Kudüs Şehri ve 1546 Depremi
Doğal afetler, tarih boyunca toplumları doğrudan etkileyen en önemli faktörler arasında yer almıştır. Bunlar arasında veba ve cüzzam gibi salgın hastalıklar, depremler gibi yer kabuğu kaynaklı felaketler ve sel, fırtına gibi atmosferik olaylar sayılabilir. Bu çalışma, Osmanlı döneminde meydana gelen 952 Hicri / 1546 Miladi yılındaki Kudüs depremini incelemektedir. Kudüs, bu dönemde yüzyıllar boyunca farklı şiddet ve sıklıkta pek çok doğal afet yaşamıştır. Bunlar arasında, bu çalışmada ele alınan deprem özellikle dikkat çekicidir. Bu araştırmanın temel motivasyonu, söz konusu depremin özellikle Kudüs ve genel olarak çevre bölgeler için taşıdığı büyük önemdir; zira bu olayın sonuçları, dönemin toplumsal ve mimari gerçekliği üzerinde kalıcı izler bırakmıştır. Ayrıca, bu depremi kayıt altına alan tarihî belgelerin azlığı, olayın önemini vurgulamayı daha da gerekli kılmaktadır. Özellikle, Kudüs Şer‘iyye Mahkemesi arşivlerinde bu depreme dair kayıtlar muhafaza edilmiştir. Bu çalışmada, söz konusu kayıtlar detaylı bir şekilde taranmış, deprem ve etkilerine doğrudan veya dolaylı olarak atıf yapan belgeler derlenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, bu olayın Kudüs’teki yaşam üzerindeki geniş kapsamlı etkisini ortaya koyan zengin veriler sunmakta ve akademik bir inceleme için yeterli malzeme sağlamaktadır.
The Holy City of Jerusalem and the Earthquake of 952 AH/1546 AD
Natural disasters have consistently ranked among the most significant factors directly influencing societies throughout history. These include pandemics such as the plague and leprosy, terrestrial disasters like earthquakes, and atmospheric phenomena such as floods and storms. This study examines the Jerusalem earthquake of 952 AH / 1546 CE, which occurred during the Ottoman era. During this period, Jerusalem experienced numerous natural disasters, including earthquakes of varying frequency and intensity across centuries. Among these, the earthquake addressed in this study is particularly noteworthy.
The impetus for this research stems from the profound significance of this event for Jerusalem in particular and the surrounding region more broadly, as its consequences left a lasting impact on the societal and architectural realities of the time. The scarcity of historical sources documenting this earthquake further underscores the need to highlight its importance. Notably, records of this earthquake are preserved in the archives of the Jerusalem Sharia Court· This study conducted a thorough survey of these records, extracting documents that directly or indirectly referenced the earthquake and its repercussions. The findings reveal a wealth of data that collectively illustrate the extensive impact of this event on life in Jerusalem, providing sufficient material for a detailed scholarly investigation.
م1546/هـ952 ةنس لازلزو فيرشلا سدقلا ةنيدم
،لزلازلاك ضرلأاو ،ماذجلاو نوعاطّلاك ءابولا ثراوك اهنم ،روصعلا برع تاعمتجملا ةكرح لىع شرٍابم لٍكشب رثؤت تيلا لٍماوعلا مِّهأ دَحأ ةيّعيّبطّلا ثراوكلا دَعت للاخ تضرعت سدَقلا نأ ركذي ،نيامثعلا صرعلا للاخ م1546/هـ952 ةنس سدَقلا لازلز لىع ءوضلا طيّلست ةقرولا هذه لواحت .حــــيرلاو تاناضيّفلاك ءامسلاو فيّنعلا اهنم ،ةتوافتم تاجردَب لزلازلا اهتباصأو لاإ اهخيرات نم ةلحرم وأ نرق ولخي داكي لا ذإ ،لزلازلا اهنم ةيّعيّبطّلا ثراوكلا نم ةعومجم لىإ صرعلا اذه ةقطّنملاو ةصاخ سدَقلا لىع ةعقاولا هذه ةيّمهأ ءوض في ةيّثحبلا ةقرولا هذه دادَعإ ءاج .ةساردَلا هذه عوضوم لازلزلا اهزربأ نم ناكو ،فيّعضلاو طسوتملاو نمو ،هنع ماثللا فشك في اغيّلب اببس تناك لازلزلا اذه تلفغأ تيلا رداصملا حشُ نأ امك ،صرعلا كلذ في لاحلا عقاو لىع ترثأ جُئاتن اهيلع بترت نأ دَعب ةماع اهللاخ مِّت ،ةبرفلا هذه لىإ دوعت تيلا تلاجسلل لٍماشُ حسمب ةساردَلا تماق .ةيّعشرلا سدَقلا ةمكحم تلاجس اهب تدرفنا لازلزلا اذه رابخأ نإ لوقلا ةيّمهلأا ةرهاظ ةعمتجم لٍكشت نأ نكمي تانايّبلا نم بربك ددَع دوجو ايّلج ادَب دَقو ،هجئاتنو لازلزلا اذه نع شرٍابم برغ وأ شرٍابم لٍكشب تثدَحت تيلا قئاثولا جارخإ .ةعقاولا هذه نع ةنيصر ةيّملع ةسارد جارخإب ةليّفك تامولعم ،فيشرلا سدَقلاب ةايّحلا قسن لىع ترثأ
