1287 CE Quakes

Text (with hotlink)	Original Language	Biographical Info	Religion	Date of Composition	Location Composed	Notes
Ibn 'Abd al-Zahir	Arabic	Biography	Muslim	before 1293 CE	Cairo	Account Ibn 'Abd al-Zahir wrote about a sequence of earthquakes starting in Muharram A.H. 686 (16 Feb - 17 March 1287 CE) which damaged some fortresses, including that of Safad. A subsequent shock was described on 8 March 1287 CE which struck the fortress at Hims which, at the time, was being repaired from the previous shock. On the night of Saturday 22 March 1287 CE, another earthquake struck Laodicea which damaged a Crusader occupied fortress. The earthquake destroyed a quarter of the tower, the dovecote, the lighthouse, and possibly other structures. The earthquake which struck Laodicea was described as violent and the fortress was sufficiently weakened such that its subsequent capture by Muslim forces was made easier.
Text (with hotlink)	Original Language	Biographical Info	Religion	Date of Composition	Location Composed	Notes

Enobling the days and epochs with regard to the life of al-Malik al-Manṣūr by Ibn 'Abd al-Zahir

Tashrīf al-ayyām wa-l-ʿuṣūr bi-sīrat al-Malik al-Manṣūr by محيي الدين بن عبد الظاهر

Aliases

Aliases	Arabic
Ibn 'Abd al-Zahir
Muḥyī d-Dīn ibn ʿAbd aẓ-Ẓāhir	محيي الدين بن عبد الظاهر

Background and Biography

Excerpts

English from Ambraseys (2009)

from Ambraseys (2009)

(a.H. 686) It was very important not to leave it [the tower of Ladhiqyya] in infidel hands, as the tower was in the sea, with no land access. Its walls could not be reached, as the sea protected it like a moat. The port of Ladhiqyya was a source of great profit to the Franks, and as important as that of Alexandria. God decided to stir up several earthquakes in that year, one of which struck the citadel of Safad [Safitha]. The sultan spent half of the month of Muharram on the repairs. The citadel of Hims was also affected by an earthquake on 21st Muharram, just when the repairs had been finished. On the night of Saturday 5th Safar the earthquake seized Ladhiqyya, destroying the most part of the tower, which faced out to sea, as God wanted to prove the Muslims right, for it was he who protected this tower. A quarter of it was destroyed, and the pigeon-loft was similarly destroyed, as well as the light-house which marked the coast. The earthquake was intense, and this was one of the reasons why it was easy for the Muslims to take the tower. When the prince Husam ad-Din Tarnatay, the commander of the troop, had completed his capture of the citadel of Sahyun, he went on the march in order to attack the tower which had already been battered by the earthquake. The Franks were convinced that the sultan was aided by an angel, as well as by the earthquake. They also realised that the pigeons could not fly any more and that the light-house would shine no longer. Thus they sued for peace. The Muslims claimed victory on Sunday 5th of prior Rabia’. They allowed the Franks to depart with their possessions, leaving only their arms behind. (Tashrif, 151–152).

Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

from Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

The tower [of Laodicea] rose proudly above the whole region. It was sought after by the Muslims and protected by the infidels because it rose up out of the sea without being connected in any way to the land. How could it be taken, if its moat was the sea? The Franks profited greatly from the port of Laodicea, which was comparable in importance to that of Alexandria, God willed it that in the month of Muharram in that year [686 H. = 16 February - 17 March 1287], there was a series of earthquakes which damaged some fortresses, including that of Safad. Half way through Muharram, our sultan set about repairing the damage. The fortress at Hims was also being repaired, when it was again struck by another shock on 21 Muharram [8 March]. During the night of Saturday 5 Safar [22 March], there was an earthquake in the direction of Laodicea which almost completely destroyed its tower in the sea, for God had wanted to give that region to the Muslims by protecting the tower in this way. A quarter of the tower was destroyed. The dovecot was also destroyed, as was the lighthouse which showed the position of the coast. The earthquake was a violent one and made the capture of the tower easier. When he had taken the town of Sahiyun, the Emir Husam al-Din Tarantawi, who was in command of the sultan's troops, began the march towards Laodicea. They arrived there with catapults, whose tongues and fingers are accustomed to conveying the words and signs of victory. They set down their machines in thoroughly firm positions, and built a stone bridge. Then they thrust the battering ram [? nuqub] against those points which had been weakened in the earthquake, thereby leaving the tower undefended. In this way, the position fell into their hands. [The Franks] were convinced that our sultan was fighting with the aid of the angels and earthquakes, and when things went against them, they laid down their arms and surrendered. The tower was captured on Sunday 5 Rabi` I [20 April]. The Muslims allowed the Franks to leave with their possessions, obliging them to abandon only their weapons. At midday the cross was removed from the top of the tower, as the muezzin made the call to prayer.

