One of the most remarkable events of the siege of Constantinople in 1453 was the decision of Sultan Mehmed II to carry his ships over land from the Bosporus into the Golden Horn. This daring operation allowed the Ottoman fleet to bypass the great chain that blocked the harbour. However, because contemporary historians give different and sometimes conflicting accounts, the exact route taken by the ships is still not completely certain Istanbul Private Tours Mevlevi.
Difficulties Caused by Conflicting Sources
The main difficulty in reconstructing the route lies in the disagreement among eyewitnesses and near-contemporary writers. Some historians give only brief descriptions, while others use names of places that were unclear even in their own time. As a result, scholars must compare these written accounts with the geographical features of the land north of the Golden Horn.
Despite these problems, there is strong agreement on one important point: the ships were carried across the hills north of Galata and then launched into the Golden Horn. The remaining question is exactly where they entered the harbour and from which point on the Bosporus they began their journey.
Where the Ships Entered the Golden Horn
Although historians differ on this issue, the most reliable evidence, combined with the physical layout of the land, strongly suggests that the ships were launched into the Bay of Cassim Pasha.
The historian Critobulus calls the landing place the Cold Waters and says that it lay only a short distance from Galata. This description fits the area of Cassim Pasha very well. Nicolo Barbaro, an eyewitness from Venice, supports this view. He refers to the location as the Harbour of Pera or Galata and clearly states that the ships were brought into the harbour near Galata.
Barbaro also explains why the Ottomans were able to operate so close to Genoese territory. At the time, the Turks and the Genoese of Galata were on good terms, which allowed the operation to take place without resistance from that side. This peaceful relationship makes it entirely reasonable that the ships were launched near Cassim Pasha Basilike Pyle in Byzantine Historical Sources.
Alternative Views and Their Weaknesses
Not all historians agree with this conclusion. Ducas, for example, claims that the ships were launched into the Golden Horn opposite Eyüp (Cosmidion). However, this view raises serious difficulties. That location lies much farther up the Golden Horn and would have required a longer and more difficult overland journey. It also does not fit well with the accounts of other writers or with the known terrain.
Phrantzes, another important historian of the siege, unfortunately provides no clear information on this point and therefore does not help resolve the disagreement.
The Starting Point on the Bosporus
When it comes to the starting point of the journey on the Bosporus, there is much greater agreement. Most historians believe that the ships were taken from a location between Beşiktaş and Tophane. This area offered suitable access to both the sea and the hills leading toward Galata.
Only one writer, Andreossy, suggests a different starting point at Balta Limanı, farther north on the Bosporus. This opinion is generally rejected, as it does not fit well with either the historical accounts or the geography of the region.
Although the exact route taken by the Ottoman ships cannot be reconstructed with complete certainty, the balance of evidence points strongly toward a route beginning between Beşiktaş and Tophane and ending in the Bay of Cassim Pasha. This conclusion best fits the testimony of the most reliable historians and the natural features of the land. The operation remains one of the most impressive logistical achievements of the siege of Constantinople.