic Effects

  • an earthquake had shaken Sham in the month of Rajab
  • It had touched 13 towns: eight in Muslim territory, and five in the pagan [Crusader] possessions.
  • In the Islamic territory it shook
  • The Frankish possessions [affected] were
    • Hisn al-Ak’rad
    • ‘Ararat
    • Latakia
    • Tripoli
    • Antioch
    • [Ibn Zubdat alHalab, II, 306, adds the fortress of Shumays, near Salamiyah]

    Guidoboni and Comastri (2005) adds
    • Arqa
  • Hamah - the earthquake came and destroyed the greatest part of the town
  • Hamah - the school collapsed on all of the children.
  • The list of victims can be established as follows:
    • Aleppo: 100
    • Hamah: Almost all the inhabitants perished: there were few survivors
    • Caesarea: All were killed except for a woman and her servant. Guidoboni and Comastri (2005) lists this as Shayzar
    • Kafr-Tab: No survivors
    • Afamyas: The citadel was destroyed
    • Homs: Very heavy casualties among the inhabitants
    • Ma’arra: Part of the population disappeared
    • Tell Harran: The town split in two and tombs appeared in the middle. Numerous houses were destroyed.

    Guidoboni and Comastri (2005) adds

    • Akrad and Arqa were completely destroyed
    • at Laodicea there were many victims, and a statue appeared in a fissure, which subsequently filled with water
    • most of the inhabitants of Tripoli were killed
    • few people survived at Antioch

Locations Muslim controlled territory Crusader controlled territory

Sources
Sources

Online Versions and Further Reading
References

Notes
Ibn al-Jawzi vs. Sibt Ibn al-Jawzi