Chronicon by Robert of Auxerre

Background and Biography

Background and Biography

Excerpts

English from Ambraseys (2009)

• from Ambraseys (2009)

A.D. 1202

... The region of Outremer was afflicted by a great disaster: on 20th May, around daybreak, a terrible sound was heard in the sky and an awful rumble from the earth, and there were earthquakes so violent that the most part of the city of Acre, with its ramparts, houses and even the royal palace, was razed to the ground, and countless persons were wiped out. Similarly the city of Tyre, the most [strongly] fortified in those parts, was almost completely overturned, while all of its towers bar three collapsed, and the ramparts, as high as they were solid, were either badly damaged or almost thrown to the ground, except for some forewalls which they call barbicans; all the houses and the buildings, with a few exceptions, were shaken. Likewise in the region of Tripolis the castle of Arqa, a great fortress, was razed to the ground with its towers, ramparts, houses and people. A great part of the city of Tripolis fell too, and many people were killed. Similarly most of the ramparts and towers of Chastel-Blanc [Safitha] were thrown to the ground. There were few coastal cities which did not suffer some damage: the city of Antaradus, which is also called Tortosa, escaped this disaster unharmed and intact. (Rob. Aux. 264 - should be 260).

Latin from Holder-Egger (1882)

• from Holder-Egger (1882:260-261)

Annus Domini 1202

... Mense Maio 20. die mensis, tribus diebus ante ascensionem dominicam, circa Mai 20. diei crepusculum audita est vox terribilis de caelo et mugitus horribilis de terra, et terremotus facti sunt tarn horrendi, tam graves, ut Acconensis urbis partem maximam in muris et in domibus ipsumque regis palatium ad terram deiecerint et populum innumerabilem occupatum prostraverint⁴. Porro Tyrus civitas, et antiquitate originis et fortunae varietate insignis; qua etiam in partibus illis nulla tucior, nulla munitior, flebili stupendaque ruina fere funditus est subversa. Nam ornnes turres, exceptis tribus corruerunt^a murique tam alti quam solidi preter antemuralia quedam que barbacanas vocant vel cassaturis⁵ debili-tati vel penitus sunt deiecti. Universe vero domus et edificia, paucis reservatis, repente concussa plebem innumerabilem sexus promiscui miserabiliter oppresserunt. Nusquam sic evidens fuit, nusquam sic nocuit tam in hominibus quam in edificiis illa repentina sub-versio. At vero in finibus Tripolitanis Archas oppidum, tocius regionis inexpugnabile munimenturn, cum turribus et muris domibusque ac viris ad solum usque diruptumf est. Tripolis quoque urbis maxima pars cecidit et plebem plurimam occupavit. Sed et Castri-albi maxima pars murorum et turriuni in terram prostrata est. Paucae urbes in maritima, quae non huius cladis aliquam senserint lesionem. Antarados^g civitas, quae et Tortosa⁶ dicitur, incolumis et indempnis evasit, in qua primam basilicam sanctae Dei genitricis

Footnotes

a eadem manu superscr. 1.

g Antedaros alia manu corr. Antarados 1.

4 Cf. Wilken, 'Gesch. der Kreuzzuge VI, p.6 sqq.

5 i.e. quassaturis.

6 Nunc Tartus.

Latin from Holder-Egger (1882) - embedded

• not bookmarkable
• to see earthquake report, reduce the magnification with the negative zoom icon and navigate to page 261 and find text about two thirds down the page starting with Mense Maio 20. die mensis
• from Holder-Egger (1882:260-261)
• from www.dmgh.de

Chronology

Date	Reference	Corrections	Notes
around daybreak on 20 May 1202 CE	around daybreak 20 May 1202 CE (year assumed)	none

Seismic Effects

• there were earthquakes (plural) in the region of Outremer
• a terrible sound was heard in the sky and an awful rumble from the earth
• the most part of the city of Acre, with its ramparts, houses and even the royal palace, was razed to the ground, and countless persons were wiped out
• Similarly the city of Tyre, the most [strongly] fortified in those parts, was almost completely overturned, while all of its towers bar three collapsed, and the ramparts, as high as they were solid, were either badly damaged or almost thrown to the ground, except for some forewalls which they call barbicans; all the houses and the buildings, with a few exceptions, were shaken
• in the region of Tripolis the castle of Arqa, a great fortress, was razed to the ground with its towers, ramparts, houses and people
• A great part of the city of Tripolis fell too, and many people were killed
• most of the ramparts and towers of Chastel-Blanc [Safitha] were thrown to the ground
• There were few coastal cities which did not suffer some damage
• the city of Antaradus, which is also called Tortosa, escaped this disaster unharmed and intact.

Locations

• earthquakes (plural) in the region of Outremer
• Acre
• Tyre
• the castle of Arqa in the region of Tripolis
• Tripolis
• Chastel-Blanc [Safitha]
• Antaradus (Tortosa) was unharmed and intact
• There were few coastal cities which did not suffer some damage

Sources

Sources

Online Versions and Further Reading

References