Before ending the study of the Harbour Walls of Constantinople, it is necessary to return to an important question. This question appeared earlier in our research but was left for discussion at the end of this chapter, where it can be examined more clearly and carefully.
The question is simple in form but difficult in answer: Where was the Basilike Pyle, also known as the Imperial Gate, which Byzantine historians mention after the restoration of the Empire? Scholars have long disagreed on this point.
Some authorities believe that the Basilike Pyle was located at Balat Kapoussi. Others argue that it stood near the Seraglio Point, at the entrance of the Golden Horn. A third possibility must also be considered: perhaps the title Basilike Pyle was used for more than one gate at different times or in different contexts Guided Tours Istanbul.
The Evidence from Phrantzes
Strong support for the view that the Imperial Gate stood near the Seraglio Point comes from the historian George Phrantzes. He clearly associates the Basilike Pyle with the entrance of the harbour.
Phrantzes writes that Gabriel of Treviso, the captain of the Venetian triremes, was given charge of defending a tower standing in the middle of the current at the mouth of the Golden Horn. This tower guarded the entrance of the harbour, and Phrantzes states that it stood opposite the Imperial Gate. This detail is crucial for identifying the gate’s location.
Meaning of “Entrance of the Harbour”
The phrase “entrance of the harbour,” as used by Phrantzes, has only one possible meaning. It refers to the mouth of the Golden Horn, where the harbour opens into the Bosporus. There is no reason to interpret the phrase in any other wayGate of the Chain on the Galata Side.
To remove all doubt, Phrantzes repeats the same expression several times in the same clear sense. His consistent language shows that he is speaking about a specific and well-known place.
Ships and the Chain at the Harbour Mouth
Phrantzes describes how Greek ships were moored beside the great chain stretched across the mouth of the harbour. These ships were stationed at the entrance of the Golden Horn to strengthen the city’s defenses.
The Ottoman Sultan tried to destroy or drive away these ships by firing upon them from a battery placed on the hill of Saint Theodore, located to the north-east of Galata. Phrantzes again notes that this attack was directed at ships positioned “at the entrance of the harbour.”
Purpose of the Ottoman Bombardment
Phrantzes explains that the purpose of this bombardment was twofold. First, it aimed to force an entrance into the harbour by weakening the naval defense near the chain. Second, it was intended to damage the Genoese ships anchored nearby. By doing so, the Sultan wanted to show that he feared no one and was willing to act boldly, even against the Italian allies of Galata.
Defensive Role of the Ships
In another passage, Phrantzes remarks that the ships placed along the chain at the mouth of the harbour were stationed there to make entry into the harbour as difficult as possible for the enemy. This confirms that the chain, the ships, and the Imperial Gate all belonged to the same defensive system.
Taken together, these repeated and consistent statements strongly support the conclusion that the Basilike Pyle stood near the Seraglio Point, close to the entrance of the Golden Horn. The evidence from Phrantzes leaves little room for doubt. The Imperial Gate was closely connected with the harbour mouth and the main naval defenses of Constantinople.