An original manuscript in Arabic (from BnF Gallica)

not bookmarked
from BnF Gallica

Chronology

**Series of earthquakes which damaged some fortresses, including that of Safed**
Year	Reference	Corrections	Notes
16 Feb - 17 March 1287 CE	Muharram A.H. 686	none	Calculated using CHRONOS.

**Affected Citadel of Hims**
Year	Reference	Corrections	Notes
8 March 1287 CE	21 Muharram A.H. 686	none	Calculated using CHRONOS.

**Affected Laodicea**
Year	Reference	Corrections	Notes
Saturday night 22 March 1287 CE	Night of Saturday 5 Safar A.H. 686	none	Calculated using CHRONOS 5 Safar A.H. 686 fell on a Saturday (CHRONOS)

Seismic Effects

Series of earthquakes which damaged some fortresses, including that of Safed

there was a series of earthquakes which damaged some fortresses, including that of Safad

Affected Citadel of Hims

The fortress at Hims was also being repaired, when it was again struck by another shock on 21 Muharram [8 March]

Affected Laodicea

During the night of Saturday 5 Safar [22 March], there was an earthquake in the direction of Laodicea which almost completely destroyed its tower in the sea
A quarter of the tower was destroyed (Guidoboni and Comastri, 2005 and Ambraseys, 2009)
destroying the most part of the tower (Ambraseys, 2009)
The dovecote was also destroyed, as was the lighthouse
The earthquake was a violent one and made the capture of the tower easier
the tower which had already been battered by the earthquake

Locations

Series of earthquakes which damaged some fortresses, including that of Safed

some unnamed and unlocated fortresses
Safed

Affected Citadel of Hims

Hims

Affected Laodicea

Laodicea

Online Versions and Further Reading

References

Landslide Evidence

Tsunamogenic Evidence

Location (with hotlink)	Status	Intensity	Notes
Tell Ya'amun	possible	≥8	Earthquake Savage et al (2003:457-458) report the following: To the south of the previously excavated Byzantine church, we uncovered two rooms with walls surviving to a height of 2 m. Each room has a door opening onto the flat stone pavement that separates these rooms from the church. The mosaic floors are preserved along with the bases of archways for ceiling supports. Coins, architectural stratigraphy, and style of mosaic decoration all indicate contemporaneity between the sixth-century church and rooms. The rooms were modified during the Umayyad period when the mosaic floor was repaired with flat paving stones along the damaged edges and some walls were reconstructed with differently sized stones. Further modification and re-use occurred during the Ayyubid-Mamluk period when new walls were built directly on top of the mosaic floors. The mosaic floor of the east room is extensively dented by collapsed wall stones, which suggests that use ended with destruction caused by an earthquake.
Location (with hotlink)	Status	Intensity	Notes

Paleoseismic Evidence

Location (with hotlink)	Status	Intensity	Notes
Kazzab Trench	possible	≥ 7	Daeron et al (2007) dated Event S1 to between 926 and 1381 CE (2σ) and assigned it to the 1202 CE earthquake. Daëron et al (2005:529-530) presented surface faulting evidence that suggested younger less weathered fault scarplets on the Rachaıya-Serghaya faults and fresh mole-tracks on the Rachaıya fault were associated with one of the 1759 CE fault breaks while older more weathered faults scarplets on the Yammouneh fault were associated with one of the the 1202 CE earthquakes.
Jarmaq Trench	possible	≥ 7	Nemer and Meghraoui (2006) date Event Z to after 84-239 CE. They suggested the Safed Earthquake of 1837 CE as the most likely candidate.
Qiryat-Shemona Rockfalls	possible		Kanari et al (2019) assigned the 1033 CE earthquake to sample QS-4 although Kanari (2008) assigned the same sample to the 1202 CE earthquake. Either are possible.
Bet Zayda	possible	≥ 7	Marco et al (2005) dated Event E.H. 1 to between 1020 to 1280 CE (ages were unmodeled) and assigned this event to the 1202 CE earthquake. They observed 2.2 m of offset which results in a 7.1-7.3 estimate of Moment Magnitude when using a relationship from Wells and Coppersmith (1994).
Jordan Valley - Tell Saidiyeh and Ghor Kabed Trenches	possible	≥ 7	Ferry et al (2011) detected 12 surface rupturing seismic events in 4 trenches (T1-T4) in Tell Saidiyeh and Ghor Kabed; 10 of which were prehistoric. The tightest chronology came from the Ghor Kabed trenches (T1 and T2) where Events Y and Z were constrained to between 560 and 1800 CE.
Location (with hotlink)	Status	Intensity	Notes

