On this day in 1347, a massive earthquake struck the Friuli region near present-day northern Italy and Slovenia. Medieval chronicles describe violent shaking that destroyed fortified towns, collapsed monasteries, and triggered landslides that buried entire villages. The event, often referred to as the Friuli Earthquake, is considered one of the most devastating seismic disasters in early European history.
Contemporary accounts detail widespread damage from Aquileia to Cividale, where cathedrals and civic structures fell in seconds. Aftershocks continued for weeks, fueling superstition and fear. While precise casualty figures remain unknown, the destruction was significant enough to appear in numerous regional documents and ecclesiastical records, marking it as a defining catastrophe of its century.
The Friuli Earthquake remains a subject of study among seismologists and historians seeking to understand medieval seismic patterns and their impact on population centers. Its occurrence on November 25 continues to stand as a reminder of the deep and ancient seismic history of the Alpine regions.
Sources & Further Reading:
– Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV)
– Medieval Friuli Archives
– European Seismic Hazard Catalogue
(One of many On-This-Day stories brought to you by Headcount Coffee — where history meets the morning cup.)
