The Defences of Nicaea
The Defences of Nicaea
by Stephen Francis Wyley
Photography by Arca Atay
Introduction
Thanks to Arca Atay I can bring you some great pictures of the defences of Nicaea (Iznik).
Map of Nicaea from Sidney Toy's "A History of Fortifications from 3000 B.C. to A.D. 1700".
Page 54. " The fortifications of Nicaea in Asia Minor, though incorporating much work of later dates, are largely of about the middle of the fifth century. They have been ascribed, recently, to Justinian. But, apart from the fact that they resemble the land walls of Constantinople both in structure and disposition, it is not without significance that Procopius, in dealing with the subject at length, does not mention the fortifications in his descriptions of Justinian's works at Nicaea 1 (Procopius, Of the Buildings of Justinian, Bk. V.) Nicaea is surrounded by a double line of walls, the inner wall of great thickness and height, and the outer lower and less substantial. Both walls are built of stone with brick lacing courses, and are strengthened by towers, placed at frequent intervals, the towers being so spaced that those in one wall stand opposite to an interval in the other. (See Map).
A large residential tower on the south side of the city, hight and more powerful than the others, must have been a kind of donjon. It was against this tower, then occupied by the Sultan's wife, that the Crusaders concentrated their assault in the memorable siege of 1097; and it was not until attack after attack had been made upon it that the tower was eventually brought down, and then only by means of undermining the walls 2 (William of Tyre.). There a four gateways and three posterns. The walls of Nicaea have withstood many attacks. They repelled the Crusaders again and again and are still in a good state of repair."
Istanbul
Lefke
Yenisehir
Gol (Lake)
The Walls of Nicaea
Links.
Byzantium 1200 is a project aimed at creating computer reconstructions of the Byzantine Monuments located in Istanbul, TURKEY as of year 1200 AD. [dead link 8 Sep 2020]
The Land Walls [dead link 8 Sep 2020]
Site O is a group of people from around the world that share an interest in fortifications and artillery. Some are authors on the subject, some are connected with Universities and teach it and others are simply fascinated with it.
Other web pages on fortifications by the Author.
A Dictionary of Military Architecture
Bibliography of Military Architecture
Drawings of Aspects of Military Architecture
Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives
More Pictures of the Theodosian Land Walls
Siege Warfare, The Art of Offence and Defence