Sources: Information on the Plague of Justinian comes from Wikipedia (Plague of Justinian) and from many different chronicles, the most interesting of which is the „Ecclesiastical History” by John of Ephesus (cited in Chronicle of Zuqnin by Dionysius of Tel-Mahre, part III). For those who want to know more about this plague, I recommend reading this chronicle and an excerpt from the „History of the Wars” by Procopius. Information about climatic phenomena comes mainly from Wikipedia (Volcanic winter of 536). For those who are more interested in this topic, I can recommend the video: The Mystery Of 536 AD: The Worst Climate Disaster In History. The part on the fall of the meteorite is based on information from the video: John Chewter on the 562 A.D. Comet, as well as from the articles published on the websites falsificationofhistory.co.uk and self-realisation.com.
In the history of the Middle Ages, prior to the Black Death epidemic, one can find various cataclysms and catastrophes of local scale. The largest of these was the smallpox epidemic in Japan (735–737 AD), which killed between 1 and 1.5 million people.(ref.) However, we are looking for global cataclysms, that is, those that affect many places in the world at the same time and that manifest themselves in natural disasters of various kinds. An example of a calamity that affected several continents simultaneously is the Plague of Justinian. During this plague, tremendous earthquakes occurred in various parts of the world, and the climate suddenly cooled. The 7th-century writer John bar Penkaye believed that famines, earthquakes, and pestilence were signs of the end of the world.(ref.)
Plague
The Plague of Justinian was a contagious disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. However, the strain of Yersinia pestis responsible for the second plague pandemic (the Black Death) is not a direct descendant of the Justinianic Plague strain. According to contemporary sources, the plague epidemic began in Nubia, on the southern border of Egypt. The contagion struck the Roman port city of Pelusium in Egypt in 541 and spread to Alexandria and Palestine before ravaging the Byzantine capital, Constantinople, in 541–542, and then afflicting the rest of Europe. The infection reached Rome in 543 and Ireland in 544. It persisted in Northern Europe and the Arabian Peninsula until 549. According to historians of the time, the Justinianic Plague was almost worldwide, reaching central and southern Asia, North Africa, Arabia, and Europe as far north as Denmark and Ireland. The plague was named after the Byzantine emperor Justinian I, who contracted the disease but recovered. In those days, this pandemic was known as the Great Mortality.
The most prominent Byzantine historian, Procopius, wrote that the disease and the death it brought were inescapable and ubiquitous:
During these times there was a pestilence by which the whole human race came near to being annihilated. … It started from the Egyptians who dwell in Pelusium. Then it split and moved in one direction towards Alexandria and the rest of Egypt, and in the other direction it came to Palestine on the borders of Egypt; and from there it spread over the whole world.
Procopius of Caesarea
Humans were not the only victims of the plague. Animals were also contracting the disease.
Also we saw that this great plague showed its effect on animals as well, not only on the domesticated but also on the wild, and even on the reptiles of the earth. One could see cattle, dogs and other animals, even rats, with swollen tumours, struck down and dying. Likewise wild animals could be found smitten by the same sentence, struck down and dying.
John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
A 6th-century Syrian scholar, Evagrius, described the many different forms of the plague:
The plague was a complication of diseases; for, in some cases, commencing in the head, and rendering the eyes bloody and the face swollen, it descended into the throat, and then destroyed the patient. In others, there was a flux of the bowels; in others buboes were formed, followed by violent fever; and the sufferers died at the end of two or three days, equally in possesion, with the healthy, of their mental and bodily powers. Others died in a state of delirium, and some by the breaking out of carbuncles. Cases occurred where persons, who had been attacked once and twice and had recovered, died by a subsequent seizure.
Evagrius Scholasticus
The plague was a complexity of diseases; for, in some cases, commencing in the head, and rendering the eyes bloody and the face swollen, it descended into the throat, and then destroyed the patient. In others, there was an efflux from the bowels; in others buboes were formed, followed by violent fever; and the sufferers died at the end of the second or third day, being equally with the healthy in possesion of their mental and bodily powers. Others died in a state of delirium, and some by the breaking out of carbuncles. Cases occurred where persons, who had been attacked once and twice and had recovered, died by a subsequent seizure.
