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).

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."

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]

Creation of the Walls

The Anastasian Long Walls

The City Walls

The Fight to Survive

The Land Walls [dead link 8 Sep 2020]

Castles on the Web

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

An Aerial View of Masada

Anglo-Saxon Burhs

Bibliography of Military Architecture

David's Tower, Jerusalem

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

Shiro, A Japanese Castle

The Walls of Ankara

The Defences of Constantinople

The Town Walls of Conwy

What is a Castle?