Mythras - Mythic Constantinople

234 Pages·2017·17.63 MB·English

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Mark Shirley
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DEVELOPED AND WRITTEN BY
Mark Shirley
EDITING & PROOFING
Brian Pivik, Pete Nash
DESIGN AND LAYOUT
Alexandra James
ARTISTS
Luka Arh, Dean Kotz, Eric Lofgren, Anderson Maia, Chris Yarborough
(Dean Kotz, Eric Lofgren and Chris Yarborough appear courtesy of Outland Entertainment)
CARTOGRAPHY
Colin Driver and Ronan Salieri
COVER BY
David Benzal
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Camo Coffey, Alistair Clamp
PLAYTESTERS
Graham Blake, Alistair Clamp, Camo Coffey, Mike Rudd, Neil Rutherford
Look, Mum – I finished it!
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MeYeTHeIC CeONeSTeANTeINeOPeLE: e COeNTeENeTSeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
CONTENTS
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INTRODUCTION 4 Magic & Superstition 17 THE MEDITERRANEAN
Religion 4 The Evil Eye 18 WORLD 37
How Mythic? 4 Language 18 The Empire In Europe 37
Terminology 5 Daily Life In Constantinople 18 Epibatos 37
Pronunciation & Glossary 5 Clothing 19 Selymbria 37
Glossary 5 Food & Drink 20 Mesembria 37
Disclaimer 6 Pastimes 20 Anchialos 37
Bibliography 6 The Calendar 21 Mosynopolis 37
Pascha 21
Arcadiopolis 39
HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY 7
The 12 Great Feasts 22
Lemnos And Imbros 39
History 7 Other Religious Festivals 22
The Despotates Of Morea 39
The Land 8 Non-Religious Feasts 22
Former Byzantine Territories 39
Climate 8 Family Life 22
Kingdom Of Cyprus 39
The Sea Of Marmara 8 Life Events 23
Rhodes 39
The Bosphoros 8 Residences 23
The Ottoman Empire 40
The Golden Horn 9 Womens’ Roles 23
The Turkish People 40
Shape Of The City 9 Same Sex Relationships 23
Astomatoi 41
The Seven Hills 9 Charity 23
Governance 41
Water Supply 9 Education 24
Territories 41
Architectural Features 9 Economy 24
Vassal States 42
Tenements & Houses 9 Coinage 25
Ottoman Daily Life 43
Streets & Porticoes 11 Prices 25
Education 44
Forums & Monuments 11 The Guilds 25
Religion 44
Fortifications 12 Crime & Illicit Activities 27
The Military 45
The Nine Districts 12 Governance Of The Empire 27
The Navy 47
The Suburbs 13 The Imperial Court 28
Eastern Europe 47
City Governance 29
BYZANTINE CULTURE 14 The Kingdom Of Hungary 47
Crime Prevention, Law & Order 29
The Kingdom Of Bosnia 47
The People 14 The Judicial System 30
The Principality Of Moldavia 47
Social Status 14 The Church 31
The Italian City States 47
The Demos 14 The Organisation Of The
The Serene Republic Of Venice 47
The Mesoi 15 Orthodox Church 32
The Mamluk Sultanate Of Egypt 49
The Dynatoi 15 The Military 33
Western Europe 50
The Porphyrogennetoi 15 The Regular Army 33
Other Nations 50
Slavery 16 Mercenaries 34
Kara Koyunlu 51
Foreigners 16 Imperial Guards 34
Aq Koyunlu 51
Venetians 16 The Militia And The City Watch 35
Genoans 16 The Navy 36 CHARACTERS 52
Other Franks 16 Private Units 36 Characteristics & Attributes 52
Jews 16
Culture & Community 52
Turks & Arabs 17
Character Culture 52
Non-Humans 17
Religion 52

2
MYTHIC CONSTANTINOPLE: CONTENTS
Background Events 52 Mysticism 84
Social Class 53 Relics 84
Passions 53
COMMUNITIES 85
Careers 53
Greek Culture 53 Affiliations 85
Turkic Culture 54 Starting Affiliations 86
Frankish Culture 55 Using Affiliations 86
Arab Culture 55 Faiths, Cults & Brotherhoods 87
Other Cultures 56
CONSTANTINOPLE IN
Barbarian 56
DETAIL 126
Civilised 56
Nomadic 56 City Nodes 126
Non-Human Characters 56 Node Nomenclature 126
Arimapsoi 56 Describing The City 126
Astomatoi 57 Randomly Generating A City Node 128
Blemmyai 57 Residences 128
Kynokephaloi 57 Businesses 128
Minotauroi 58 Churches & Monasteries 129
Skiapodes 58 Occupants & Bystanders 129
Tripithamoi 59 Connecting The Node 129
Background Events 59 Typical Church 132
Social Class 59 Typical Tenement 133
Greek & Frankish Social Classes 59 Typical Villa 133
Turkic & Arab Social Classes 60 Typical House 133
New Careers 60 Navigating Constantinople 134
Combat Styles 61 Topics Of Conversation 134
New Combat Style Traits 63 Akropolis (District) 135
Names 63 Blachernai (Suburb) 140
Affiliations 66 Kainopolis (District) 143
Background Events 66 Palation (District) 149
Pera (Suburb) 157
