Istanbul Waterways

It is believed that the 2nd city wall of Marmara was built by Constantine I, the founder of the Eastern Roman Empire, who gave his name to the city, to protect the newly established capital from the danger extending from the Golden Horn to Çemberlitaş and from there to the Sea. 

The surviving land walls were built in the 5th century AD during the reign of Emperor Theodosius (408-450). After the fall of Rome in 410 AD, Theodosius began building a massive fortification to prevent the same thing from happening to Constantinople.

In the 6th century earthquake of 554, the Land Walls were breached from the Regium Gate [Mevlanakapi] and merged with the Golden Horn Walls, and were restored during the reign of Justinian II (565-570).

The 7th century BC walls of Istanbul date back to the time of Byzas, the legendary founder of Byzantium. It is estimated that the first fortifications built were in the same area as the "Sur-u Sultani" that surrounds Topkapı Palace today.

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR BYZANTINE PERIOD

In the 447 earthquake, 57 castles were repaired in 60 days.

In the 6th century earthquake of 554 AD, the land walls were breached starting from the Regium Gate (Mevlanakapi), where they merged with the Golden Horn Wall. 

The walls were severely damaged by sieges and earthquakes in the 8th century. Leon III and Constantine V, renovation of several towers

The 12th century fortifications were restored by Manuel Komnenos in the second half of the century.

During the 13th century Latin occupation, the city walls and the city were badly damaged. After the occupation, the city walls were repaired.

In the 15th century, during the Siege of Sultan Murad II (1422), the city walls were largely destroyed due to the first mass use of cannon. For this purpose, during the reign of the Old Rugs, the last dynasty of the Byzantine period, the city walls were repaired with some old building materials of churches and monasteries and the moats were cleaned.

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OTTOMAN PERIOD

During the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmed in the 15th century, the walls from the Golden Horn to the Romanos and Harisius Gates (Topkapi and Edirnekapi) were destroyed. The walls were rebuilt to strengthen the city's defenses against attacks. Yedikule Castle was built by adding towers on both sides of the walls where the Golden Gate was located.

In the 16th century, the earthquake of 1509, known as the "Little Doomsday," caused great damage to the gates and towers of the walls, with a total of 49 towers being destroyed. The damaged walls were repaired by Sultan II. Bayezid.

During the 17th century, the walls suffered damage due to various reasons. In 1635, at the order of IV. Murad, the structures around the walls were demolished and repaired by Grand Vizier Bayram Pasha. The walls were damaged again in the earthquakes of 1640-1641, but were repaired by Sultan Ibrahim in 1647.

The large destruction caused by the 1766 earthquake on the wall and Yedikule Fortress was repaired by Sultan III. Mustafa. The walls located in the Yedikule area that had collapsed in 1775 were also repaired during the reign of Sultan I. Abdülhamid.

Throughout the Byzantine and Ottoman periods, the walls were maintained and repaired, retaining their integrity until the 19th century. Travelers and artists visiting the city recorded the appearance of the walls through numerous works.

In 1831, the collapsed walls near Mevlanakapi were repaired. During the construction of the railway between 1870 and 1873, the walls between the 6th and B towers were destroyed. In 1878, the wall between Silivrikap and Mevlanakapı was repaired at the behest of Sultan Il. Abdülhamid.

MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR REPUBLICAN PERIOD

Due to the economic difficulties and wars the Ottoman Empire faced at the beginning of the 20th century, the city walls could not be repaired sufficiently. However, in the Republican period, Alfred Agache and Herman Elgötz (Urbanist-Architects), who were working on the reconstruction plan of Istanbul, presented proposals for the protection of the city walls and in 1935, Henri Prost initiated the actual works.

In the 1950s, on the occasion of the 500th Anniversary of the Conquest celebrations, the Ulubatlı Hasan Bastion and its surroundings were restored in Topkapı. In addition, in 1956-57, a team formed by Cahide Tamer restored the towers on both sides of the road at the Topkapı exit of Millet Street.

In 1966, survey and documentation work was carried out on the Land Walls between Topkapı and Yedikule, and in 1967 on the Silivrikapı-Mevlanakapı line. Restoration works were carried out in Yedikule, Altınkapı and Küçük Altınkapı between 1958 and 1970 under the leadership of Cahide Tamer.

In 1985, the Land Walls were inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO and Belgradkapı, Silivrikapı and Mevlanakapı were restored in 1986-87. In addition, the repair works started in 1991 between the 1st and 6th towers were completed.

However, some parts of the city walls, which were affected by the earthquakes around the Marmara Sea in 1999, collapsed.

Finally, in 2021, the most comprehensive restoration in history was started simultaneously in 5 different phases by IBB Heritage. This restoration was carried out 30 years after the last restoration.