Evagrius Scholasticus
Procopius also wrote that the same disease could have taken a very different course:
And this disease always took its start from the coast, and from there went up to the interior. And in the second year it reached Byzantium in the middle of spring, where it happened that I was staying at that time. (…) And they were taken in the following manner. They had a sudden fever (…) of such a languid sort (…) that not one of those who had contracted the disease expected to die from it. But on the same day in some cases, in others on the following day, and in the rest not many days later, a bubonic swelling developed. (…) Up to this point, then, everything went in about the same way with all who had taken the disease. But from then on very marked differences developed. (…) For there ensued with some a deep coma, with others a violent delirium, and in either case they suffered the characteristic symptoms of the disease. For those who were under the spell of the coma forgot all those who were familiar to them and seemed to lie sleeping constantly. And if anyone cared for them, they would eat without waking, but some also were neglected, and these would die directly through lack of sustenance. But those who were seized with delirium suffered from insomnia and were victims of a distorted imagination; for they suspected that men were coming upon them to destroy them, and they would become excited and rush off in flight, crying out at the top of their voices. (…) Death came in some cases immediately, in others after many days; and with some the body broke out with black pustules about as large as a lentil and these did not survive even one day, but all succumbed immediately. With many also a vomiting of blood ensued without visible cause and straightway brought death.
Procopius of Caesarea
And this disease always took its start from the coast, and from there went up to the interior. And in the second year it reached Byzantium in the middle of spring, where it happened that I was staying at that time. (…) And the disease was attacking in the following manner. They had a sudden fever (…) of such a languid sort (…) that not one of those who had contracted the disease expected to die from it. But on the same day in some cases, in others on the following day, and in the rest not many days later, a bubonic swelling developed. (…) Up to this point, then, everything went in about the same way with all who had taken the disease. But from then on very marked differences developed. (…) For there ensued with some a deep coma, with others a violent delirium, and in either case they suffered the characteristic symptoms of the disease. For those who were under the spell of the coma forgot all those who were familiar to them and seemed to lie sleeping constantly. And if anyone cared for them, they would eat without waking, but some were neglected, and these would die directly through lack of sustenance. But those who were seized with delirium suffered from insomnia and were victims of a distorted imagination; for they suspected that men were coming for them to destroy them, and they would become excited and rush off in flight, crying out at the top of their voices. (…) Death came in some cases immediately, in others after many days; and with some the body broke out with black pustules about as large as a lentil and these people did not survive even one day, but all succumbed to death immediately. With many also a vomiting of blood ensued without visible cause and straightway brought death.
Procopius of Caesarea
Procopius recorded that at its peak, the plague was killing 10,000 people in Constantinople daily. Since there were not enough living to bury the dead, the corpses piled up in the open air, and the whole city smelled of the dead. Another eyewitness to these events was John of Ephesus, who saw these horrible piles of corpses and lamented:
With what tears should I have wept at that time, O my beloved, when I stood observing those heaps, full of unspeakable horror and terror? What sighs would have sufficed me, what funeral laments? What heart-break, what lamentations, what hymns and dirges would suffice for the suffering of that time over the people thrown in great heaps torn open one upon another with their bellies putrefying and their intestines flowing like brooks down into the sea? How too could the heart of a person who saw these things, with which nothing could be compared, fail to rot within him, and the rest of his limbs fail to dissolve together with him (though still) alive, from pain, bitter wailing and sad funeral laments, having seen white hair of the old people who had rushed all their days after the vanity of the world and had been anxious for gathering (means) and waiting for a magnificent and honourable funeral (to be prepared) by their heirs, who (now were) struck down upon the earth, (this) white hair (now) being grievously defiled with the pus of their heirs.
(With what tears should I have wept) for beautiful young girls and virgins who awaited a joyful bridal feast and preciously adorned (wedding) garments, (but were now) lying stripped naked, and defiled with the filth of other dead, making a miserable and bitter sight, not even inside a grave, but in the streets and harbours, their corpses having been dragged (there) like those of dogs;
— (for) lovable babies being thrown in disorder, while those who were casting them onto boats seized and hurled them from a distance with great horror;
— (for) handsome and merry young men (now) turned gloomy, (who were) cast upside down one under another (in a) terrifying (manner);
— (for) noble and chaste women, dignified with honour, who sat in bedchambers, (now with) their mouths swollen, wide open and gaping, (who) were piled up in horrible heaps, all ages lying prostrate, all statures bowed down and overthrown, all ranks pressed one upon another, in a single wine-press of (God’s) wrath, like beasts, not like human beings.John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
With what tears should I have wept at that time, O my beloved, when I stood observing those heaps, full of unspeakable horror and terror? What sighs would have sufficed me, what funeral laments? What heart-break, what lamentations, what hymns and dirges would suffice for the suffering of that time over the people being thrown in great heaps; torn open, lying one upon another with their bellies putrefying and their intestines flowing like brooks down into the sea? How too the heart of a person who saw these things, with which nothing could be compared, could fail to rot within him, and the rest of his limbs could fail to dissolve together with him though still is alive, from pain, bitter wailing and from sad funeral laments, having seen white hair of the old people who had rushed all their days after the vanity of the world and had been anxious for gathering means and waiting for a magnificent and honourable funeral to be prepared by their heirs, who have now been knocked to the ground, this white hair now being distressingly defiled with the pus of their heirs.
