Theodosian Walls

E45857

The Theodosian Walls are the massive late Roman and Byzantine defensive fortifications that protected Constantinople for over a millennium until its fall in 1453.


Statements (51)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Byzantine architecture
city wall
fortification
late Roman architecture
approximateLength about 6.5 kilometers
builtBy Eastern Roman Empire
builtUnderAuthorityOf Emperor Theodosius II
constructionEnd c. 413
constructionStart c. 408
country Turkey
culturalSignificance symbol of the strength of Constantinople
currentStatus partially preserved
damagedBy earthquakes
feature double-wall system
terrace between inner and outer walls
hasPart gates
inner wall
moat
outer wall
towers
heritageStatus part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul UNESCO World Heritage Site
historicalPeriod Byzantine era
Late Antiquity
inUseUntil 1453
locatedIn Constantinople
Istanbul
material brick
mortar
stone
namedAfter Theodosius II
notableGate Gate of Charisius
Gate of Rhegion
Golden Gate of Constantinople
orientation land walls on western side of Constantinople
partiallyBreachedIn 1204
1453
partOf defensive system of Constantinople
purpose defense of Constantinople
repairedBy Byzantine emperors
Heraclius
Justinian I
Theodosius II
separatedFrom sea walls of Constantinople
significantEvent Fourth Crusade siege of 1204
Ottoman siege of 1453
defense during the Arab sieges of Constantinople
defense during the Avar–Persian siege of 626
defense during the Rus' attacks on Constantinople
supervisedBy Anthemius (praetorian prefect)
usedFor defense against land attacks
protection against sieges

Referenced by (6)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Historic Areas of Istanbul ("City Walls of Istanbul")
Historic Areas of Istanbul
Historic Areas of Istanbul ("Land Walls of Constantinople")
contains
Siege of Constantinople 1422
defensiveStructure
Historic Areas of Istanbul ("Land Walls of Theodosius and their associated conservation area")
hasComponent
Fall of Constantinople 1453 AD
hasPrimaryLocationFeature

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