Kazzab Trench

Daeron et al (2007) dated Event S1 to between 926 and 1381 CE (2σ) and assigned it to the 1202 CE earthquake. Daëron et al (2005:529-530) presented surface faulting evidence that suggested younger less weathered fault scarplets on the Rachaıya-Serghaya faults and fresh mole-tracks on the Rachaıya fault were associated with one of the 1759 CE fault breaks while older more weathered faults scarplets on the Yammouneh fault were associated with one of the the 1202 CE earthquakes.

Jarmaq Trench

Nemer and Meghraoui (2006) date Event Z to after 84-239 CE. They suggested the Safed Earthquake of 1837 CE as the most likely candidate.

Qiryat-Shemona Rockfalls

Kanari et al (2019) assigned the 1033 CE earthquake to sample QS-4 although Kanari (2008) assigned the same sample to the 1202 CE earthquake. Either are possible.

Bet Zayda (aka Beteiha)

Marco et al (2005) dated Event E.H. 1 to between 1020 to 1280 CE (ages were unmodeled) and assigned this event to the 1202 CE earthquake. They observed 2.2 m of offset which results in a 7.1-7.3 estimate of Moment Magnitude when using a relationship from Wells and Coppersmith (1994).

Tell Saidiyeh and Ghor Kabed Trenches

Ferry et al (2011) detected 12 surface rupturing seismic events in 4 trenches (T1-T4) in Tell Saidiyeh and Ghor Kabed; 10 of which were prehistoric. The tightest chronology came from the Ghor Kabed trenches (T1 and T2) where Events Y and Z were constrained to between 560 and 1800 CE.

Note: Although Ferry et al (2011) combined archaeoseismic interpretations, their paleoseismic evidence, and entries from earthquake catalogs to produce earthquake dates and some overly optimistic probabilities, only the paleoseismic data is presented here. Ferry et al (2011)'s archaeoseismic data was researched and is treated separately.

Notes

Ambraseys (2009)

AD 1287 Feb 16 Safita

The citadel of Safitha (Safad) was badly damaged by an earthquake. The repairs, ordered by the sultan, reportedly took half a month (for sources and discussion, see the entry for AD 1287 Mar 22 Latakia).

AD 1287 Mar 8 Hims

The citadel of Hims was affected by an earthquake. The details of the event are unknown, but it is possible that there was some damage (for sources and discussion, see the entry for 1287 Mar 22 Latakia).

AD 1287 Mar 21 Latakia

Latakia, a strategic Frankish stronghold, was damaged by an earthquake. Reportedly a quarter of it was destroyed, together with its pigeon-loft and its lighthouse. It is probable that the reports from Safita and Hims (see above) concerned its foreshocks. The partial destruction of its defences opened it to attack by the Muslims and, after a month of fighting, the Franks surrendered the tower and left.

Tashrif reports three earthquakes in a.H. 686, the main event (from his political point of view), being the Laodicea earthquake, which is dated to ‘the night [i.e. eve] of Safar 5’, i.e. Safar 4 = 21 March 1287. Tashrif’s sympathies for the Muslims are very strong, so some details of his account should perhaps be treated with caution.

According to the same author, before this, on Muharram 21 of the same year (8 March), Hims was affected by an earthquake, although Tashrif gives no indications of the damage. It is said that, when this occurred, the sultan had just completed repairs to the citadel of Safad (Safitha), which had taken ‘half of the month of Muharram’. The earthquake must thus have taken place between Muharram 1 (the first day of a.H. 686) and 6 (16–21 February 1287). See also Runciman (1965, iii. 403).

