The Walls Along the Golden Horn

The harbour fortifications of Constantinople were built to protect the city from attacks coming from the sea. These strong walls stretched along the Golden Horn, covering the area from the Acropolis (today’s Seraglio Point) to the point where the land walls ended at Blachernae. According to the traveler Bondelmontius, the Golden Horn walls were reinforced with about one hundred and ten towers.

Unlike the great land walls, these fortifications consisted mostly of a single line of defense. Still, they were extremely important, as they protected the northern side of the Byzantine capital, which was always vulnerable to naval attacks.

The Location of the Walls

The harbour walls were built at a short distance from the water. This was done to allow space for commercial activities and the heavy traffic of the port. However, this narrow strip of land outside the walls was much smaller in ancient times than it is today. Over the centuries, earth and rubble deposits extended the land outward, giving the present shore a different shape Bulgaria Tours.

This difference in distance explains an important historical event. During the Fourth Crusade, in 1203 and 1204, the Venetian fleet was able to bring its ships so close to the Golden Horn walls that soldiers could fight face to face with the defenders. In at least one case, a flying bridge was extended from a Venetian ship directly to a tower of the wall. This allowed the attackers to cross over and capture the tower. Such an action would be impossible at the current distance between the shore and the walls, except perhaps near Seraglio Point.

The Strategic Importance of the Golden Horn

The Golden Horn was one of the most vital parts of Constantinople. It served both as a commercial harbor and as a line of defense. Any enemy who managed to break through here could easily threaten the heart of the city. That is why the Byzantines invested great effort in maintaining and repairing these fortifications whenever danger approached.

The walls along the harbour did not just protect trade; they also represented the wealth and power of the empire. Merchants, sailors, and foreign visitors arriving at Constantinople first saw these defenses, which stood as a reminder of the city’s strength.

The Gates of the Harbour Walls

One of the most notable features of the Golden Horn fortifications was their gates. These gates provided controlled access between the city and the waterfront.

To the east of the Xylo Porta (the “Wooden Gate”), a break in the wall shows the location of a gate that the Ottomans later named Küçük Aivan Serai Kapısı, meaning “the Small Gate of Aivan Serai.” This gate was connected by a short street leading southwards to the famous Church of the Theotokos at Blachernae. To the north, it opened onto the Aivan Serai landing place, which served as a small port for that district of the city.

It is believed that this gate was once known as the Porta Kiliomene. Historical records suggest that Byzantine emperors used this very gate when they arrived by water to visit the Church of the Theotokos or the nearby Blachernae Palace. The Senate would receive the emperor here, marking the gate as a ceremonial entrance.

Legacy of the Golden Horn Walls

The walls along the Golden Horn remind us of the city’s long struggle for survival. They were not as strong as the massive land walls, but they played a critical role in protecting the city’s northern front. Over the centuries, these walls witnessed crusaders, Genoese fleets, Ottoman forces, and countless merchants passing by.

Today, much of the Golden Horn shoreline has changed, yet traces of these fortifications still tell the story of Byzantium’s determination to defend its great capital.