The idea that the Gate of Eugenius was the only Basilike Pyle, or Imperial Gate, faces only one serious difficulty. This difficulty arises from the account of the historian Critobulus, who appears to distinguish between two different gates in his description of the final events of the siege of Constantinople in 1453.
Critobulus refers to one gate when he explains where the southern end of the chain across the Golden Horn was attached. Later, however, he speaks of another gate when describing the point attacked by the Turkish fleet after the chain had been broken and the harbour had fallen into Ottoman hands. At first sight, this distinction seems to suggest that the Gate of Eugenius and the Basilike Pyle were not the same entrance Location of the Second Basilike Pyle.
Critobulus’ Account of the Final Assault
According to Critobulus, once the Turkish admiral realized that Sultan Mehmed’s troops had entered the city and were already engaged in plundering, he decided to act quickly. He launched a bold attack against the chain that blocked the entrance to the Golden Horn. After cutting the chain apart, the Ottoman fleet forced its way into the harbour.
The admiral then captured or destroyed the Greek ships that remained inside the port. After securing control of the waters, he sailed toward the Imperial Gate, which Critobulus explicitly names as the Basilike Pyle. There, the Turkish sailors disembarked and attempted to enter the city in search of booty.
Resistance at the Imperial Gate
At this moment, the Imperial Gate was still firmly defended by Greek forces. Although the city had already been breached elsewhere, the Ottoman soldiers advancing by land had not yet reached this gate from within the walls. As a result, the defenders at the Basilike Pyle continued to resist.
A violent and desperate struggle followed. The defenders fought bravely, but they were eventually overwhelmed. The gate was broken open by force. Critobulus describes the scene in dramatic language, stating that the defenders were killed to the last man, and that their blood flowed out through the gate like a stream. After this final resistance was crushed, the attackers rushed inside to take part in the plunder of the city Private Istanbul Tour.
Does This Description Exclude the Gate of Eugenius?
At first glance, Critobulus’ narrative may appear to separate the Gate of Eugenius from the Imperial Gate. However, this conclusion is not unavoidable. The events described by Critobulus could, in fact, apply to the Gate of Eugenius itself.
The Gate of Eugenius stood near the mouth of the Golden Horn, close to the chain and at a position of great strategic importance. It was entirely possible for the chain to have been secured near this gate and for the Turkish fleet to have advanced toward it after entering the harbour. The presence of strong defenders and the fierce resistance described by Critobulus are also consistent with the importance of the Gate of Eugenius.
A Matter of Interpretation
The objection raised by Critobulus’ account is therefore not decisive. His narrative may reflect different moments in the same sequence of events, rather than two separate gates. If this is the case, the Gate of Eugenius can still reasonably be identified as the sole Basilike Pyle.
Thus, while Critobulus’ testimony raises an important question, it does not conclusively disprove the claim of the Gate of Eugenius to be the Imperial Gate of the Harbour Walls.