Note

(a.H. 686) Ibn ‘Abd az-Zahr records the capture of the tower of Ladhiqyya. It was very important not to leave it in infidel hands, as the tower was in the sea, with no land access. Its walls could not be reached, as the sea protected it like a moat. The port of Ladhiqyya was a source of great profit to the Franks, and as important as that of Alexandria. God decided to stir up several earthquakes in that year, one of which struck the citadel of Safad [Safitha]. The sultan spent half of the month of Muharram on the repairs. The citadel of Hims was also affected by an earthquake on 21st Muharram, just when the repairs had been finished. On the night of Saturday 5th Safar the earthquake seized Ladhiqyya, destroying the most part of the tower, which faced out to sea, as God wanted to prove the Muslims right, for it was he who protected this tower. A quarter of it was destroyed, and the pigeon-loft was similarly destroyed, as well as the light-house which marked the coast. The earthquake was intense, and this was one of the reasons why it was easy for the Muslims to take the tower. When the prince Husam ad-Din Tarnatay, the commander of the troop, had completed his capture of the citadel of Sahyun, he went on the march in order to attack the tower which had already been battered by the earthquake. The Franks were convinced that the sultan was aided by an angel, as well as by the earthquake. They also realised that the pigeons could not fly any more and that the light-house would shine no longer. Thus they sued for peace. The Muslims claimed victory on Sunday 5th of prior Rabia’. They allowed the Franks to depart with their possessions, leaving only their arms behind. (Tashrif, 151–152).

References

Ambraseys, N. N. (2009). Earthquakes in the Mediterranean and Middle East: a multidisciplinary study of seismicity up to 1900.

Guidoboni and Comastri (2005)

(139) 1287 February (second half) Western Syria-northern Israel

(140) 1287 March 8 Hims [western Syria]

(141) 1287 March 22 Laodicea

sources

Ibn Abd al-Zahir, Tashrif, pp.151-2

historiography

Rohricht (1898)

literature

Taher (1979)

catalogues d.

Sieberg (1932a)
*Ben-Menahem (1979)
Amiran et al. (1994)

catalogues p.

Poirier and Taher (1980)
al-Hakeem (1988)
Bektur and Alpay (1988)

In the month of Muharram in the year of the Hegira 686 (which corresponds to the period 16 February - 17 March 1287), and at the beginning of the following month of Safar, three strong earthquakes struck what is now the coast of Syria (the territory of Laodicea, present-day Al-Ladhiqiya) and an area of hinterland stretching from western Syria (the territory of Hims) to present-day northern Israel (the territory of Safad, present-day Zefat). The first shocks occurred in the second half of February, and damaged various Mamluk fortresses, including those of Safad and Hims. There was a fresh and violent shock on 8 March, which increased the damage at Hims, where restoration work on military buildings had already begun. The shock occurred on 22 March caused the partial collapse of a quarter of the tower at Laodicea, including the lighthouse, which was then in the hands of the Franks. The serious damage which this military building suffered facilitated the Mamluk conquest of Laodicea on the following 21 April, under the leadership of the sultan Qalawun. The source for this earthquake is the contemporary Arab historian Ibn Abd al-Zahir (1233-1293). He is particularly authoritative and reliable because at the time of the earthquake he was secretary to the sultan Qalawun, who was not only one of those chiefly responsible for the Muslim reconquest of the crusader states, but also actively involved during those months in the capture of Laodicea, referred to above:

The tower [of Laodicea] rose proudly above the whole region. It was sought after by the Muslims and protected by the infidels because it rose up out of the sea without being connected in any way to the land. How could it be taken, if its moat was the sea? The Franks profited greatly from the port of Laodicea, which was comparable in importance to that of Alexandria, God willed it that in the month of Muharram in that year [686 H. = 16 February - 17 March 1287], there was a series of earthquakes which damaged some fortresses, including that of Safad. Half way through Muharram, our sultan set about repairing the damage. The fortress at Hims was also being repaired, when it was again struck by another shock on 21 Muharram [8 March]. During the night of Saturday 5 Safar [22 March], there was an earthquake in the direction of Laodicea which almost completely destroyed its tower in the sea, for God had wanted to give that region to the Muslims by protecting the tower in this way. A quarter of the tower was destroyed. The dovecot was also destroyed, as was the lighthouse which showed the position of the coast. The earthquake was a violent one and made the capture of the tower easier. When he had taken the town of Sahiyun, the Emir Husam al-Din Tarantawi, who was in command of the sultan's troops, began the march towards Laodicea. They arrived there with catapults, whose tongues and fingers are accustomed to conveying the words and signs of victory. They set down their machines in thoroughly firm positions, and built a stone bridge. Then they thrust the battering ram [? nuqub] against those points which had been weakened in the earthquake, thereby leaving the tower undefended. In this way, the position fell into their hands. [The Franks] were convinced that our sultan was fighting with the aid of the angels and earthquakes, and when things went against them, they laid down their arms and surrendered. The tower was captured on Sunday 5 Rabi` I [20 April]. The Muslims allowed the Franks to leave with their possessions, obliging them to abandon only their weapons. At midday the cross was removed from the top of the tower, as the muezzin made the call to prayer.

