Toruń, Poland
14th century
Gdańsk, Poland
1227-1239
Warsaw, Poland
1409
Zamość, Poland
1610-1618
Wrocław, Poland
c. 1240
Malbork, Poland
1468
Częstochowa, Poland
1382
Kraków, Poland
1185-1216
Wrocław, Poland
c. 1240
Gdańsk, Poland
1348-90
Gdańsk, Poland
c. 1350
Karpacz, Poland
1665
Kraków, Poland
14th century
Gdańsk, Poland
1578-1594
Kraków, Poland
1679
Poznań, Poland
968 AD
Bydgoszcz, Poland
15th century
Kraków, Poland
c. 1044
Szczecin, Poland
1187
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.