Kraków, Poland
11th century
Kraków, Poland
1290-1320
Warsaw, Poland
1390
Kraków, Poland
14th century
Gdańsk, Poland
1343
Kraków, Poland
1079-1098
Wrocław, Poland
14th century
Kraków, Poland
1597-1619
Kraków, Poland
1689-1705
Kraków, Poland
13th century
Gdańsk, Poland
1678-1681
Wrocław, Poland
13th century
Warsaw, Poland
1682
Toruń, Poland
c. 1750
Wrocław, Poland
13th century
Poznań, Poland
1651-1701
Lublin, Poland
1592-1617
Wrocław, Poland
13th century
Wrocław, Poland
1295
Toruń, Poland
14th century
The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.
Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.