April 16, 1514 Earthquake: Zakynthos, Greece

Reference #9116:

A locally damaging earthquake in Zakynthos. According to a contemporary document this happened at the third hour of the day, on Saturday 16 April 1513, during the f rst indiction, and lasted between 30 seconds and one minute. Later writers date the event one year too high, on 16 April a.M. 7022 (1514; Sanuto, Diarii XVI , 265, XVII , 182; Manousakis 1967, 217–221). The principal source for this event is Hironimo Bernardo, whose letter, written on the same day as the earthquake, is reproduced in Sanudo’s Diarii ( XVI , 265, XVII , 1825). Bernardo says that the earthquake occurred ‘ a ore 2 1/2 di zorno ’, just as he was going to Mass in his chapel, so this should probably read not as 2.30 am, but as 8.30 am. The earthquake apparently lasted the time taken to recite the Creed or longer, i.e. 30 seconds to a minute. This earthquake is also mentioned, with further information, in the Short Chronicle which continues Michael Ducas, where it is dated 16 April a.M.(Byz.) 7022 (1514; Ducas Cont. 7022; Schreiner 1975, i. 256). Damage in the town was widespread. It is reported that all the churches and most of the houses within the castle confines were heavily damaged, if not destroyed, and some of their inhabitants were killed. The governor’s residence was badly shattered. There was also extensive damage to sections of the land walls and watchtowers, although the older structures seem to have survived […] There is no evidence that the shock caused any serious damage outside of Zakynthos.