September 10, 1509 Earthquake: Istanbul, Turkey

1509, Sept 10. The earliest information about the earthquake of 10 Sept 1509 in the Sea of Marmara comes from a letter written 5 days after the event, dated 15 Sept 1509, by Nicolo Zustignan a Venetian in Istanbul. His letter reports that the earthquake happened on 10 Sept during the 4th hour of the night. This was a Monday in the Christian calendar and a Tuesday in the Moslem one. The letter says explicitly that the shock felt in Istanbul was also experienced at the same time in other adjacent towns, presumably the towns he refers to in his letter, namely Bursa, Gelibolu and Erdirne, from where news of the effects of the earthquake in Istanbul could have traveled to the capital by land or sea within 5 days. Exactly the same date, day of the week and time of the earthquake are given in contemporary Greek marginal notes. There can be no doubt that the correct date of the earthquake is 10 Sept 1509, at about 10 at night in the New Style (N.S.), and that, from what has already been said the date 14 Sept assigned to the event by most writers is erroneous. Ground shaking in Istanbul was violent and protracted. People could not stay indoors, so they took refuge in open spaces and squares. It is said that shocks continued, with some intermissions, for more than half an hour. The loss of life in Istanbul and its suburbs is difficult to assess. An estimate of 13,000 people killed is reported in the letter sent by the Voyvode of Transylvania to the Doge of Venice, a figure to which most of the occidental chroniclers adhere. Lancelotti (1637) gives 12,000 and Goutoulas (1653) gives 10,000 people killed. A much smaller number, of a few hundred is give by Bugati (1587). Less exaggerated figures are given by contemporary sources, like 1000 by Sofianos (1876a), 1500 by Menavinino (1548), 4000 by Sanuto and 5000 by Rubhi. The mostly likely estimate would be between 1500 and 5000 people. The number of those injured is put at 10,000. (reference #9116)

1509, Sept 10. Marmara Sea, 41.1 N, 28.8 E, large inundation in Constantinople. (ref #2427)

1509, Sept 14. 40.8 N, 28.1 E, magnitude 7.7, intensity X. Sea of Marmara with the Straits of Bosporus and Dardanelles. A destructive earthquake, which was stronger on the European shore than on the opposite coast, took place. Istanbul, Edirne, Gallipoli (Gelibolu, now), Corum and other cities were damaged. Buildings, towers and the coast walls in Istanbul were razed to the ground, the sultan's castle shook with such force that 5 towers, that had been erected at great expense and where jewellery was kept, collapsed. 1,700 houses collapsed in the city, 13,000 inhabitants were killed. The old aqueduct was destroyed. The coastal region of Galata was especially severely damaged. Underground shocks continued for 40 days and nights. (ref #2130).

1509, Sept. 14. Constantinople, and all the rest of the Turkish dominions, both in Europe and Asia Minor. The shocks were the most violent ever known here, and lasted, according to some, 18 days, and to others 25. The sea came over the walls at Constantinople and Galata. 1700 houses and large portions of the walls were thrown down, and some 1000 people lost their lives. Tschorum, Galipoli, Demitoka, and other towns were ruined. (ref #1879)

1509, Sept 14. Turkey, Constantinople and all the Turkish dominions in Europe and Asia Minor, Tschorum, Gallipoli, and Deuritoka. The sea came over the walls at Constantinople and Galata. Intensity III which corresponds to an earthquake which destroyed towns and devastated districts. (ref #1055)

1509, Sept 14. Constantinople, thousands perished. (ref #1073)