The Walls of Constantinople

by B. Granville Baker

What wonder then that man should endeavour to express by pen and pencil his sense of the greatness and beauty, the Romance of a Walled City such as Constantinople. The more so that a movement is on foot to remove these ancient landmarks of the history of Europe and Asia.

True there are other works on this same subject, works by men deeply learned in the history of this fair city, works that bid fair to outlive the city walls if the fell intent of destroying them is carried into execution, and from these men and their works I derived inspiration and information, and so wish to chronicle my gratitude to them—Sir Edwin Pears and Professor van Millingen of Robert College, Constantinople. There are many others too in Constantinople to whom my thanks are due—His Majesty’s Vice-Consul, my host, his colleagues, now my friends, and many others too numerous to mention. They all have helped me in this work, and I am grateful for the opportunity offered me of here recording my thankfulness for their kind offices.

B. Granville Baker.

Note.—As I have taken the historical events recorded in this book not in chronological order, but as they occurred to me on a tour round the walls of Constantinople, I have appended a brief chronological table, for the guidance of my readers and for the elucidation of this work.

CONTENTS

CHAP.		PAGE
[I]	CONSTANTINOPLE	[13]
[II]	THE APPROACH TO THE CITY BY THE BOSPHORUS	[28]
[III]	SERAGLIO POINT	[54]
[IV]	SERAGLIO POINT (continued)	[84]
[V]	THE WALLS BY THE SEA OF MARMORA	[101]
[VI]	THE GOLDEN GATE	[124]
[VII]	THE GOLDEN GATE (continued)	[147]
[VIII]	THE WALLS OF THEODOSIUS TO THE GATE OF ST. ROMANUS	[172]
[IX]	THE VALLEY OF THE LYCUS	[198]
[X]	FROM THE GATE OF EDIRNÉ TO THE GOLDEN HORN	[225]
	[ENVOI]	[252]
	[APPENDIX]	[255]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

CONSTANTINOPLE FROM THE SEA OF MARMORA	[Frontispiece]
Facing page
GENOESE CASTLE AT ENTRANCE TO BOSPHORUS FROM THE BLACK SEA	[31]
ANATOLI HISSAR, OR THE CASTLE OF ASIA	[39]
ROUMELI HISSAR, OR THE CASTLE OF EUROPE	[43]
THE TOWER OF GALATA	[51]
THE LANDWARD WALLS OF THE SERAGLIO	[58]
THE PALACE OF HORMISDAS, OR JUSTINIAN	[101]
THE SEA-WALL	[117]
THE MARBLE TOWER	[122]
POSTERN WITH INSCRIPTIONS OF BASIL II AND CONSTANTINE IX	[124]
THE GOLDEN GATE FROM SOUTH-WEST	[126]
THE APPROACH TO THE GOLDEN GATE FROM NORTH-WEST	[146]
YEDI KOULÉ KAPOUSSI, OR GATE OF THE SEVEN TOWERS	[170]
PART OF TURKISH FORTRESS OF YEDI KOULÉ	[172]
THEODOSIAN WALL AND APPROACH TO BELGRADE KAPOUSSI, SECOND MILITARY STATE	[183]
THEODOSIAN WALL—A BROKEN TOWER, OUTSIDE	[188]
THEODOSIAN WALL—A BROKEN TOWER, INSIDE	[190]
GATE OF RHEGIUM, OR YEDI MEVLEVI HANEH	[193]
TOP KAPOUSSI, GATE OF ST. ROMANUS	[194]
THIRD MILITARY GATE	[196]
THE VALLEY OF THE LYCUS, LOOKING NORTH	[199]
THE VALLEY OF THE LYCUS FROM INSIDE THE WALLS	[201]
THE VALLEY OF THE LYCUS, SHOWING WHERE THE LAST EMPEROR FELL	[224]
THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS FROM THE FOSSE	[226]
THE PALACE OF THE PORPHYROGENITUS FROM WITHIN THE WALLS	[228]
TOWER OF MANUEL COMNENUS	[232]
GATE OF THE BOOTMAKERS, OR THE CROOKED GATE	[241]
WALL OF PALÆOLOGIAN REPAIR	[244]
TOWERS OF ISAAC ANGELUS AND ANEMAS	[246]
OLD HOUSE IN THE PHANAR	[249]