MONEY & EQUIPMENT 70
Petrion (District) 160
Armour & Arms 70 Platea (District) 165
Armour 70 Stoudion (District) 171
Greek Fire 72 Venetian Quarter (District) 175
Gunpowder 73 Vlanga (District) 178
Firearms 73 Xerolophos (District) 184
Explosives 74 The Undercity 188
Artillery Weapons 75
ADVENTURES 195
MAGIC 77
Campaign Themes 195
Charismata 77 The City Of Adventure & Wonder 195
Alchemists 78 Saviours Of The City 195
Exorcists 78 On His Imperial Majesty’s Secret Service 196
Seers 78 Ottoman Heroes 196
Pharmakopeiai 78 The Athanatoi 196
New Folk Magic Spells 78 The Immortals 197
Christian Magic 79 Immortal Stories 201
Devotion 79 The Republic Of Dogs 202
Miracles 80 The Silken War 204
Devotional Pools 80 Rebellion! 206
Non-Christian Theists 81 The Vampires Of Xerolophos 211
Sorcery 81 Military Campaigns 212
Sorcerous Corruption 81 Campaign One: Siege Of Constantinople 214
Spell Codices 81 Campaign Two: Battle For The City 216
Grimoires 82
BESTIARY 217
New Sorcery Spells 83
Other Magic 83
INDEX 224
Animism 83

3
MeYeTHeIC CeONeSTeANTeINeOPeLE: e INeTReODeUCTeIOeN eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
INTRODUCTION
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O imperial City, City fortified, City of the great king… Queen of the queen of RELIGION
cities, song of songs and splendour of splendours!
~ Niketas Choniates, c.1210 Religion is a major feature of the Mythic Constantinople setting.
Even if you do not explore these themes directly in your game, the
Kalos ‘elthete, philoi! Welcome, friends! Welcome to mythic conflicts between Orthodox and Catholic Christianity, and between
constantinople. The Queen of Cities sits like a jewel Christianity and Islam, are powerful shaping forces of the city’s past
between Europe and Asia at the crossroads of the world.
and its future.
Seventy thousand people make their home here, although this is
As a group, the Games Master and the players should take care
just a tenth of the populace at the empire’s apogee. The streets of
not to offend the beliefs of each other in real life. Remember that
Constantinople were first paved two thousand years ago and it had
these are real-world religions which today have millions of followers
existed a thousand years before becoming the capital of the Roman
and you should be sensitive towards the beliefs of others and not run
Empire. No city in Europe has been continuously occupied by the
stories that your players would find uncomfortable.
same (if evolving) culture for as long as has Constantinople, which
is why it is sometimes called The Eternal City. Westerners call it
the City of Sin, a place of exotic vices and fulfilled lusts, a den of HOW MYTHIC?
decadence where everything can be bought if you have deep enough
pockets. To its inhabitants it is the Holy City, bastion of Orthodoxy Each Games Master should decide the level of supernatural influ-
and home to three thousand churches and four hundred monaster- ence there is in their game. The setting works as a purely historical
ies; the piety of the people evident in the gem-crusted altars and the setting, but the default is a moderate level of wonder and mystery,
gilded ikons. Constantinople is all these things, and more. so for games without magic the Games Master will have to make a
In Constantinople you can find travellers from all over the known few adjustments. In the default setting, few people can use magic,
world: mercenaries from far off England and Russia rub shoulders but most know of someone who does – a local witch, herbalist, or
with merchants from Venice and Tunis; and delegations from the holy man, for example. Mythical creatures might lurk beneath the
Ottoman Empire and the Mamluk Sultanate face off against each surface of the city, but these are mostly tales told to frighten children
other while the iron-clad Knights of Rhodes debate theology with rather than a daily occurrence. There are non-human races in Con-
Neoplatonist philosophers. If you are lucky you many even see fab- stantinople, but they are unusual rather than commonplace – people
ulous visitors such as the headless Blemmyai and dog-headed men. will stare should a dog-headed man walk down the Mese Odos, for
Holy men harangue the crowd in a tongue everyone can understand example.
