The Crusaders and the Walls of Blachernae

The Setting of the Attack

In the early 13th century, the forces of the Fourth Crusade reached the walls of Constantinople. The Venetian fleet, flying the banner of St. Mark, entered the Golden Horn under the leadership of Doge Enrico Dandolo. On land, the Crusader army, commanded by Baldwin of Flanders, set up their camp on the hill just west of the Palace of Blachernae.

The city’s defenders were well-prepared. On the towers and walls stood the famous Varangian Guard, composed mostly of Englishmen and Danes. Known for their loyalty and bravery, these warriors were considered equals to the Crusaders in courage and strength. Meanwhile, Emperor Alexius III and his court looked on from the palace windows, watching anxiously as events unfolded Private Tours Bulgaria Varna.

The Grand Assault of July 17, 1203

On July 17, 1203, the Crusaders launched a large-scale attack by both land and sea. The army on land struck at the fortress formed by the Walls of Heraclius and Leo, while the fleet targeted the nearby harbor defenses.

With the help of long ladders, fifteen knights and sergeants managed to climb the outer wall. They fought fiercely against the defenders at the top, engaging in a desperate hand-to-hand struggle. The attempt was bold, but the defenders had the advantage. Armed with swords and heavy battle-axes, the Varangian Guard fought with deadly force. Two of the attackers were captured, and the rest were forced back down, retreating in defeat.

Many other Crusaders who came to support the assault were wounded. The fighting was so hard against the Latins at this section of the wall that the balance began to turn in favor of the Byzantines. Although Dandolo and the Venetians had already captured twenty-five towers along the harbor fortifications, he was forced to leave his gains and sail back quickly with his fleet to aid his struggling allies on land.

The Siege of 1453

More than two centuries later, during the final siege of Constantinople in 1453, the walls of Blachernae were once again at the center of history. By that time, the moat in front of the walls had been filled with earth. To strengthen the defenses, it was excavated again by the crews of the Venetian galleys under the command of Aluxio Diedo.

The moat was dug 200 paces long and 3 feet wide, with Emperor Constantine XI and his court present at the work. On a nearby hill, two sentries kept watch on the Turkish forces, who were preparing for their decisive assault.

The walls of Blachernae witnessed some of the most dramatic moments in Byzantine history. In 1203, the Crusaders failed to break through their defenses, despite the determination of the Venetians and knights. In 1453, during the empire’s final days, the same walls saw desperate efforts by Byzantines and their Venetian allies to hold back the Ottoman tide. Both episodes reveal the symbolic and strategic importance of this part of Constantinople’s fortifications—standing as a barrier between empire and invader for centuries.