With what tears should I have wept for beautiful young girls and virgins who awaited a joyful bridal feast and preciously adorned wedding garments, but were now lying stripped naked, and defiled with the filth of other dead, making a miserable and bitter sight; not even inside a grave, but in the streets and harbours; their corpses having been dragged there like corpses of dogs;
— lovable babies being thrown in disorder, while those who were casting them onto boats seized and hurled them from a distance with great horror;
— handsome and merry young men, now turned gloomy, who were cast upside down, one under another, in a terrifying manner;
— noble and chaste women, dignified with honour, who sat in bedchambers, now with their mouths swollen, wide open and gaping, who were piled up in horrible heaps, people of all ages lying prostrate; all social statuses were bowed down and overthrown, all ranks pressed one upon another, in a single wine-press of God’s wrath, like beasts, not like human beings.John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
According to the chronicles of medieval Irish history, 1/3 of the world population died out from the pandemic.
AD 543: An extraordinary universal plague through the world, which swept away the noblest third part of the human race.
Wherever the pestilence passed, a larger portion of the population perished. In some villages, no one survived. So there was no one to bury the bodies. John of Ephesus wrote that in Constantinople 230,000 dead were counted before they gave up counting because the victims were too numerous. In this great city, the capital of Byzantium, only a handful of people survived. The global number of casualties is very uncertain. Historians estimate that the first plague pandemic took the lives of 15–100 million people over two centuries of recurrences, which corresponds to 8–50% of the world population.
Earthquakes
As we know, the Black Death was closely associated with earthquakes. This pattern is also repeated in the case of the Justinianic Plague. Also this time the plague was preceded by numerous earthquakes, which were extremely violent and long-lasting during this period. John of Ephesus describes these cataclysms in great detail.
However, in the year preceding the plague, earthquakes and heavy tremblings beyond description took place five times during our stay in this city [Constantinople]. These which occurred were not rapid as the twinkling of the eye and transient, but took a long time until the hope of life expired from all human beings and was cut off, as there was no delay after the passing of each of these earthquakes.
John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
However, in the year preceding the plague, earthquakes and heavy tremblings beyond description took place five times during our stay in this city [Constantinople]. These which occurred were not rapid as the twinkling of the eye and transient, but lasted a long time until the hope of life expired from all human beings, as there was no gap after the passing of each of these earthquakes.
John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
The chronicler’s notes show, that these were not ordinary earthquakes, which happen from time to time. These quakes lasted extremely long and covered vast areas. Probably whole tectonic plates were displacing in the process.
In 526 AD, the earthquake shook Antioch and Syria (region) in the Byzantine Empire. The earthquake was followed by a fire that destroyed the rest of the buildings. It is said that a literal rain of fire fell, leaving the city of Antioch completely devastated and desolate. The account of this event is found in the chronicle of John Malalas:
(In the) 7th year and the 10th month of the reign, Syrian Antioch the Great collapsed by the wrath of God. It was the fifth fall, (which occurred) in the month of Artemisios, which is May, on the 29th day, at six o’clock. … This fall was so immense that no human tongue can describe it. The wonderous God in his marvelous providence became so angry with the Antiochens that he rose up against them and ordered those buried under the dwellings as well as those groaning under the ground to be burned with fire. Sparks of fire filled the air and burned like lightning. There was found even burning and spurting soil of the earth, and coals formed from the soil. Those fleeing encountered fire and those hiding in houses were smothered. … Terrible and strange sights were to be seen: fire fell down from heaven in rain, and burning rain fell, the flames poured in the rain, and fell as flame, soaking into the earth as it fell. And Christ-loving Antioch became desolate. … Not a single dwelling, nor any sort of house, nor a stall of the city remained undestroyed. … From the underground was thrown up as if sand of the sea, which was strewn upon the ground, having the moisture and the smell of sea water. … After the fall of the city, there were a great many other earthquakes, referred to from that day as times of death, which lasted for one year and a half.
John Malalas
In the 7th year and the 10th month of the reign, Syrian Antioch the Great collapsed by the wrath of God. It was the fifth destruction, which occurred in the month of Artemisios, which is May, on the 29th day, at six o’clock. … This fall was so immense that no human tongue can describe it. The wonderous God in his marvelous providence became so angry with the Antiochens that he rose up against them and ordered those buried under the dwellings as well as those groaning under the ground to be burned with fire. Sparks of fire filled the air and burned like lightning. There was found even burning and spurting soil, and coals formed from the soil. Those fleeing encountered fire and those hiding in houses have been smothered. … Terrible and strange sights were to be seen: fire fell down from heaven in rain, and burning rain fell, the flames poured in the rain, and fell as flame, soaking into the earth as it fell. And Christ-loving Antioch became desolate. … Not a single dwelling, nor any sort of house, nor a stall of the city remained undestroyed. … From the underground has been thrown up as if sand of the sea, which has been strewn upon the ground, that had the moisture and the smell of sea water. … After the fall of the city, there were a great many other earthquakes, referred to from that day as times of death, which lasted for one year and a half.