Natural disasters have historically played a pivotal role in shaping societal developments. These include pandemics such as the plague and leprosy, seismic events like earthquakes, and atmospheric disturbances such as floods and storms.
This paper sheds light on the Jerusalem earthquake of 952 AH / 1546 CE, which occurred during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. It assesses the earthquake’s intensity and destructive impact based on available data while exploring the tools and methods employed by the Ottoman state in response. Furthermore, it examines whether Jerusalem’s religious and cultural significance influenced the scale and nature of the administrative response, both locally and provincially.
Notably, this earthquake coincided with a period of significant reconstruction and maintenance in Jerusalem, one of the most prominent phases of urban development under Sultan Suleiman’s rule. Various sources highlight this era as marked by monumental projects, including the Sultan’s iconic architectural contributions. Sultan Suleiman demonstrated exceptional care for Jerusalem due to its religious significance, elevating it to a status befitting its sacred heritage. His efforts encompassed the construction of city walls, the establishment of water infrastructure such as the “Sabil” canal project, and the allocation of numerous endowments to ensure the city’s prosperity.
Jerusalem’s Ottoman-era history reveals a pattern of recurring natural disasters, with earthquakes of varying magnitudes occurring nearly every century. Among these, the earthquake of 952 AH / 1546 CE stands out due to its significant impact. The event caused substantial damage to the city’s architectural fabric, leading to the decline of pre Ottoman structures, particularly Mamluk architecture, which was subsequently replaced by Ottoman architectural styles. This transformation has left an enduring imprint on Jerusalem’s urban landscape.
The preparation of this research was motivated by the limited documentation available on this earthquake. Conventional historical sources make scant mention of the event, while detailed accounts are preserved in alternative sources, particularly the records of the Jerusalem Sharia Court.
The Ottoman Empire was renowned for its systematic approach to archiving, establishing both public and private repositories to document events and preserve legal and administrative records. These archives reflect the empire’s commitment to meticulous record-keeping, guided by the principles of Islamic jurisprudence. The Jerusalem Sharia Court records, in particular, offer comprehensive documentation of the city’s social, economic, and administrative life during the Ottoman era.
This study employed a historical methodology, utilizing a qualitative approach based on the analysis and interpretation of primary sources. A detailed survey of court records from the period of the earthquake was conducted, identifying documents that directly or indirectly referenced the event. The analysis revealed substantial data illustrating the earthquake’s impact on Jerusalem’s societal and architectural landscape.
The findings indicate that the structures renovated or reconstructed in the aftermath of the earthquake primarily served religious and educational purposes. Prominent examples include the Dome of the Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque, schools, and hostels. Additionally, private residences and other buildings underwent restoration, often requiring court approval for such projects.
This study underscores the significance of the Jerusalem earthquake as a historical phenomenon and highlights the importance of the Ottoman archival records in uncovering and analyzing such events. While previous attempts have been made to study these records, challenges related to their specificity, language, and accessibility have hindered comprehensive research. This paper contributes to addressing these gaps by leveraging a complete archival dataset from the period in question.
