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Letter and document from King Amalric I of Jerusalem

Background and Biography
Background and Biography

Excerpts

Guidoboni and Comastri (2005) report that in July-August 1170 CE, within 2 months of the earthquake, King Amalric I of Jerusalem sent a letter to King Louis VII of France which described the earthquake and made a plea for funds to rebuild.
English translation of the letter to King Louis VII from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

To Louis by the grace of God the most Christian king of the Franks, most dear lord and father, from Amalric, by the same grace of God king of Jerusalem, greetings. Amidst the daily torments of our enemies, which have so weakened the eastern church that it is close to ruin, there has come an extraordinary disaster through the just but hidden judgment of God. For on the day of the passion of the apostles Peter and Paul [29 June], a terrible earthquake suddenly and unexpectedly reduced the city of Tripoli to ruins, killing almost everyone who was there. It also shook Margat, Gabulum [Gabala] and Laodicea, and almost all the castles and towns between Tripoli and Antioch in such an amazing and indescribable way that no trace of buildings can be seen. In Antioch, too, quite apart from the fact that houses and other buildings were torn apart and almost all reduced to ruins, so that we are bound to speak with a deep groan of grief, town walls were damaged to such an extent that they seem to be beyond repair, and indeed they are. The result is that Antioch and Tripoli and their dependent provinces will be occupied by the enemies of the Cross of Christ, if Tripoli, Archas [Archis], Gibellum [Gibelacar], Laodicea, Margat and Antioch do not receive clandestine aid. But by the will of God, the land of the Gentiles is all laid waste, and their towns and fortresses have been more widely destroyed, not without some of their people being killed.

Original Latin of the letter to King Louis VII from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

Ludovico dei gratia christianissimo Francorum regi, domino et patri karissimo, Amalricus per eandem gratiam Iherosolimorum rex salutem. Cotidianis, quibus Orientalis ecclesia usque ad sui defectum contunditur, inimicorum infestationibus, inusitata celitus iusto, sepe tamen oculto, dei iudicio accessit calamitas. In passione namquam apostolorum Petri et Pauli subitus et hactenus inauditus terre motus totam Tipolim funditus delevit et omnem fere in ea carnem suffocavit. Similiter Margat, Gabulum, Laodiciam et omnia pene castella et civitates, que suet a Tripoli usque Anthiochiam, miro et ineffabili modo excussit, ut nec edificiorum vestigia appareant. In Anthiochia quoque, quod non sine gravi gemitu loquimur, edificiorum et domorum, que ferme omnes corruerunt, discidium tacentes, tanta murorum ruina facta est, ut inreparabilis esse videatur et sit. Constat ergo quia Anthiochia et Tripolis cum provintiis sibi suffraganeis, nisi celitus .eis subveniatur, ab inimicis crucis Christi occupabuntur: Tripolis, Archas, Gibellum, Laodicia, Margat et Anthiochia. Sed deo disponente terra gentilium miserabilitus tota dissipata est urbesque et munitiones non sine suorum occisione latius deiecte.

Guidoboni and Comastri (2005) also supplied an English translation from a document probably dating to 1170 where Amalric I ceded the castles of Archis (Arche) and Gibelacar to the [ Knights Hospitaller], on condition that they were rebuilt.
English translation of a document ceding ownership of the castles of Archis (Arche) and Gibelacar from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

In the name of the holy and indivisible Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Since it is our duty devoutly to seek the common benefit of the Christian community by means of wise justice and intuitive reasoning, and to excel in many other good works, we have taken steps, in accordance with the dictates of Divine Clemency, to ensure that the castles of Arche and Gibelacar, which have been reduced to ruins by the earthquake, are not lost to the Christians. Let it therefore be known that [...] I, Amalric, by the grace of God, fifth king of the Latins of Jerusalem and regent of the County of Tripoli, have given to God and to the holy House of the Hospital and to Gilbert, by the grace of God, the venerable Master of the House, the above-mentioned castles of Arche and Gibelacar, in perpetuity with all their rights and appurtenances, in order that they shall be rebuilt [...]. In the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 1170, in the first indiction.

Original Latin document ceding ownership of the castles of Archis (Arche) and Gibelacar from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

In nomine summe et individue trinitatis, patris filiii et spiritus sancti, amen. Quoniam communi christianitatis utilitati pie providere censura justicie et rationis intuitu ceteris etiam bonis operibus precellere dinoscitur, castro quod dicitur Arche et Gibelacar, terre motu funditus eversis, prout divina nobis administravit dementia, ne christiculis amitterentur subvenire curavimus Patet igitur scire volentibus quod ego Amalricus, Dei gratia Jerosolimorum rex Latinorum quintus, Tripolis comitatum procurans, Deo et sanctae domui Hospitalis Jerusalem, et Giberto, Dei gratia domus ejusdem venerabili magistro prenominata castra, Archas videlicet et Gibelacar, restauranda perhenniterque cum suis omnibus pertinentiis et juribus possedenda donavi Anno dominice incarnationis M C L XX, indiction prima.

Chronology
Date Reference Corrections Notes
29 June 1170 CE on the day of the passion of the apostles Peter and Paul (letter to King Louis VII of France) in the year of the Incarnation of the Lord 1170 (document ceding the castles of Archis (Arche) and Gibelacar to the Hospitallers) none
Seismic Effects
  • a terrible earthquake suddenly and unexpectedly reduced the city of Tripoli to ruins, killing almost everyone who was there.
  • It also shook Margat, Gabulum [Gabala] and Laodicea, and almost all the castles and towns between Tripoli and Antioch in such an amazing and indescribable way that no trace of buildings can be seen.
  • In Antioch, too, quite apart from the fact that houses and other buildings were torn apart and almost all reduced to ruins ... town walls were damaged to such an extent that they seem to be beyond repair, and indeed they are.
  • Tripoli, Archas [Archis], Gibellum [Gibelacar], Laodicea, Margat and Antioch ... their towns and fortresses have been more widely destroyed, not without some of their people being killed.
Locations
  • Tripoli
  • Margat
  • Gabulum [Gabala] aka Gibellum [Gibelacar]
  • Archas [Archis]
  • Laodicea
  • almost all the castles and towns between Tripoli and Antioch
  • Antioch
Online Versions and Further Reading
References