In the year 975, during the final years of Emperor John I Tzimiskes, a strong earthquake struck Constantinople. The tremors caused significant damage to the city’s walls. After his death, his successors, Basil II and Constantine VIII, took responsibility for repairing the ruined sections.
Two important inscriptions on the city walls mark these repairs. One is found on a large, three-story pentagonal tower located where the land walls meet the Sea of Marmara. The inscription reads:
“Tower of Basil and Constantine, faithful Emperors in Christ, pious Kings of the Romans.”
This inscription appears above two windows on the north side of the tower Identifying the Empress Irene in the Inscriptions.
Another similar inscription can be found on the northern gateway-tower of the Gate of the Pege. It simply reads:
“Tower of Basil and Constantine, Emperors in Christ.”
These inscriptions highlight how seriously the Byzantine emperors took their duty to preserve the city’s defenses after natural disasters.
Earthquakes in the Time of Romanus III
Since four emperors in Byzantine history had the name Romanus, it is not always clear which one an inscription refers to. However, because earthquakes occurred during the reign of Romanus III Argyros, particularly in the years 1032 and 1033, some historians believe that a specific inscription may have been created to honor his efforts in repairing the damage caused by these events.
The Comnenian Period Renewed Focus on Defense
During the Comnenian dynasty, the emperors gave serious attention to the state of the city walls. Two emperors stand out:
Manuel I Comnenus focused on the walls near the Palace of Blachernae, located beyond the Theodosian Walls Istanbul Tours.
Andronicus I Comnenus, concerned after the Normans attacked Thessalonica in 1185, personally inspected the walls. Fearing a possible advance on Constantinople, he ordered urgent repairs and the removal of nearby houses that could help enemies climb the walls.
These actions show how real the threat of invasion was and how vital the walls remained to the empire’s safety.
The Palaiologan Restoration After 1261
By the 13th century, the Walls of Theodosius, after standing strong for over 800 years, had started to show signs of serious wear and damage. When the Byzantines recaptured Constantinople from the Latin Empire in 1261, Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos feared that Western European powers might try to retake the city.
To prepare, he launched a major restoration project. Although his main focus was on the walls along the coast, which were most vulnerable to attack by sea, he also took care to reinforce the land walls.
Over the centuries, the emperors of Byzantium repeatedly showed their commitment to protecting Constantinople. Whether facing earthquakes, foreign invasions, or simple decay from time, they repaired, rebuilt, and strengthened the great walls that defended the capital of the empire. These inscriptions and historical accounts give us valuable insight into the ongoing struggle to keep the city safe, and into the emperors’ duty as guardians of the empire.
