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- "9th year of Constantine ...
[Porrò] On the 8th of February [eiusdem] 3rd indiction, the son Leo was born to emperor Constantine from the daughter of Chagan of Chazaria.
That same year there was an earthquake in Syria, an enormous and terrible [calamity]. Many died. A spring [moved ?]. In another place
in the mountains, a village moved for about six miles with its walls and homes intact and without any small thing dying.
Finally, In Mesopotamia, the earth split two thousand [feet?] and out of the chasm came a different soil which was white and sandy. Out of
this chasm emerged a spotless mule speaking in a human voice which predicted an invasion by a foreign army into the land of the Arabs.
This came true." –
Paul the Deacon
- "Emperor Constantines 9th year
... That year there was an earthquake in Syria, a terrible calamity. Many died. A spring [moved?]. In
another place in the mountains, a village moved with its walls and homes intact for 6 Roman miles. Finally
in Mesopotamia, the earth split two thousand feet and out of the chasm came a white sandy soil and a
spotless mule which spoke in a human voice and prophesied that the Arab lands would be invaded
by a foreign army. And this prophecy came true." –
Anastasius Bibliothecarius
- "[A.M. 6241, AD 748/9]
In this year Marouam was pursued by the
Maurophoroi, who captured
him and killed him after waging a very heavy war. They were commanded by
Salim, son of Alim, one of the aforementioned fugitives who had sent Aboumouslim
on his mission. The rest of them gathered in Samaria and Trachonitis and awarded
their leadership by lot to Aboulabas, and next to him to his brother Abdela, and
next to the latter to
Ise Ibinmouse. II They appointed Abdela, son of Alim and
brother of Salim, to be commander in Syria; Salim himself to be commander in Egypt;
while Abdela, brother of Aboulabas (from whom he received the nomination to the command) they appointed over
Mesopotamia. II Aboulabas himself, who was in supreme authority,
established his seat in Persia, the government and all the seized treasure
(which Marouam had carried away) having been transferred to him and his Persian
allies from Damascus. Marouam's surviving sons and relatives went from Egypt to
Africa, whence they crossed the narrow sea that separates Libya from Europe next to
the Ocean at a place called Septai and settled until this day in Spain of Europe, where some kinsmen and
correligionists of theirs had come to dwell at an earlier time — the latter being descendants of
Mauias who had suffered shipwreck there. The devastation in the days of Marouam lasted six years
and in the course of it all the prominent cities of Syria lost their walls except
Antioch, which he planned to use as a refuge. Innumerable Arabs were also killed by
him for he was very cunning in civil matters. He belonged to the heresy of the
Epicureans, that is Automatists, an impiety he had imbued from the pagans who dwell at Harran.
II On 25 January of the same 3rd indiction a son was born to the
emperor Constantine by the daughter of the Chagan of Chazaria and
he called him Leo. In the same year there was an earthquake and
terrible destruction in Syria, as a result of which some cities were entirely destroyed,
others partially so, while others slid down entire, with their walls and houses, from positions
on mountains to low-lying plains, a distance of six miles or thereabout. Eyewitnesses
affirmed that the ground in Mesopotamia was split along two miles and that out of the chasm was
thrown up a different soil, very white and sandy, in the midst of which, they said, there came up an animal
like a mule, quite spotless, that spoke in a human voice and
announced the incursion of a certain nation from the desert against the Arabs, which indeed came to pass.
The next year, on the feast of holy Pentecost the impious emperor Constantine
conferred the imperial crown on his son Leo by the hand of the false patriarch Anastasios
who shared his views. II" –
Theophanes
- "69. Thereafter a son was born to the emperor, whom he named Leo. At the same time a severe earthquake occurred
in Syria, causing enormous damage. For some cities that were there (were completely destroyed and) the ground
round about opened up to a great extent, while others suffered this fate but partially. Others were shifted from
their high positions and slipped down entire, with their walls and houses, to the plains below, moving a distance of
as much as six miles, more or less, from their original situation. Some affirmed they had seen the ground in
Mesopotamia (which is near Syria) crack deeply along (a distance) of two miles, and another ground, sandy and
very white, thrown up from below; and that along with the latter was cast up a female mule, which proclaimed
in a human voice the destruction of the Arabs. A short time thereafter a tribe appeared from the desert beyond
and slew many multitudes (of Arabs) without resistance." –
Nikephoros I of Constantinople
- "That year there was a powerful earthquake in Syria. Some cities were destroyed - others only partly so. In one place,
a village moved with its walls and buildings intact. In Mesopotamia, the earth split three thousand feet and a white sandy soil
came out of the chasm. Then an incredible thing - an onager emerged speaking of human affairs and
predicted a foreign invasion - which happened a short time later." –
Georgius Monachus (George the Monk), also known as Georgius Hamartolos (George the Sinner)
- "In the ninth year of Constanine,
Marnamus was killed in the war with the
Abbasids.
On 25 January, a son Leo was born to
Constantine
[from his wife] Irena,
the daughter of Chazara.
At the same time, there was a serious earthquake and terrible destruction in Syria. Some cities were destroyed [and] others partly destroyed.
In some place[s?], in the mountains, a village[s?] slid down the mountain for a distance of 6 miles with their houses and buildings intact.
Further, in Mesopotamia the earth was split for two thousand steps [~feet] and out of that chasm came a different type of white soil
from which a emerged a mule who spoke a prophecy in a human voice - that a nation from the desert would invade the Arab lands. The prophecy came true." –
George Cedrenus
- "Year 131 [A.H.]
