A second strong argument for placing the Imperial Gate (Basilike Pyle) near the Seraglio Point comes from the testimony of Leonard of Scio, the Archbishop of Mytilene. In his letter to the Pope describing the fall of Constantinople, Leonard gives an important detail about the defense of the Harbour Walls.
He states that Gabriel of Treviso fought with great courage, together with his men, along the section of the walls extending from the Beacon Tower to the Imperial Gate, which stood at the entrance of the bay of the Golden Horn. Leonard’s words clearly place the Imperial Gate at the mouth of the harbour Night Lighting along the Golden Horn.
The Latin phrase he uses, “ante sinum,” means “before the bay” or “at the entrance of the bay.” This expression closely matches the phrase used by Phrantzes, who describes the same location as being at the entrance of the harbour. The agreement between these two independent witnesses strengthens the case significantly.
Agreement with Phrantzes
The language used by Leonard of Scio corresponds directly to the wording of Phrantzes. Both historians describe the same defensive zone and use expressions that clearly point to the mouth of the Golden Horn. This is not a vague or symbolic location. It refers to a precise geographical point where the harbour opens into the Bosporus.
Because both men were close in time to the events they describe, and because their accounts agree, their testimony carries great weight. It is very unlikely that both writers would independently make the same geographical mistake.
The Order of Gates in Pusculus
A third argument in favor of locating the Basilike Pyle near the Seraglio Point comes from the work of Pusculus. In his account of the defense of the Harbour Walls, he lists the gates in a clear order while moving from west to east along the Golden Horn Private Tours Istanbul.
According to Pusculus, the gates appear in the following sequence: Xylina, Cynegon, Phani, Theodosia, Putere, Platea, and Basilea. This order is very important for understanding the position of the Imperial Gate.
By placing the Basilea after Platea, Pusculus shows that the Imperial Gate stood east of Un Kapan Kapoussi. If the Basilike Pyle had been located at Balat Kapoussi, it should have been mentioned immediately after Cynegon, which is not the case.
Why Balat Kapoussi Does Not Fit
The placement of the Basilike Pyle at Balat Kapoussi creates serious problems when compared with Pusculus’ list. The sequence of gates would no longer make sense. The careful order used by Pusculus suggests that he was following the actual layout of the walls, not a random or symbolic arrangement.
This strongly argues against identifying Balat Kapoussi as the location of the Imperial Gate.
When all this evidence is considered together, the conclusion becomes very strong. The testimony of Leonard of Scio, the matching account of Phrantzes, and the ordered list of gates provided by Pusculus all point to the same location.
The Basilike Pyle, or Imperial Gate, was situated near the Seraglio Point, at the entrance of the Golden Horn. The evidence supporting this view is clear, consistent, and convincing. It is difficult to imagine stronger or more conclusive proof for the true position of this important gate.