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

Excerpts

Ibn al-Athir appears to have written about the same earthquake twice giving it two different dates - creating a duplicate.

English from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

• from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

In the month of Shdban in that year [597 H. = 7 May - 4 June 1201], the earth shook at Mawsil, everywhere in Mesopotamia, in Syria, in Egypt and elsewhere. In Syria, the effects were dreadful: many houses were destroyed at Damascus, Hims and Hamat, and a village near Busra was swallowed up by the earth. There was also massive damage along the Syrian coast: the citadels of Tripoli, Sur, Acre and Nabulus were destroyed. The earthquake also reached Byzantine territory. In Iraq, the damage was slight.

...

In that year [600] a terrible earthquake struck a large part of the territories of Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia and Byzantium. It reached Sicily, Cyprus, Mawsil and Iraq. The walls of the city of Tyre were destroyed, and the earthquake caused damage throughout Syria.

English from Ambraseys (2009)

• from Ambraseys (2009)

In the month of Sha'aban of that year the earth shook in the country of al-Jazirah, and of Sham, Egypt, and other regions too. The catastrophe was terrible, with the destruction reaching as far as Damascus, Hims, Hamat and the village; the village of Busra also collapsed. The Syrian littoral was the worst affected, with destruction in Tripoli, Tyre, Acre, Nablus and other cities. The earthquake went as far as the country of Rum [i.e. the Byzantine borders]; the area least damaged was Iraq, where no houses were destroyed. (Ibn al-Athir, al-Kamil 12/110).

...

(a.H. 600/1203) In that year there was an earthquake in most countries: Egypt, Sham, Jazirah, the land of Rum [Byzantine Empire], Sicily and Cyprus. It reached Mosul and Iraq, and other countries as well. Among the [places] which were ravaged, the walls of Tyre and most of Sham were very [badly] affected. The earthquake spread as far as Sebta, in the country of Maghreb, with the same effects.' (Ibn al-Athir, Kamil xii/198; Ibn al-Wardi; Tatimmat, 2/122).

Original Document

• not bookmarked

Chronology

Ibn al-Athir provided two date ranges for the earthquake both of which are incorrect.

1st passage

Date	Reference	Corrections	Notes
7 May 1201 CE to 4 June 1201 CE	Sha'ban A.H. 597	none	calculated using CHRONOS

2nd passage

Date	Reference	Corrections	Notes
10 Sept. 1203 CE to 28 Aug. 1204 CE	A.H. 600	none	calculated using CHRONOS

Seismic Effects

1st passage

• the earth shook at Mawsil, everywhere in Mesopotamia, in Syria, in Egypt and elsewhere
• In Syria, the effects were dreadful
• many houses were destroyed at Damascus, Hims and Hamat
• a village near Busra was swallowed up by the earth
• There was also massive damage along the Syrian coast
• the citadels of Tripoli, Sur, Acre and Nabulus were destroyed
• The earthquake also reached Byzantine territory
• In Iraq, the damage was slight - no houses were destroyed

2nd passage

• a terrible earthquake struck a large part of the territories of Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia and Byzantium
• It reached Sicily, Cyprus, Mawsil and Iraq
• The walls of the city of Tyre were destroyed
• the earthquake caused damage throughout Syria

Locations

1st passage

• Egypt
• Syria
• Jazira (Upper Mesopotamia)
• Mosul
• Damascus
• Hims (Homs)
• Hamat (Hama)
• village near Busra
• Syrian coast
• Tripoli
• Sur (Tyre)
• Acre
• Nablus
• reached Byzantine territory
• Iraq (slight damage - no houses destroyed)

2nd passage

• Egypt
• Syria
• Jazira (Upper Mesopotamia)
• Byzantium
• Mosul
• Sicily
• Cyprus
• Iraq
• Tyre

Sources

Sources

Online Versions and Further Reading

References