Intensity Tables

1287 02
Localities	Lat.	Long.	I
Hims, Syria	33 44	36 43	VII-VIII
Safed, Israel	32 58	35 30	VII-VIII

1287 03 08
Localities	Lat.	Long.	I
Hims, Syria	33 44	36 43	VII?

1287 03 22
Localities	Lat.	Long.	I
Al-Ladhiqiya	35 31	35 47	VIII

References

Guidoboni, E. and A. Comastri (2005). Catalogue of Earthquakes and Tsunamis in the Mediterranean Area from the 11th to the 15th Century, INGV.

Abou Karaki (1987)

1287 A.D., 686 A.H.

- Safed (VIII-IX), and on 11 March, 21^st of the month of Muharram in Homs (VIII-IX), while on 2 April, the 5^th of the month of Safar Latakia (VIII) - (PTAH).

NAJA: we have corrected an error in (PTAH). Indeed it is the city of Homs and not Hama, for which the effects of the earthquake were mentioned in the original, as cited in (TAHA p.I70)); moreover, the city of Latakia should be added with I = (VIII).

- 1287 AD, destruction in northern Syria and Armenia; Latakia ruined; felt in Palestine, M_L = 7.3 (BM1).

French

1287 apr. J.C, Année 686 apr H

- Safad (VIII-IX), et le 11 MARS, 21 du mois de Muharram à Homs (VIII-IX), tandis qu'au 2 AVR, le 5 du mois de Safar Lattaquié (VIII) - (PTAH).

NAJA : nous avons rectifié une erreur dans (PTAH). En effet il s'agit bien de la ville de Homs et non de Hama, pour laquelle les effets du séisme ont été mentionnés dans l'original, tel qu'il est cité dans (TAHA p.I70)); il faudrait par ailleurs ajouter la ville de Lattaquié avec I = (VIII).

- 1287 apr. J.C, destruction au Nord de la Syrie et en Arménie ; Lattaquié ruinée ; ressenti en Palestine, M_L = 7,3 (BM1).

References

Abou-Karaki, N. (1987). Synthèse et carte sismotectonique des pays de la bordure Orientale de la Méditerranée: sismicité du système de foilles du Jourdain – Mer Morte, University of Strasbourg, France. Ph.D. Diss.

Taher (1979)

686 A.H./March 1287 AD

Ibn 'Abd Az-Zahr¹ reports the capture of the tower of Ladhiqyya [Latakia?]. The tower was fortified. It was very important not to leave it to the infidels, because it was at sea, without access on dry land. We could not reach its walls, the sea protected it like a moat. The Franks benefited greatly from the port of Ladhiqyya, as important as that from Alexandria. God decided to cause several earthquakes that year, one of which affected the Cafad citadel. The sultan was busy with repairs for half of the month of Muharram.

The citadel of Hume was also affected by a shock on 21 Muharran just when it had just been repaired. On the night of Saturday 5 Cafar, the earthquake gripped Ladhiqyya, destroying most of the tower which stood in the sea, because God wanted to prove the Muslims right. He was the one who protected this tower. A quarter of it was destroyed, and the dovecote was also destroyed, as well as the lighthouse which indicates the coast. The earthquake was intense, and this was one of the reasons why it was easy for the Muslims to take the tower. When Prince Husam ad-Din Tarantay, the commander of the troops, had completed the capture of the citadel of Sahyun, he set out to attack the tower which had already been attacked by the earthquake. The Franks were convinced that the sultan was supported by an angel and also by the earthquake. They also noticed that their pigeons could no longer fly and that their lighthouse no longer lit. Also, they signed peace. The Muslims won this victory on Sunday 5 Rabia' I.

They let the Franks leave with their goods, leaving behind only their weapons.

Footnotes

1 Tachrif, 151, 152.

References

Taher, M.A. (1979): Corpus des texts arabes relatifs aux tremblements de terre et autres catastrophes naturelles, de la conquete arabe au XII H/XVIII JC, Ph.D. Thesis (Univ. Paris), 337 pp.

1287 CE Quakes

Seismic Sequence in Feb./March 1287 CE

by Jefferson Williams

Introduction & Summary

Textual Evidence

Archaeoseismic Evidence

Landslide Evidence

Tsunamogenic Evidence

Paleoseismic Evidence

Notes

Paleoclimate - Droughts

References