John Malalas
According to the chronicler, it was not just an earthquake. At the same time fiery stones were falling from the sky and stucking into the ground. In one place the earth was burning (rocks were melting). It could not have been a volcanic eruption, because there are no active volcanoes in this area. Sand was being ejected from underground. It could have come from fissures that formed during the earthquake. It was probably the most tragic earthquake of the Middle Ages. There were 250,000 victims in Antioch alone.(ref.) Keep in mind that in those days there were 40 times fewer people in the world than today. If such a disaster occurred now, in just one city 10 million people would die.
The chronicler writes that the earthquake in Antioch initiated a series of quakes throughout the region that lasted for a year and a half. During the „times of death”, as this period was called, all the major cities in the Near East and Greece were affected.
And earthquakes destroyed Antioch, the first city of the East, and Seleucia which is close to it, as well as the most notable city in Cilicia, Anazarbus. And the number of persons who perished along with these cities, who would be able to compute? And one might add to the list Ibora and also Amasia, which chanced to be the first city in Pontus, also Polybotus in Phrygia, and the city which the Pisidians call Philomede, and Lychnidus in Epirus, and Corinth; all of which cities have from ancient times been most populous. For it befell all these cities during this period to be overthrown by earthquakes and the inhabitants to be practically all destroyed with them. And afterwards came the plague as well, mentioned by me before, which carried off about one-half of the surviving population.
Procopius of Caesarea
Reading the words of Procopius, one might get the impression that the plague came immediately after the Antioch earthquake. However, according to the official version of history, the two events were 15 years apart. This looks rather suspicious, so it is worth checking where the date of the earthquake actually comes from and whether it was determined correctly.
According to historians, the Antioch earthquake occurred on May 29, 526 AD, during the reign of Justin I. This emperor ruled from July 9, 518 AD, until the day of his death, that is August 1, 527 AD. On that day he was succeeded by his nephew with a similar name – Justinian I, who ruled for the next 38 years. The dynasty from which both emperors came is called the Justinian dynasty. And this is a rather strange name, considering the fact that the first of the dynasty was Justin. Shouldn’t it actually be called the Justin dynasty? The name of the dynasty probably comes from the fact that Justin was also called Justinian. John of Ephesus, for example, calls this first emperor Justinian the Elder. So Justin and Justinian are the same names. It is easy to confuse the two emperors.
John Malalas describes the destruction of Antioch in the context of the reign of the emperor, whom he calls Justin. But the title of the chapter in which he writes this is: „An account of the 16 years of Czar Justinian”.(ref.) We see that Justinian was sometimes called Justin. So, under which emperor did this earthquake actually take place? Historians agree that it was during the reign of the Elder. But the problem is that he reigned for only 9 years, so a chronicler could not write about the first 16 years of his reign. So the earthquake must have happened during the reign of the later emperor. But still let’s check if this is definitely correct.
The chronicler writes that the earthquake occurred on May 29, in the 7th year and 10th month of the emperor’s reign. Because Justin I began his reign on July 9, 518, his first year of reign lasted until July 8, 519. If we count the consecutive years of his reign, it comes out that the second year of his reign lasted to 520, the third to 521, the fourth to 522, the fifth to 523, the sixth to 524, and the seventh to July 8, 525. Thus, if the earthquake occurred in the seventh year of Justin’s reign, it would be the year 525. How come historians came up with the year 526? It turns out that historians can not calculate a few years correctly! And the same applies for months. The first month of Justin’s reign was July. So the 12th month of his reign was June, the 11th month was May, and the 10th month was April. The chronicler clearly writes that the earthquake was in the 10th month of his reign and that it occurred in the month of May. Since the 10th month of Justin’s reign was April, this earthquake could not have happened during his reign! But if we assume that it concerns Justinian who began his reign in August, then the 10th month of the reign would indeed be May. Now everything falls into place. The earthquake occurred during the reign of Justinian, in the 7th year and 10th month of his reign, that is, on May 29, 534. It turns out that the cataclysm happened only 7 years before the outbreak of the plague. I think that this earthquake was deliberately pushed back in time so that we would not notice that the two disasters were so close to each other and that they are closely related.
Until you start researching history yourself, it may seem like history is a serious field of knowledge and that historians are serious people who can count to ten at least as well as kindergarteners. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Historians have been unable or unwilling to notice such a simple mistake. For me, history has just lost its credibility.
Now let’s move on to other earthquakes, and they were really powerful at the time. In what is now Turkey, an earthquake initiated a huge landslide that changed the course of a river.