regardless of their race, and wizards struggle to entertain jaded pass- In a game where supernatural magic does not exist, all these
ers-by with their fire show, levitation or mind-reading spectacular. things lapse into the realm of superstition. The inhabitants of Con-
The sights, sounds, and smells of the city, so familiar to its inhabi- stantinople still visit witches and alchemists, but their business is a
tants, can be overwhelming to the visitor fresh from the boat. combination of fakery and pharmacy. The non-human races are
The year is 1450; or, as the Byzantines reckon it, the 6958th year reduced to tall tales brought back by travellers, and sorcerers con-
since Creation. The weight of history contends with wonders of the fined to the pages of fairy tales.
modern world, such as the waterpowered blast furnace; letter press; If you want to make Mythic Constantinople even more mythic,
the mechanical clock; the magnetic compass and other improve- then once again you will need to make a few adjustments. A game
ments in navigational aids; scientific advances in optics, hydraulics, like this might have nearby nations populated by non-humans – per-
and statics; and of course, gunpowder. This is an age of exploration, haps Crete has a native populace of minotauroi, for example – and
an age of invention, an age of intrigue, and an age of empires. Folk Magic a common tool rather than a rare gift. In a high magic
game, the Evil Eye becomes a real threat, causing ill luck and disease
This is Mythic constantinople.
with just an envious glance.

4
MYTHIC CONSTANTINOPLE: INTRODUCTION
PRONUNCIATION
Where possible, Greek terms have been used in preference to Latin
ones, reflecting the language of the Empire in the fifteenth century.
PLURALISATION
Greek grammar is complex, and the pluralisation of words is not
always straightforward. The most common plurals in medieval
Greek are as follows:
φ ~a > ~ai; except where neuter, then ~a > ~ata
φ ~e > ~ai
φ ~es > ~es (a change from a short ‘e’ to a long ‘e’)
φ ~on > ~a or ~ontes
φ ~os > ~oi
PRONUNCIATION OF GREEK
The conventional transliteration of medieval Greek words into
Latin script does not always represent Byzantine pronunciation.
The following is meant as a rough guide only; ultimately it does not
matter how you pronounce a word as long as you can make yourself
understood!
φ i, oi, and final -e are all pronounced like ee in tree
φ -es at the end of Greek words is pronounced as ace in pace,
except in plural forms where it is pronounced as ess in less
φ au and eu are pronounced respectively as af and ef
φ b is pronounced as v
φ c is pronounced as k, never as s
φ ch is pronounced as in the Scottish loch
φ d is pronounced as th in then
φ g between two vowels is pronounced as the y in mayor; but
otherwise is always as in goat, never as in ginger.
TERMINOLOGY
φ h at the beginning of words is silent and sometimes written as
an apostrophe
There is a bewildering mess of terminology in fifteenth century Con- φ rh is pronounced as r.
stantinople. Contemporary inhabitants of the city think of “Greeks”
as Ancient Greeks, calling themselves Rhomanoi (“Romans”) and their As a rule, Greek stresses the second to last syllable, or the third to
empire as the Empire of the Romans. However, these designations last for longer words.
can be confusing for the modern reader so this book will refer to the
PRONUNCIATION OF TURKISH
Byzantine Empire and Greek culture in defiance of contemporary
Fifteenth century Turkish is written using the Arabic script. It has
usage but in common with most modern source material.
been translated into modern Turkish orthography, which has some
Another potential point of confusion is the contemporary term
letters with specific pronunciations. All vowels are short unless indi-
for the people of Western Europe, who are collectively called Franks
cated otherwise.
or Latins by the Byzantines regardless of their ethnic origin. Since
the focus of this book is on the Byzantine culture, in this case con- φ ö is pronounced as e in learn
temporary usage will be adopted except where it is necessary to φ ü is pronounced as e in new
make a distinction. φ c is pronounced as j in judge
Finally, the difference between culture and ethnicity is worth φ ç is pronounced as ch in church
bringing up. Due to the diversity of the Eastern Mediterranean φ g is pronounced as g in goat, never as in ginger
combined with historical and recent conquests, these two categories φ ğ between two vowels puts a y or a w sound between them but
can be confusing. A Bulgarian might be ethnically a Slav, cultur- glides the syllables together.
ally Byzantine, but also a subject of the Ottoman Empire. Similar φ ğ following a vowel lengthens the preceding vowel; so ağ is
confusion happens on many of the Greek islands, where the Byz- pronounced “aah”, eğ is pronounced “ay”, iğ is pronounced
antine Greek inhabitants are ruled by Franks; and in the Mameluk “ee”, oğ is pronounced “owe”, uğ is pronounced “oo”.
