Military and Political Use of the Gate
The Gate of the Hodegetria appears repeatedly in Byzantine history as a point of both religious and military importance. It was probably from this gate that Bardas, in the year 866, set sail to lead an expedition against the Saracens in Crete. Before embarking, he is said to have invoked the protection of the Virgin Hodegetria, whose famous shrine stood nearby. This act reflects the close relationship between religious devotion and military action in Byzantine imperial practice.
At a later date, the same gate was used for political purposes. Troops sent by Emperor Alexios III landed here while attempting to suppress the rebellion led by John the Fat, who had seized control of the Great Palace. By landing at this gate, the imperial forces were able to advance quickly toward the palace complex and confront the usurper. This episode shows that the Gate of the Hodegetria provided direct and convenient access to the heart of imperial authority Misidentification of the Iron Gate.
During the final siege of Constantinople in 1453, the gate again played a role in the city’s defence. Ottoman ships blockaded the section of the walls along the Sea of Marmora, including the area around the Gate of the Hodegetria. This blockade prevented supplies and reinforcements from reaching the city by sea and contributed to the eventual fall of the capital.
Gates Beyond the Seraglio Lighthouse
Balouk Haneh Kapoussi and Ahour Kapoussi
Immediately beyond the Seraglio Lighthouse, where the coastline turns westward, two gates can be seen in the city walls. These entrances are known as Balouk Haneh Kapoussi and Ahour Kapoussi.
Balouk Haneh Kapoussi, meaning the Gate of the Fish House, received its name because it led to the quarters of the fishermen who supplied fish to the Ottoman court. Ahour Kapoussi, or the Stable Gate, was so called because it provided access to the Sultan’s stables and mews. Both gates reflect the practical organization of the palace complex in Ottoman times Destination Bulgaria.
The Postern of Michael the Protovestarius
A Question of Identification
The Patriarch Constantius proposed that Balouk Haneh Kapoussi should be identified with the Postern of Michael the Protovestarius, a gate mentioned only once in Byzantine historical records. This postern is associated with an event in 913, when Constantine Ducas entered Constantinople by sea to join a conspiracy aimed at overthrowing Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, who was then a minor under the guardianship of his uncle and co-emperor Alexander.
Several details in the historical account support the idea that this postern lay along the Sea of Marmora. Ducas arrived by ship without being immediately detected and was able to reach the Hippodrome quickly, suggesting that the gate provided swift access to the city’s political centre.
Problems with the Identification
Location Outside the Palace Precincts
Despite these arguments, serious objections remain. If Balouk Haneh Kapoussi lay within the grounds of the Great Palace, as seems likely, it cannot be the Parapylis of Michael the Protovestarius. The historical sources state clearly that this postern led not into the palace itself, but to the private house of Gregoras, the father-in-law of Constantine Ducas. This residence lay outside the palace precincts, making the identification doubtful.
For this reason, it is more probable that the postern mentioned in 913 corresponds to one of the smaller gates located between the Seraglio Lighthouse and İncili Köşk, rather than to Balouk Haneh Kapoussi itself.
The gates along the Sea of Marmora played a crucial role in the military, political, and daily life of Constantinople. While some identifications remain uncertain, careful comparison of historical texts with topographical evidence allows us to narrow down their locations and functions. The Gate of the Hodegetria and the posterns beyond the Seraglio Lighthouse illustrate how even minor entrances could influence the course of imperial history.