The great river Euphrates was obstructed above the region of Claudia facing Cappadocia, beside the village [Pro]sedion. A great mountain(side) slipped down and as the mountains there are very high, though set close together, having come down it obstructed (the flow of the river) between two (other) mountains. (Things) remained (thus) for three days and three nights, and (then) the river turned its flow backward towards Armenia and the earth became inundated and villages were submerged. It caused much damage (there), but downstream (the river) ran dry in some places, dwindled and turned into dry land. Then people from many villages gathered in prayers and services and with many crosses. They came in sorrow, with tears streaming down and with great trembling carrying their censers and burning (incense). They offered (the eucharist) further up on that mountain which had obstructed (the flow) of the river in its midst. Thereafter it gradually receded to produce an opening and in the end it suddenly burst and the mass of water gushed out and came down. There was great terror in the whole of the East as far as the marches of Persia, since many villages, people and cattle were flooded as well as everything which was standing in the way of the sudden mass of water. It destroyed many communities.
John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
The great river Euphrates was obstructed above the region of Claudia facing Cappadocia, beside the village Prosedion. A great mountainside slipped down and as the mountains there are very high, though set close together, having come down it obstructed the flow of the river between two other mountains. Things remained thus for three days and three nights, and then the river turned its flow backward towards Armenia and the earth became inundated and villages were submerged. It caused much damage there, but downstream the river ran dry in some places, dwindled and turned into dry land. Then people from many villages gathered in prayers and services and with many crosses. They came in sorrow, with tears streaming down and with great trembling carrying their censers and burning incense. They offered the eucharist further up on that mountain which had obstructed the flow of the river in its midst. Thereafter the river has gradually receded to produce an opening, which in the end it suddenly burst and the mass of water gushed out and flowed down. There was great terror in the whole of the East as far as the marches of Persia, since many villages, people and cattle were flooded as well as everything which was standing in the way of the sudden mass of water. Many communities has been destroyed.
John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
In Moesia (today’s Serbia), the earthquake formed a huge fissure that engulfed a large part of the city.
This (city), Pompeiopolis, was not (only) overthrown like other cities by a heavy earthquake which befell it, but (also) a terrible sign took place in it, when the earth suddenly opened and also was torn apart, from one side of the city to the other: half of (the city) together with (its) inhabitants fell in and was swallowed up in (this) very frightful and terrifying chasm. In this way it „went down to Sheol alive”, as is written. When the people had fallen down into this fearful and terrible chasm and were swallowed up into the depth of the earth, the sound of clamour of all of them together rose bitterly and terribly from the earth to the survivors for many days. Their souls were tormented by the sound of clamour of (the people who had been swallowed up), which rose from the depth of Sheol, but they were unable to do anything to help them. Later the emperor, having learned (about it), sent much gold in order that they might, if possible, help those who had been swallowed up in the earth. But there was no way to help them – not a single soul of them could be rescued. The gold was given to the living for the restoration of the rest of the city which had escaped and had been saved from that cataclysm of (this) terrible horror caused by our sins.
John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
This city, Pompeiopolis, was not only overthrown like other cities by a heavy earthquake which befell it, but also a terrible sign took place in it, when the earth suddenly opened and also was torn apart, from one side of the city to the other: half of the city together with its inhabitants fell in and was swallowed up in this very frightful and terrifying chasm. In this way they „went down to Sheol alive”, as is written. When the people had fallen down into this fearful and terrible chasm and were swallowed up into the depth of the earth, the sound of clamour of all of them together were rising bitterly and terribly from the earth to the survivors, for many days. Their souls were tormented by the sound of clamour of the people who had been swallowed up, which rose from the depth of Sheol, but they were unable to do anything to help them. Later the emperor, having learned about it, sent much gold in order that they might, if possible, help those who had been swallowed up in the earth. But there was no way to help them – not a single soul of them could be rescued. The gold was given to the living for the restoration of the rest of the city which had escaped and had been saved from that cataclysm of this terrible horror caused by our sins.
John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
Exactly 30 months after Antioch was destroyed for the first time (or for the fifth time, if we count from the city’s inception), it was destroyed again. This time the earthquake was weaker. Although Antioch was razed to the ground again, this time only 5,000 people died, and the surrounding towns were not affected.
Two years after the fifth collapse of Antioch it was overthrown again, for the sixth (time), on the 29th of November on Wednesday, at the tenth hour. (…) On that day there was a heavy earthquake for one hour. At the end of the quake there was heard (a sound) like a great, powerful and protracted thunder coming from the sky, while from the earth rose a sound of great terror, powerful and frightful, as from a bellowing bull. The earth trembled and shook because of the terror of this horrible sound. And all the buildings which had been built in (Antioch) since its (previous) collapse were overthrown and razed to the ground. (…) So (the inhabitants of) all the surrounding cities, on hearing of the disaster and the collapse of the city of Antioch, sat in sorrow, pain and grief. (…) Most of those, however, who were alive, fled to other cities and left Antioch deserted and desolate. On the mountain above the city others made for themselves shelters of rugs, straw and nets and so lived in them in the tribulations of winter.
