The Seaward Walls of Constantinople

Early Repairs and Challenges

Early Period and Initial Effectiveness

After their construction, there are no detailed records of repairs to the seaward walls of Constantinople for the next 250 years. Despite this, the walls must have been structurally sound, because they successfully withstood significant threats during the seventh century. In 610, the fleet of Heraclius used the walls as a staging point to overthrow the tyrant Phocas. Later, between 673 and 678, the city faced a siege by the Saracens, yet the walls held firm, protecting the southern approaches to Constantinople. These events demonstrate that even without formal records, the walls were robust and strategically effective.

Restoration under Tiberius Apsimarus

The condition of the seaward walls entered a new phase during the reign of Tiberius Apsimarus. As Admiral of the Imperial fleet in the Aegean, he witnessed the growing strength of the Saracens, who had expanded from the Nile to the Atlantic. Aware of the dangers both on land and sea, Tiberius recognized the necessity of maintaining the city’s maritime defenses. Upon his return to Constantinople, he ordered the neglected walls to be repaired and strengthened, ensuring they could withstand future attacks. His efforts marked the beginning of a systematic approach to fortifying the seaward walls Private Bulgaria Tours Yachting.

Renewed Efforts under Anastasius II

About eight years later, Anastasius II took additional steps to reinforce the seaward walls. These repairs were prompted by the Saracens’ preparations for a second major assault on the capital of Eastern Christendom. The work was highly effective; by 718, when the Saracen fleet attacked with more than 1,200 vessels, the city’s defenses, including the strengthened seaward walls, successfully repelled the invasion. The repairs and vigilance of the Byzantine authorities ensured that Constantinople remained secure and unconquered during this critical period.

Natural Threats: Ice and Flooding in 764

The seaward walls also faced unusual natural challenges. In the spring of 764, an extreme Arctic winter had frozen the northern and western Black Sea for nearly 100 miles from the coast, with ice reaching 60 feet deep. On top of this ice, a layer of snow 45 feet high accumulated. When the thaw came, enormous ice-floes traveled down the Bosporus, forming massive ice-piles at the entrance to the Sea of Marmara. These ice masses extended from the Palace of Hiereia (Fener Bagtchessi) to the city, and from Chrysopolis to Galata, reaching as far as Mamas at the head of the Golden Horn. The seaward walls were tested by these extraordinary conditions, which could have caused serious damage, highlighting the walls’ durability and strategic importance in protecting the city.

From the seventh to the eighth century, the seaward walls of Constantinople proved to be both resilient and essential. They protected the city against military attacks and withstood extreme natural forces, ensuring the security of the capital. Efforts by emperors such as Tiberius Apsimarus and Anastasius II show that the maintenance of these walls was considered crucial for the survival of the Byzantine Empire, particularly against the growing naval power of its enemies.