If we accept that the title Basilike Pyle, or Imperial Gate, was applied to more than one entrance along the Harbour Walls, then there is little doubt about the position of the second Imperial Gate. All the available evidence points clearly to Balat Kapoussi as the gate that best fits this description.
The meaning of the name Balat Kapoussi, which translates as “Gate of the Palace,” strongly supports this conclusion. Such a name naturally suggests an association with imperial authority and royal residences. In addition, this gate stood close to important imperial palaces, including the Palace of Blachernae and the Palace of the Porphyrogenitus. These nearby buildings gave the surrounding area a distinctly imperial character, making the title “Basilike” especially appropriate Imperial Gate and the Chain Across the Harbour.
Buildings Outside the Gate
Another strong argument in favour of Balat Kapoussi is the nature of the area outside the gate. Historical records describe a Church of St. John the Baptist standing on the seashore outside the Basilike Pyle. They also mention other structures, such as a hospitium, or guest house, used to shelter travelers and the poor.
The narrow quay outside the Gate of St. Barbara could not have accommodated such buildings. In contrast, the shore outside Balat Kapoussi offered sufficient space for a church and additional structures. The existence of a Church of St. John the Baptist in this area during later periods strongly supports the identification of Balat Kapoussi as the second Basilike Pyle.
Strategic and Economic Importance
The wealth of the surrounding district also explains why the Turkish admiral chose this gate as the point at which to land his sailors after entering the Golden Horn. The neighbourhood near Balat was known for its prosperous inhabitants, valuable goods, and active commercial life. From the point of view of an invading force, it was a logical and attractive target.
This choice was not accidental. The goal of the sailors was not only military control but also plunder. Landing at a gate that opened into a wealthy quarter increased their chances of finding riches quickly Private Istanbul Tours.
Historical Mentions of the Basilike Pyle
Several Byzantine writers refer to the Basilike Pyle in ways that match the location and character of Balat Kapoussi. The historian Pachymeres describes a great fire in 1291 that began at the Basilike Pyle and spread far into the city, destroying many houses and shops. Such a disaster implies a densely built and economically important area, which fits Balat well.
In another passage, Pachymeres records that in 1306 the Catalan leader Berenger brought his ship to the Basilike Pyle so that he could depart quickly from Constantinople when the wind became favourable. This suggests a gate with easy access to the harbour, again consistent with Balat Kapoussi.
Ecclesiastical documents from the years 1399 and 1400 mention a priest living near the Basilike Pyle and confirm the presence of the Church of St. John the Baptist on the shore outside the gate. Other records speak of a hospitium in the same area.
Taken together, these facts leave little room for doubt. Balat Kapoussi, by its name, its location, the buildings outside its walls, and the testimony of Byzantine writers, has the strongest claim to be regarded as the second Basilike Pyle along the Harbour Walls of Constantinople.