A Review of the Evidence in Matthew of Edessa’s Chronicle on the Earthquake of 1114/1115

This paper re-examines the testimony of the Armenian historiographer Matthew of Edessa (Matt‘ēos Uṛhayets‘i, c. 1050–1144) concerning the earthquakes that struck the cities of Marash (modern Kahramanmarash in Turkey) and Msis (Mamistra, modern Yakapinar in Turkey) with their environs between 1114 and 1115. While Matthew’s Chronicle ( Zhamanakagrut‘iwn ) is frequently cited in modern seismic catalogues, certain chronological and geographical inconsistencies in his narrative remain unsolved. By viewing Matthew’s account in the context of the transitional period between the movable and fixed Armenian calendars and by analysing evidence from contemporaneous liturgical sources such as the Cilician Lectionary ( Ճաշոց , Chashots‘ ) of the year 1154, this research clarifies the date of the earthquake of Marash. The study further evaluates Matthew’s references to monastic sites in the Black ( Sew ) Mountains (Amanos Mountains) region, particularly the Barsegheants‘ and Yesuants‘ hermitages. The manuscript sources identifying the Yesuants‘ Monastery near Antioch provide information on the geographical area impacted by the Msis earthquake. On the basis of the evidence in Matthew’s work, the date of the Msis earthquake is also examined. These testimonies not only support the hypothesis that several earthquakes took place over broad geographical area, but also emphasise the unique value of Matthew’s narrative for reconstructing the seismic history of medieval Cilicia and the neighboring regions.