Robert of Auxerre dated the earthquakes (plural) to around daybreak on 20 May 1202 CE. Mayer (1972:308–310) demonstrated strong similarities between Robert’s account in the Chronicon and the letter of Philipe Du Plessis, suggesting that Robert likely used that letter as a primary source.

Robert of Auxerre wrote that “there were earthquakes in the region of Outremer,” accompanied by “a terrible sound in the sky and an awful rumble from the earth.” He described how “the greater 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, he reported that “the city of Tyre, the most strongly fortified in those parts, was almost completely overturned; all of its towers, save 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 buildings, with few exceptions, were shaken.” In the region of Tripolis, he wrote, “the castle of Arqa, a great fortress, was razed to the ground with its towers, ramparts, houses, and people,” and that “a great part of the city of Tripolis fell as well, with many people killed.” He continued that “most of the ramparts and towers of Chastel-Blanc [Safitha] were thrown to the ground,” and that “few coastal cities escaped without some degree of damage.” Yet, amid the widespread destruction, “the city of Antaradus, which is also called Tortosa, escaped this disaster unharmed and intact.”