John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
Two years after the fifth collapse of Antioch it was overthrown again, for the sixth time, on the 29th of November on Wednesday, at the tenth hour. (…) On that day there was a heavy earthquake for one hour. At the end of the quake there was heard a sound like a great, powerful and protracted thunder coming from the sky, while from the earth rose a sound of great terror, powerful and frightful, as from a bellowing bull. The earth trembled and shook because of the terror of this horrible sound. And all the buildings which had been built in Antioch since its previous collapse were overthrown and razed to the ground. (…) So the inhabitants of all the surrounding cities, on hearing of the disaster and the collapse of the city of Antioch, sat in sorrow, pain and grief. (…) Most of those, however, who were alive, fled to other cities and left Antioch deserted and desolate. On the mountain above the city others made for themselves shelters of rugs, straw and nets and so lived in them in the tribulations of winter.
John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
Let’s now determine the years in which these massive disasters occurred. The second destruction of Antioch happened 2 years after the first, so it must have been in the year 536. The great landslide was placed in the chronicle of John of Ephesus in the year preceding the famous phenomenon of the darkened sun, which, based on other sources, is dated to 535/536. So the landslide happened in 534/535, that is, during the 18-month „times of death”. The formation of the huge fissure is, dated in the chronicle to the period between the two earthquakes in Antioch, so it should be the year 535/536. The chronicle of Theophanes records exactly the same year for this event. So the fissure was formed at the „times of death” or not much later. John of Ephesus writes that there were many other earthquakes at the time. It was a really tough time for the people then alive. Especially since all these huge cataclysms happened in a period of only a few years between AD 534 and AD 536.
Flood
As we know, during the time of the Black Death, rain fell almost constantly. This time, too the rains were exceptionally heavy. Rivers were rising and causing floods. The river Cydnus swelled so much that it surrounded practically all of Tarsus. The Nile rose as usual, but did not recede at the proper time. And the river Daisan flooded Edessa, a large and famous city near Antioch. According to the chronicle, this happened in the year before the first destruction of Antioch. The pressing water destroyed the city walls, flooded the city and drowned 1/3 of its population, or 30,000 people.(ref.) If something like this happened today, over a million people would die. Even though cities today are no longer surrounded by walls, it is probably not hard to imagine that a dam holding back huge masses of water could collapse, especially if an earthquake occurs. In that case, an even greater tragedy could result.
About the third hour of night, when many were asleep, many (others) were bathing in the public bath, and still others were sitting at supper, suddenly mighty amounts of water appeared in the river Daisan. (…) Suddenly in the darkness of the night the (city) wall was breached and (the debris) stopped up and held back the mass of water at its exit and (so) it completely inundated (the city). It rose (above) all the streets and courtyards of the city adjacent to the river. In one hour, or maybe two, the city was filled with water and became submerged. Suddenly the water entered the public bath through all the doors and all the people who were there drowned while trying to (reach) the doors to get out and escape. (But) the flood just poured in through the gates and covered all who were in the lower storeys and all together they were drowned and perished. As for those on the upper storeys, when those who were there realized (the peril) and rushed to get down and escape, the flood overwhelmed them, they were submerged and drowned. Others were submerged while slumbering and, being asleep, felt nothing.
John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
About the third hour of night, when many were asleep, many others were bathing in the public bath, and still others were sitting at supper, suddenly mighty amounts of water appeared in the river Daisan. (…) Suddenly in the darkness of the night the city wall was breached and the debris stopped up and held back the mass of water at its exit and so it completely inundated the city. Water rose above all the streets and courtyards of the city adjacent to the river. In one hour, or maybe two, the city was filled with water and became submerged. Suddenly the water entered the public bath through all the doors and all the people who were there drowned while trying to reach the doors to get out and escape. But the flood just poured in through the gates and covered all who were in the lower storeys and all together they were drowned and perished. As for those on the upper storeys, when those who were there realized the peril and rushed to get down and escape, the flood overwhelmed them, they were submerged and drowned. Others were submerged while slumbering and, being asleep, felt nothing.
John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
Extreme weather events of the year 536
As a result of terrible earthquakes, people lost their homes. They had nowhere to go. Many fled to the mountains, where they were building for themselves shelters of rugs, straw and nets. In such conditions, they had to survive the exceptionally cold year of 536 and the harsh winter that immediately followed the second destruction of Antioch.
Immediately after the earthquake in which Antioch was shaken and collapsed a harsh winter came. It had snowed three cubits deep [137cm].
John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
According to scientists, the extreme weather events of 536 were the most severe and protracted short-term cooling episodes in the Northern Hemisphere in the last two thousand years. The average global temperature dropped by 2.5 °C. The event is thought to have been caused by an extensive atmospheric dust veil, possibly resulting from a large volcanic eruption or an asteroid impact. Its effects were widespread, causing unseasonable weather, crop failures, and famine around the world.