Begins on Friday 30 Ab of the year 1059 of the Greeks [30 August 748 AD]
A year in which there were many earthquakes; many places ruined;
a valley [located] near Mount Tabor was transported from its place to 4 miles with its houses and properties,
without a single grain of dust falling from its houses, and without either a man nor an animal dying ,
or even a hen [sic]. In which the Church of the Jacobites, at Mabug,
collapsed on a Sunday at the time of the
Mass and many people perished there (Kuwarazmi'. - Daniel the Jacobite)." –
Elias of Nisibis
- "Meanwhile there was an earthquake at Damascus
'which lasted for days and shook her like leaves on trees'.
In Beit Qoubayê (?), there was a fortress that had been
built at great expense by
Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf.
It was overthrown from top to bottom and more than 80 people suffocated inside.
Many in the city itself perished.
Myriads of people died in
Ghautah
and
Dareya.
Bosrah,
Nawa, Der'at, and
Ba'albek were
swallowed up completely. The water in the springs of Baalbek turned to blood. It returned to
normal after much prayer and repentance by the townsfolk.
There was an extraordinary storm in the Sea. Its waves rose to the sky. The waves surged with a terrifying and horrid noise
like a cauldron boiling from the flames of a fire.
The sea overflowed and breached its banks destroying many towns and villages on its shores.
In the land of Balqa, that is to say Moab, there was a fortress on the shore of the sea,
where the
Yemenite Taiyayê tribe lived. It was struck by
the sea's waves, the foundations were torn out, and it was deposited three miles away.
This earthquake destroyed the city of
Tiberius
except for house of a man named 'Isa.
It overthrew thirty synagogues and wonderful natural things.
The thermal baths - that wonderful building - built by Solomon the son of David,
collapsed and was destroyed. There was a spring with purgative water and
amazing constructions above it, surrounded by hotels (inns) for the sick
who sought to be healed. There were clay pots artistically made and arranged. On each pot was
written how many times it purged the bowels of those who drank from it. Each person chose a pot
according to how much they wanted to drink. All these buildings are gone.
A village near Mount Tabor moved four miles from its place with all its homes and buildings intact.
Neither a stone nor a small mud brick fell. Nor did [467] any person or animal die - not even a chicken!
The spring next to Jericho moved six miles from its original location.
In
Mabboug, the quake struck during mass.
People and animals died because the great churches and walls collapsed.
In Constantinople, the statues of the emperors fell as well as most of the
buildings. The same thing happened in Nicaea and in the other cities.
Around this time,
Const[antinus] drove out
Germanus, their patriarch, from the church,
and installed
Anasta[si]us.
" –
Michael the Syrian
- "On the insurrections and ruin which happened at this
time in the West, and the fall of the city of Mabbug. For in the year
1060 of the Greeks, 134 of the Arabs, great upheaval afflicted the
world . . .
And there was an earthquake at Damascus and in the
whole surrounding area, which lasted for days, and in which the
area trembled and was shaken. It also [affected] Beth Cubaye,
a citadel which had been built by Hagag the son of Joseph
with much effort and at great expense. This was overturned and
was destroyed down to its foundations, and more than eighty
people were killed and buried in the middle of it. And in the
same city many people died. Likewise in Gutah [a suburb] of
Dareya, countless people died in this earthquake. Bosra and
Neve (sic.) were razed to their foundations. And a great part of
Baalbek collapsed, and the springs of water there became like
blood.
There was an unusual and unexpected storm in the sea.
The waves were seen to be lifted up to the sky: like a pot boiling
over a blazing fire, the waves boiled with a terrible sound which
made those who heard them tremble. And [the sea] rushed up and
overflowed its bounds, destroying many coastal villages. Many
other things are also told which, if they were recorded, would be
a great burden for the writer and his readers.
They say also that in the region of Belca or the Moabitide,
a certain citadel located on the shore of the sea, inhabited by
Yemenite Arabs, was razed down to its foundations when waves
poured into it from the depths; and it was hurled three miles.
This earthquake completely overthrew the city of Tiberias, except
for the house of a monk called ‘Isa. Also thirty synagogues
of the Jews were overturned there and some natural wonders
which were in that city. The baths built by King Solomon, a
wonderful edifice, were completely overthrown and collapsed.
There was also in that city a purgative spring of water given by
God for the health of man. And above it had been erected fine
buildings . . . These buildings were all razed and destroyed. And
another village, near Mt Tabor, was moved and shifted four miles
from its site, with its houses and goods, and not a single stone or
piece of adobe fell; and not a man or animal died, not even a
chicken.
And a spring of water situated close to Jericho, near
which there were citadels, gardens and mills founded by Solomon
the son of Abdamalich, itself stayed where it was, but the river
which has its source there moved six miles back from the place
in which it flowed, so that all that Solomon had built by this river
perished.
And Mabbug [became] no insignificant ruin, and many
people died there; for at the time of the Sunday sacrifice, as the
priest stood raising his hands over the oblation, the church collapsed, killing those on whom it fell, and all who were inside were
crushed and perished, the priests together with the people; and
instead of canticles and spiritual psalms, crashes and lamentation
were heard in the entire city. The foundations of the walls were
also shattered. (Chron. 1234, 325–327/254–255)." –
Chronicon Ad Annum 1234
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Mount Tabor