Catalan earthquake of 1428
Encyclopedia
The Catalan earthquake
of 2 February 1428, known in Catalan
as the terratrèmol de la candelera because it took place during the Candlemas, struck the region of Catalonia
, especially Roussillon
, with an epicentre near Camprodon
. The quake was one of a series of related seismic events that shook Catalonia in a single year. Beginning on 23 February 1427, tremors were felt in March, April, 15 May at Olot
, June, and December. They caused relatively minor visible damage to property, notably to the monastery of Amer; but they probably caused severe weakening of building infrastructure. This would account for the massive and widespread destruction that accompanied the subsequent 1428 quake.
Modern estimates of the intensity are eight (damaging) or nine (destructive) on the Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik scale
. The rampart
s of Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste
were destroyed. The clocktower of Arles-sur-Tech
collapsed. The monastery of Fontclara at Banyuls-dels-Aspres
was devastated. The damage sustained by the monastery of Saint-Martin-du-Canigou marked the commencement of its decline. The belltower and cimborio of Sant Joan de les Abadesses
fell down. The chapel
at Núria
was destroyed. The villages of Tortellà
and Queralbs
were entirely destroyed. Among the damaged structures were Santa Maria de Ripoll
and Sant Llorenç prop Bagà. As far away as Perpignan
and Barcelona
the populace was gripped by panic. In the latter, the intensity was estimated at six (strong) or seven (very strong). The rose window
of the Gothic
church of Santa Maria del Mar
was destroyed.
Robin de Molhet, lord of Peyrepertuse
, who was travelling in his domains when the earthquake struck, quickly came to the aid of victims, which earned the recognition of Alfonso V of Aragon
, who was away in Valencia at the time of the tremors. He was informed by the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya
, Felip de Malla
, in a letter. It is estimated that hundreds of people were killed in the disaster: two hundred are estimated at Camprodon, one to three hundred at Puigcerdà
(due to the collapse of the church), twenty to thirty at Barcelona (in Santa Maria del Mar), and almost the entire population of Queralbs. The fallout lasted well over a year. The quake was probably the worst in the history of the Pyrenees
, though the first recorded only occurred in 1373. It remains to this day a point of reference for the study of seismic risk.
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
of 2 February 1428, known in Catalan
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
as the terratrèmol de la candelera because it took place during the Candlemas, struck the region of Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, especially Roussillon
Roussillon
Roussillon is one of the historical counties of the former Principality of Catalonia, corresponding roughly to the present-day southern French département of Pyrénées-Orientales...
, with an epicentre near Camprodon
Camprodon
Camprodon is a small city in the comarca of Ripollès in Catalonia, Spain, located in the Pyrenees, near the French border.-History:The settlement of Camprodon was in 1118, when Ramon Berenguer III allowed the building of a market near the monastery of Sant Pere de Camprodon, which is located the...
. The quake was one of a series of related seismic events that shook Catalonia in a single year. Beginning on 23 February 1427, tremors were felt in March, April, 15 May at Olot
Olot
Olot is the capital of the comarca of the Garrotxa, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.- Etymology :The etymology of Olot is not clear and there are several hypotheses...
, June, and December. They caused relatively minor visible damage to property, notably to the monastery of Amer; but they probably caused severe weakening of building infrastructure. This would account for the massive and widespread destruction that accompanied the subsequent 1428 quake.
Modern estimates of the intensity are eight (damaging) or nine (destructive) on the Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik scale
Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik scale
The Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik scale, also known as the MSK or MSK-64, is a macroseismic intensity scale used to evaluate the severity of ground shaking on the basis of observed effects in an area of the earthquake occurrence....