John of Ephesus wrote the following words in his book „Church Histories”:
There was a sign from the sun, the like of which had never been seen and reported before. The sun became dark and its darkness lasted for 18 months. Each day, it shone for about four hours, and still this light was only a feeble shadow. Everyone declared that the sun would never recover its full light again.
John of Ephesus
quoted in Chronicle of Zuqnin by D.T.M., p. III
In 536 AD Procopius recorded in his report on the Vandal wars:
And it came about during this year a most dread portent took place. For the sun gave forth its light without brightness, like the moon, during this whole year, and it seemed exceedingly like the sun in eclipse, for the beams it shed were not clear nor such as it is accustomed to shed. And from the time when this thing happened men were free neither from war nor pestilence nor any other thing leading to death.
Procopius of Caesarea
In 538 AD the Roman statesman Cassiodorus described the following phenomena in Letter 25 to one of his subordinates:
- The sun’s rays were weak and seemed to have a bluish color
- Even at noon the shadows of people were not visible on the ground
- The warmth of the sun was feeble
- The sky is described as blended with alien elements; Just like cloudy weather, but prolonged. It is stretched like a veil across the sky, preventing the true colors of the sun and moon to be seen or the warmth of the sun to be felt.
- The moon, even when full, was empty of splendor
- „A winter without storms, a spring without mildness, and a summer without heat”
- The seasons seem to be all jumbled up together
- Prolonged frost and unseasonable drought
- Frosts during harvest, which makes apples harden and grapes sour
- Widespread famine
Another phenomena were reported by a number of independent sources from that period:
- Low temperatures, snow even in summer
- Widespread crop failures
- Dense, dry fog in the Middle East, China, and Europe
- Drought in Peru, which affected the Moche culture
- The northern kingdom of Korea suffered significant weather changes, flood, earthquake and diseases in 535 AD.(ref.)
In December 536, the Chinese chronicle of Nanshi states:
Yellow dust rained down like snow. Then there came celestial ash so thick in (some) places it could be scooped up in handfuls. In July it snowed, and in August there was a fall of frost, which ruined the crops. So great is death by famine that by Imperial decree there is an amnesty on all rents and taxes.
The dust was probably Gobi desert sand, not volcanic ash, but this suggests that the year 536 was unusually dry and windy. Weather anomalies led to starvation all over the world. The Irish Annals of Ulster noted: „a failure of bread”, in the years 536 and 539 AD.(ref.) In some places there were cases of cannibalism. A Chinese chronicle records that there was a great famine, and that the people practiced cannibalism and 70 to 80% of the population died.(ref.) Perhaps the starving people ate those who had previously starved to death, but it is also possible that they later killed others to eat them. Cases of cannibalism occurred also in Italy.
At that time there was a heavy famine throughout the whole world, as Datius, bishop of the city of Milan, has related fully in his report, so that in Liguria women ate their own children for hunger and want; some of them, he has said, were of the family of his own church.
536/537 AD
Liber pontificalis (The book of the popes)
The weather changes are thought to have been caused by ashes or dust thrown into the air after a volcanic eruption (a phenomenon known as volcanic winter) or after the impact of a comet or meteorite. Tree ring analysis by dendrochronologist Mike Baillie showed an abnormally small growth of Irish oak in 536 AD. Ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica show substantial sulfate deposits at early 536 AD and another one 4 years later, which is evidence of an extensive acidic dust veil. Geologists surmise that the sulfate rise of 536 AD was caused by a high-latitude volcano (perhaps in Iceland), and that the eruption of 540 AD occurred in the tropics.
In 1984, R.B. Stothers postulated that the event may have been caused by the Rabaul volcano in Papua New Guinea. However, new research indicates that the eruption happened later. The Rabaul eruption is now radiocarbon dated to the year 683±2 AD.
In 2010, Robert Dull presented evidence linking the extreme weather events to the Tierra Blanca Joven eruption of the Ilopango caldera in El Salvador, North America. He says that Ilopango may have even eclipsed the 1815 eruption of Tambora. However, a more recent study dates the eruption to ca 431 AD.
In 2009, Dallas Abbott published evidence from Greenland ice cores that the haze may have been caused by multiple comet impacts. The spherules found in the ice might originate from terrestrial debris ejected into the atmosphere by an impact event.
Asteroid impact
Not only the Earth was in turmoil in those days, but there was also a lot going on in space. The Byzantine historian Theophanes the Confessor (758–817 AD) described an unusual phenomenon that was observed in the sky in 532 AD (the given year may be uncertain).
In the same year there occurred a great movement of stars from evening till dawn. Everyone was terrified and said, „The stars are falling, and we have never seen such a thing as that before.”
