Jordan Valley Quake(s)

English from Turtledove (1982) and Mango and Scott (1997)

from Turtledove (1982) with some additions from Mango and Scott (1997)

ANNUS MUNDI 6150 (SEPTEMBER 1, 658 — AUGUST 31, 659)
Constans II, 17th year
Muawiyah I, 3rd year
Peter, 6th year

In this year an arrangement was made between the Romans and Arabs. Because of disorder, Muawiyah I sent an embassy so the Arabs could pay the Romans 1,000 nomismata, a horse, and a slave per day.

Also in this year — the second indiction — there was a great earthquake and collapse in Palestine and Syria in the month of Daisios.

In the same year the holy pope of Rome, Martin, was exiled. He had struggled nobly for the truth and became a confessor, dying in eastern regions.

Probable Date	Date Range (wide constraint)	Reference	Notes
Daisios (May/June) 659 CE	25 Mar. 657 - 31 Aug. 659 CE	A.M._a 6150 second indiction	A.M._a - 25 Mar. 657 to 24 Mar. 658 CE or 1 Sept. 657 to 31 Aug. 658 CE (there is uncertainty when Theophanes started his A.M._a year) 2nd Indiction - 1 Sept. 658 to 31 Aug. 659 CE Theophanes A.M._a are thought to be have often been a year too low during the periods A.M. 6099-6204 (607-712 CE) and A.M. 6219-6266 (727-774 CE) If we bump Theophanes' A.M._a up a year, it agrees with the indiction and dates the earthquake to Daisios (May/June) 659 CE
Daisios (May/June) 659 CE	May 657 to Aug. 659 CE	17th year of Constans II	Constans II ruled from September 641 - 15 July 668 CE but was appointed co-emperor in May 641 CE. As noted by Ambraseys (2009) (citing Grumel, V., 1954:128 and others), Theophanes had a general tendency to specify regnal year a year too low during the periods A.M._a 6099-6204 (607-712 CE) and A.M._a 6219-6266 (727-774 CE). If this is the case, the year would be 659 CE. see also Grumel (1934: 406) and Grumel (1958:174)
Daisios (May/June) 659 CE	1 Jan. 659 to 30 Dec. 660 CE	6th year of Peter	Peter ruled from 654-666 CE
Daisios (May/June) 659 CE	1 Jan. 658 to 30 Dec. 659 CE	The third year of Muawiyah I	Theophanes appears to date Muawiyah I's rule starting at the death of Uthman in 656 CE rather than his coronation as Caliph in 660 or 661 CE. (see Mango and Scott, 1997:483 n. 1 in entry for A.M._a 6147)
	655 or 656 CE	the same year Pope Martin I was exiled

Probable Date

Date Range (wide constraint)

Reference

Notes

Daisios (May/June) 659 CE

25 Mar. 657 - 31 Aug. 659 CE

A.M._a 6150 second indiction

A.M._a - 25 Mar. 657 to 24 Mar. 658 CE or 1 Sept. 657 to 31 Aug. 658 CE (there is uncertainty when Theophanes started his A.M._a year)
2nd Indiction - 1 Sept. 658 to 31 Aug. 659 CE
Theophanes A.M._a are thought to be have often been a year too low during the periods A.M. 6099-6204 (607-712 CE) and A.M. 6219-6266 (727-774 CE)
If we bump Theophanes' A.M._a up a year, it agrees with the indiction and dates the earthquake to Daisios (May/June) 659 CE

Daisios (May/June) 659 CE

May 657 to Aug. 659 CE

17th year of Constans II

Constans II ruled from September 641 - 15 July 668 CE but was appointed co-emperor in May 641 CE.
As noted by Ambraseys (2009) (citing Grumel, V., 1954:128 and others), Theophanes had a general tendency to specify regnal year a year too low during the periods A.M._a 6099-6204 (607-712 CE) and A.M._a 6219-6266 (727-774 CE).
If this is the case, the year would be 659 CE.
see also Grumel (1934: 406) and Grumel (1958:174)

Daisios (May/June) 659 CE

1 Jan. 659 to 30 Dec. 660 CE

6th year of Peter

Peter ruled from 654-666 CE

Daisios (May/June) 659 CE

1 Jan. 658 to 30 Dec. 659 CE

The third year of Muawiyah I

Theophanes appears to date Muawiyah I's rule starting at the death of Uthman in 656 CE rather than his coronation as Caliph in 660 or 661 CE. (see Mango and Scott, 1997:483 n. 1 in entry for A.M._a 6147)

655 or 656 CE

the same year Pope Martin I was exiled

Chronicle of Theophanes