. The rampart
Defensive wall
A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
s of Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste
Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste
Prats-de-Mollo-la-Preste is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France, near the border with Spain and the Autonomous Community of Catalonia. The name Prats-de-Mollo comes from Catalan "meadows of Molló". Molló is a town just across the border and the Col d'Ares...
were destroyed. The clocktower of Arles-sur-Tech
Arles-sur-Tech
Arles-sur-Tech is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.-Location:Arles-sur-Tech is situated in a valley which separates France from Spain, through which the 84km long river "Tech" flows as it passes through Arles-sur-Tech. This small town is dominated by the Pyrenees...
collapsed. The monastery of Fontclara at Banyuls-dels-Aspres
Banyuls-dels-Aspres
Banyuls-dels-Aspres is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.The inhabitants are called Banyulencs.-External links:*...
was devastated. The damage sustained by the monastery of Saint-Martin-du-Canigou marked the commencement of its decline. The belltower and cimborio of Sant Joan de les Abadesses
Sant Joan de les Abadesses
Sant Joan de les Abadesses is a town and municipality located in the south-east of the comarca of Ripollès, in Catalonia.-Geography and climate:...
fell down. The chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
at Núria
Vall de Núria
La Vall de Núria is a south-opening valley coming down from the crest of the Pyrenees within the municipality of Queralbs, province of Girona, community of Catalonia, Spain. The floor of the valley lies about 2000 metres above sea level, and is accessible from the south via a rack railway or by...
was destroyed. The villages of Tortellà
Tortellà
Tortellà is a village in the province of Girona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.-References:...
and Queralbs
Queralbs
Queralbs is a municipality in the comarca of the Ripollès inCatalonia, Spain. It is situated in the Pyrenees to the north of Ribes de Freser, with thepeaks of Puigmal , Infern and Noufonts . Tourism and...
were entirely destroyed. Among the damaged structures were Santa Maria de Ripoll
Santa Maria de Ripoll
The Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll is a Benedictine monastery, built in the Romanesque style, located in the town of Ripoll in Catalonia, Spain...
and Sant Llorenç prop Bagà. As far away as Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
and Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
the populace was gripped by panic. In the latter, the intensity was estimated at six (strong) or seven (very strong). The rose window
Rose window
A Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery...
of the Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
church of Santa Maria del Mar
Santa Maria del Mar (Barcelona)
This article is about the church in Barcelona. For other uses, see Santa María del Mar .Santa Maria del Mar is an imposing church in the Ribera district of Barcelona, Spain, built between 1329 and 1383 at the height of Catalonia's maritime and mercantile preeminence...
was destroyed.
Robin de Molhet, lord of Peyrepertuse
Peyrepertuse
Peyrepertuse is a ruined fortress and one of the so-called Cathar castles located high in the French Pyrénées in the commune of Duilhac-sous-Peyrepertuse, in the Aude département, and has been associated with the Counts of Narbonne and Barcelona...
, who was travelling in his domains when the earthquake struck, quickly came to the aid of victims, which earned the recognition of Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso V of Aragon
Alfonso the Magnanimous KG was the King of Aragon , Valencia , Majorca, Sardinia and Corsica , and Sicily and Count of Barcelona from 1416 and King of Naples from 1442 until his death...
, who was away in Valencia at the time of the tremors. He was informed by the President of the Generalitat de Catalunya
Generalitat de Catalunya
The Generalitat of Catalonia is the institution under which the autonomous community of Catalonia is politically organised. It consists of the Parliament, the President of the Generalitat of Catalonia and the Government of Catalonia....
, Felip de Malla
Felip de Malla
Felip de Malla was a Catalan prelate, theologian, scholastic, orator, classical scholar, and poet. He was a confidante of the kings Martin the Humane, Ferdinand of Antequera, and Alfonso the Magnanimous...
, in a letter. It is estimated that hundreds of people were killed in the disaster: two hundred are estimated at Camprodon, one to three hundred at Puigcerdà
Puigcerdà
Puigcerdà is the capital of the Catalan comarca of Cerdanya, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, northern Spain, near the river Segre and the border with France .- History :...
(due to the collapse of the church), twenty to thirty at Barcelona (in Santa Maria del Mar), and almost the entire population of Queralbs. The fallout lasted well over a year. The quake was probably the worst in the history of the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
, though the first recorded only occurred in 1373. It remains to this day a point of reference for the study of seismic risk.