Theophanes the Confessor, 532 AD
Theophanes writes that stars fell from the sky all night long. It was probably a very intense meteor shower. People watching this were terrified. They had never seen anything like this before. However, this was only a prelude to a much greater cataclysm that was to come soon.
In those days, a little-known, virtually unrecorded, catastrophic natural disaster occurred. A huge asteroid or comet fell from the sky and devastated the islands of Britain and Ireland, causing a terrible conflagration, destroying towns, villages, and forests throughout the area. Vast areas of Britain became uninhabitable, with noxious gases in abundance and landscapes covered in mud. Virtually all living things died either instantly or shortly thereafter. There must also have been a horrendous death toll among the inhabitants, although the true extent of this catastrophe will probably never be known. Incredible as it may seem to many historians, the vitrification of several ancient hill forts and stone structures provides convincing evidence for the claim that Britain and Ireland were destroyed by the comet. This widespread destruction was recorded in several authenticated records of the time. Geoffrey of Monmouth writes about the comet in his book on the history of Britain, which was one of the most popular history books of the Middle Ages.
And then a Star of enormous size appeared to Ythyr, having a single shaft of light and at the head of the shaft a ball of fire in shape of a dragon; and from the dragon’s jaws, two beams of light went upward; the one beam reaching towards the farthest parts of Ffraink [France] and the other beam towards Iwerddon [Ireland], which split into seven smaller beams. And Ythyr and all who saw this spectacle feared.
Geoffrey of Monmouth
The reason why this episode was never included in history textbooks is that up until the early 19th century, the Christian religion strictly forbade, and even considered it heresy, to acknowledge that it was possible for stones and rocks to fall from the sky. For this reason, the entire event was erased from history and remained virtually unacknowledged by historians. When Wilson and Blackett first brought this event to the public’s attention in 1986, they experienced much scorn and ridicule. But now this event is slowly being accepted as reality and is beginning to be incorporated into history texts.
Records about stones falling from the sky have been removed from chronicles, but records about stars falling or the sky suddenly brightening in the middle of the night have survived. A meteorite exploding in the atmosphere emits an enormous amount of light. A night then becomes as bright as a day. You can see this in the video below.
The meteorite fall in the British Isles must have been visible all over Europe. It is likely that this very event was described by a monk from Monte Cassino in Italy. At dawn, Saint Benedict of Nursia observed a glittering light that turned into a fiery globe.
The man of God, Benedict, being diligent in watching, rose up early, before the time of matins (his monks being yet at rest), and came to the window of his chamber, where he offered up his prayers to Almighty God. Standing there, all on a sudden, in the dead of the night, as he looked forth, he saw a light, which banished away the darkness of the night, and glittered with such brightness, that the light which did shine in the midst of darkness was far more clear than the light of the day.
Pope Gregory I, 540 AD
The monk’s account shows that when it was still completely dark, the sky suddenly became brighter than during the day. Only the fall of a meteorite or its explosion just above the ground could light up the sky so much. It happened at the time of the Matins, which is a canonical hour of the Christian liturgy originally sung in the darkness of early morning. It is stated here that this occurred in the year 540 AD, but according to a long-time researcher on the subject, John Chewter, there are three dates in the historical records relating to a comet or comets in question: AD 534, 536 and 562.
Professor Mike Baillie believes that mythology can help uncover the details of this event. He analyzed the life and death of one of the most famous legendary figures of all time and came to an intriguing conclusion.(ref.) 6th-century Britain was supposedly the time of King Arthur. All the many later legends say that Arthur lived in the west of Britain and that as he grew old his kingdom was reduced to wastelands. The legends also tell of terrible blows that fell from the sky upon Arthur’s people. Interestingly, the 10th- century chronicle of Wales seems to support the case for King Arthur’s historical existence. The annals mention the Battle of Camlann, in which Arthur was killed, dated to 537 AD.
AD 537: The battle of Camlann, in which Arthur and Medraut fell; and there was plague in Britain and Ireland.
If the meteorite fell just before King Arthur’s death, then it must have been just before 537 AD, that is, right in the middle of the climatic catastrophe.
The Justinianic Plague and the other cataclysms described here coincided with the beginning of the Middle Ages, which is the period commonly known as the „Dark Ages”. This period began with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire at the end of the 5th century and continued until the mid-10th century. It gained the name „Dark Ages” due to the scarcity of written sources from this period and the widespread cultural, intellectual, and economic decline. It can be suspected that the plague and natural disasters that ravaged the world at the time were one of the main causes of this collapse. Due to the small number of sources, the chronology of events from this era is very uncertain. It is doubtful whether the Plague of Justinian actually began in 541 AD, or whether it was at a completely different time. In the next chapter, I will try to sort out the chronology of these events and determine when this global cataclysm really happened. I will also present you with further accounts by chroniclers, that will enable you to understand these events even better.