During the siege of Constantinople in 1453, Emperor Constantine XI and the historian George Phrantzes observed the movements of the Turkish army from a tall tower. According to Dr. Paspates, this was the noble tower where the wall turns and begins to slope downward toward the Golden Horn. From this high point, they could see the enemy camp and listen to the sounds of the final preparations for the attack Istanbul Day Trips.
A Different Part of the Wall?
There is a section of the city’s fortifications—about 453 feet long—that stretches from the square tower mentioned above to the fourth tower to the north. This fourth tower is known for having an inscription honoring Emperor Isaac Angelus. Some experts believe that this stretch of wall is also part of the Wall of Emperor Manuel Comnenus.
However, this section looks very different from the walls that are known to belong to Manuel. The stone blocks are smaller, the bricks are thinner, and the arches are not as solid. The towers in this part are all square and much less impressive than the grand towers of Manuel’s wall. If it once belonged to Manuel’s original fortifications, it must have been heavily altered over the centuries.
Evidence of Separate Construction
Inside the city, just south of the square tower, you can clearly see a line where two different wall sections meet. This shows that the wall to the north and south of the tower were built at different times using different styles. The structural differences are obvious and suggest that they were part of separate construction projects.
Inscriptions Showing Later Repairs
There are also three important inscriptions on this part of the wall that record repairs made after Manuel’s reign:
Tower Four – Inscription of Isaac Angelus (1188)
This inscription proves that part of the wall was repaired during the reign of Emperor Isaac II Angelus in 1188 The Public Gate.
Second Tower – Turkish Repair Record (1317)
Another inscription was found in a section repaired by the Turks, facing the inside of the city. It dates to the year 6824 of the Byzantine calendar, which equals 1317 AD, during the reign of Andronicus II. His wife, Empress Irene, had recently died and left a large sum of money that was used to restore the city walls.
Curtain Wall – Inscription of John VII Palaiologus (1441)
The third inscription is located on the curtain wall between the third and fourth towers, just below the parapet. It marks repairs done by Emperor John VII Palaiologus in the year 1441. The full inscription in Greek reads:
ΙΩΑΝΝΗΣ ΕΝ ΧΩΩ ΤΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΠΙΣΤΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ, ΚΑΙ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ ΡΩΜΑΙΩΝ, Ο ΠΑΛΑΙΟΛΟΓΟΣ ΚΑΤΑ ΜΗΝΑ, ΑΥΓΟΥΣΤΟΥ ΤΗ Β, ΤΟΥ ςϡμθ ΕΤΟΥΣ (6949)
Translated into simple English:
“John Palaiologus, faithful King and Emperor of the Romans in Christ, God; on the second day of August, in the year 1441.”
This section of the wall, although possibly built during Manuel Comnenus’s reign, shows signs of major rebuilding in later centuries. The differences in design, combined with the historical inscriptions, clearly reveal that multiple emperors contributed to the restoration and defense of Constantinople. These records help us understand how the city was constantly maintained and protected until its fall in 1453.
