1269 Earthquake: Cicilia, Ceyhan (Seyhan), Turkey

1269. This earthquake caused damage over a large area in southern Cilicia, the Lesser Armenia of that time.

Tell Hamdun, a castle about a day's march distance to the south of the Jaihan Rier (Pyramus)was totally destroyed. Hamus a day's short distance to the east of Tell Hamdun, was badly damaged. Damage extended to Sis (Kozan), where the citadel collapsed and the fortress of Hajar-Shaghlan on the Jabal Lukkam, near Antioch, which overhangs the lake of al-Yaghra, was also ruined. The same happened to the fortress of Sarvandikar and Deghankar, the location of which has not been identified.

Other villages, Armeninan monasteries, two fotresses and twelve small forts on Sew Lern or Djabel Lukkam, the Amanus Mountain, which extends up to the Orotes River, collapsed with great loss of life. It is said that the earthquake killed 8000 people.

It is perhaps this earthquake that caused some damage to the church of St Sophia in Nicosia in Cyprus, which was under construction.

This event is reported by a variety of sources from the Armeninan, Syriac, Islamic and Latin traditions.

The Armenian chronicler Het'um Patmic (writing in the 14th century) has two entries for this earthquake. While the dates of both accounts agree that the earthquake took place in a.Arm. 718/AD 1269 and that Sarventikar and Hamus were badly damaged, the second entry adds Degenkarn and other settlements in the Black Mountains.

The same date and a briefer account, which includes the destruction of two unnamed 'castles' (i.e. fortified towns) are also given in another anonymous, Armeninan chronicle (Arm. Chron. Fr. 3).

The 14th century Gestes des Chiprois notes the destruction of no fewer than five fortified towns, three abbeys and twelve small forts (William C. 457).

The most precise date for this earthquake is found in Abu 'l-Faraj, a contemporary, who give a.S. 1580 Nisan 17 (17 April 1269), at the first hour of the night on the fourth day of the week (a Wednesday), Gregory notes the destruction of 'Serwand' (Sarventikar), "Amaos' (Hamun), and the fortress of the rock Haru'ta(?)',as well as the monastery of 'Balut the King'. He places the death toll at 8000.

(above from reference #9116)

1268. Seyhan Province, Southern Turkey, 60000 deaths. (reference #1002)

1268. Asia Minor, in Cilicia, 60,0000 killed. Intensity III which corresponds to an earthquake which destroyed

towns and devastated districts. (reference #1055)

1268. In Cilicia. 60,000 persons were killed. (reference #521)

1268. In Cicilia; 50,000 perished. (reference #1073)

1268, Sept 10 - 1269, August 30. Kozan was severely shaken; many castles were destroyed and many persons perished. (reference #1098)