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The Complete History by Ibn al-Athir

الكامل في التاريخ by علي عز الدین بن الاثیر الجزري

Aliases
Aliases Arabic
Ibn al-Athir
Ali 'Izz al-Din Ibn al-Athir al-Jazari علي عز الدین بن الاثیر الجزري
Abu al-Hassan Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ash-Shaybani
Background and Biography
Background and Biography

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

Excerpts

English from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

At Laodicea, a place split into two parts, out of which a statue appeared in the midst of the water. The cities of Sidon, Beirut, Tripoli, Acre, Tyre and all the citadels of the Franks were damaged. There was a very violent earthquake in the Syrian territories, with a succession of tremendous shocks spreading destruction across the country and causing people to die. The strongest earthquakes were at Hamat and the citadel of Shayzar: both were destroyed. The same thing happened at the fortress of Ba`rin, at AlMa'arra [Maarrat an Numan] and at other villages. Many people perished in the ruins; town walls, houses and fortresses collapsed. Thanks be to God, Nur al-Din intervened, for he assembled an army and guaranteed the protection of the whole province conquering it without fighting or siege. In connection with the pious sovereign Nur al-Din, we have already recalled — in bringing to a close our information about him — how he reorganised his troops and led them from Damascus towards Mesopotamia, which the Frankish coalition was anxious to conquer and govern. At that time, there were earthquakes with continual shocks which caused the destruction of fortresses, citadels and dwellings throughout the territory, from which all those of the inhabitants of Hims, Shayzar, Kafar Tab, Hamat and other areas who managed to escape, took to flight [...] towards the coastal and border regions. A great many people gathered into goups there (alTa'rikh, p.110)

Characterization from Ambraseys (2009)

Ibn al-Athir (1160–1233) ‘records numerous violent earthquakes’ in a.S. 552 Rajab, and says that the ‘most part of Syria’ was ruined. He notes the important role played by Nur ad-Din, the atabeg (ruler) of Syria, in quickly restoring the defences of the Muslim cities. He also records Nur ad-Din’s possession of the fortress of Shaizar, formerly the seat of the Benu-Muqidh dynasty, all of whom died in the earthquake, which occurred during a family feast. Ibn al-Athir places Shaizar ‘half a day’s march’, namely about 16 km, from Damascus.

English translated from French from Recueil des historiens des croisades (RHC) Occidentaux (1872)

A.H. 552 (AD 1157 AND 1158)

In the month of redjeb (August 1157), there were numerous and violent earthquakes in Syria which ruined many cities, and in which an innumerable multitude perished. Hamah, Schaizar, Kafarthab, Maarra, Apamea, Emesa, the castle of the Kurds, Arka, Laodicea, Tripoli and Antioch, fell at the same time by the effect of these tremors. Throughout Syria, among the localities where the destruction was not complete, the greatest part was ruined. The walls of cities and castles were thrown down. Nur al-Din deployed in this circumstance an activity worthy of praise. He feared for attacks of the Franks on the Muslim countries, because the walls of the strongholds were destroyed. Accordingly, he gathered his troops and sojourned on the confines of his States, making incursions into the lands of the Franks, while everywhere repairing the walls of the cities. He continued to do so until the work was completed. As for the number of dead, it will suffice, to give an idea, to recall the story told by a schoolmaster of Hamah. This master left his school for some matter. The earthquake struck during his absence. The the city was ruined and the school collapsed on all the children inside.
But no one, added the pedagogue, came to ask for "news of his child."

French from Recueil des historiens des croisades (RHC) Occidentaux (1872)

AN 552 DE L'HÉGIRE (1157 ET 1158 DE J. C)

Au mois de rédjeb (août 1157), il y eut en Syrie des tremblements de terre nombreux et violents qui ruinèrent beaucoup de villes, et dans lesquels périt une multitude innombrable. Hamah, Schaïzar, Kafarthab, Maarra, Apamée, Ëmèse, le château des Kurdes, Arka, Laodicée, Tripoli et Antioche, tombèrent à la fois par l'effet de ces secousses. Dans toute la Syrie, parmi les localités où la destruction ne fut pas complète, la plus grande partie fut ruinée. Les murailles des villes et des châteaux furent renversées. Nour-eddin déploya dans cette circonstance une activité digne d'éloges. Il craignit pour les contrées musulmanes les attaques des Francs, parce que les murs des places fortes étaient détruits. En conséquence, il rassembla ses troupes et séjourna sur les confins de ses Etats, faisant des incursions sur les terres des Francs, pendant que Ton travaillait partout à réparer les murailles des villes. Il ne cessa d'agir ainsi jusqu'à ce que les travaux fussent achevés. Quant au nombre des morts, il suffira, pour en donner une idée, de rappeler le récit fait par un maître d'école de Hamah. Ce maître, ayant quitté son école pour une affaire qui lui survint, le tremblement de terre eut lieu pendant son absence; la ville fut ruinée et l'école renversée sur tous les enfants qu'elle renfermait.
Or personne, ajoutait le pédagogue, ne vint demander des « nouvelles de son enfant.

Chronology
Date Reference Corrections Notes
9 August - 7 September 1157 CE Rajab A.H. 552 none calculated using CHRONOS
Seismic Effects
  • there were numerous and violent earthquakes in Syria which ruined many cities, and in which an innumerable multitude perished
  • Hamah, Schaizar, Kafarthab, Maarra, Apamea, Emesa, the castle of the Kurds, Arka, Laodicea, Tripoli and Antioch, fell at the same time by the effect of these tremors
  • Throughout Syria, among the localities where the destruction was not complete, the greatest part was ruined
  • The walls of cities and castles were thrown down
  • The strongest earthquakes were at Hamat and the citadel of Shayzar: both were destroyed
  • The same thing happened at the fortress of Ba`rin, at AlMa'arra [Maarrat an Numan] and at other villages
  • At Laodicea, a place split into two parts, out of which a statue appeared in the midst of the water
  • The cities of Sidon, Beirut, Tripoli, Acre, Tyre and all the citadels of the Franks were damaged
  • At that time, there were earthquakes with continual shocks which caused the destruction of fortresses, citadels and dwellings throughout the territory, from which all those of the inhabitants of Hims, Shayzar, Kafar Tab, Hamat and other areas who managed to escape, took to flight [...] towards the coastal and border regions
Locations

Sources
Sources

Online Versions and Further Reading
References