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801 Apennine earthquake

An earthquake originating in the Central Apennines was felt in Rome and Spoleto on 29 April 801. It is reported in two independent contemporary sources, Einhard's Royal Frankish Annals and the Liber Pontificalis. The information provided by the written sources has been augmented by archaeology.

Primary sources
Royal Frankish Annals:While [Charlemagne] was staying [in Spoleto], on April 30, in the second hour of the night, a tremendous earthquake occurred which severely shook the whole of Italy. Because of this tremor a large part of the roof of the basilica of the blessed apostle Paul with its wooden framework collapsed, and in some places mountains tumbled on top of cities. In the same year also some places along the Rhine, in Gaul, and in Germany were hit with tremors. • Liber Pontificalis:In the 9th indiction the menace of our sins brought about a sudden earthquake on 30 April. The earthquake shook St Paul's church and all the roofing collapsed. Seeing this, the great and distinguished pontiff [Leo III] was greatly afflicted and began to bewail the damage and destruction to the silver and other valuables therein. But by the Lord's will and by the prince of the holy apostles' protection, the pontiff put all his efforts into the task of restoring it as it was of old. • There are several other medieval sources which mention the earthquake, but these are derivative of the two primary sources. They include the Annales Blandinienses, Annales Iuvavenses, Annales Fuldenses, Annales Tiliani, Annales Mettenses and Annales Ratisponenses, as well as the works of Regino of Prüm, Hermann of Reichenau, Bernold of Constance, the Annalista Saxo, Petrus Comestor and Ptolemy of Lucca. ==Bibliography==
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