Sultanate where the ruling caste is ethnically Turkic but culturally φ j is pronounced as s in measure
Egyptian. φ ş is pronounced as sh in fish

5
MYTHIC CONSTANTINOPLE: INTRODUCTION
Turkish tends to stress the last syllable of a word. Long words Tzykanion (tzi-KAN-ee-on, Greek): a game like polo, played
which are the compound of shorter ones have multiple stressed on horseback.
syllables.
Vardariotes (var-tha-REE-oh-tace): a military regiment that
acts as Constantinople’s police force, plural Vardariotai.
GLOSSARY
Yeniçeri (yen-NI-che-REE, Turkish): elite infantry unit of the
Phonetic pronunciation guides for non-English words are given in Ottoman Empire, recruited via the devşirme (q.v.). Anglicised as
parentheses. Stressed syllables are given in capitals. “Janissary.”
Allagion (all-AY-ee-on, Greek): the basic unit of the Byzantine
army, consisting of 300 stratiotai (q.v.) and lead by an allagator.
DISCLAIMER
Azymos (ah-ZIE-moss, Greek): “without yeast”, an insult
against Catholics who use unleavened bread for Holy Commu-
This work is a fictional depiction of Constantinople in the fifteenth
nion, something that the Orthodox Christians find sacrilegious.
century. While best attempts have been made to present a histori-
Anglicised as “azymite”.
cal setting, this book should not be considered an academic work.
Demoi (THEM-ee, Greek): the common people, singular There are gaps in knowledge on the specifics of life at the end of
demos. the Byzantine Empire, and in building a coherent setting the miss-
Devşirme (dev-shur-ME, Turkish): a tax laid on Christian com- ing details have been either assumed to be the same as a previous
munities in Ottoman territory, forcing them to provide young era or else details have been invented to fill in the gaps. Accuracy
boys for training as yeniçeris. has been sometimes sacrificed for playability, and the focus has very
much been on what would be the most entertaining details for a
Dynatoi (thy-NAT-ee, Greek): the ruling class, singular dynatos.
roleplaying game.
Frankokratia: the period 1204–1261 when the Byzantine Empire
Not all anachronisms, omissions, and inaccuracies are deliberate.
was under the rule of Frankish warlords. Constantinople was the
Some are undoubtedly accidental and the author takes full respon-
home of the Emperor of the Latins.
sibility for any errors.
Gavur (djour, Turkish): “infidel”, an insult used to describe
Christians.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kabbadion (kav-VATH-ee-on, Greek): A garment worn as
court regalia and indicative of high social status in Byzantine
The following sources were useful in writing this book.
society. It is a floor-length robe with fitted sleeves, made of
embroidered silk. Bartusis, Mark C. The Late Byzantine Army: Arms and Society
Kephale (keh-FAL-ay, Greek): the head of a district, elected 1204–1453. 1992, University of Pennsylvania Press
from the people who live there.
Dawson, Timothy. By the Emperor’s Hand: Military Dress and
Logothetes (loh-yoh-THET-ace, Greek): literally “one who cal- Court Regalia in the later Roman-Byzantine Empire. 2015,
culates”, used as a title for several senior ministers of the Byzan- Frontline Books.
tine court.
De Clavijo, Ruy Gonzalez. Embassy to Tamerlane, 1403–1406.
Makellos (mah-KELL-os, Greek): a covered market.
Translated by Guy le Strange, 2004, Psychology Press
Mesazon (may-SAZZ-on, Greek): the prime minister of the
imperial court. Harris, Jonathan. Constantinople: Capitol of Byzantium. 2007,
Continuum Books
Mese Odos (MESS-ay OTH-os, Greek): the central street that
runs through Constantinople. It divides into a northern branch Rautman, Marcus. Daily Life in the Byzantine Empire. 2006,
and a southern branch at the Philadelphion, which terminate at Greenwood Press
the Gate of Charisios and the Golden Gate respectively.
Mesoi (MESS-ee, Greek): the middle class, singular mesos.
Presbyteros (pres-VIE-ter-os, Greek): an Orthodox priest.
Restoration of the Empire, The: reinstatement of the Byz-
antine Empire in 1261, when it was recaptured from Latin rule
by Michael VIII Palaiologos. His dynasty has ruled ever since.
Sack of Constantinople: invasion and pillaging of Constanti-
nople in 1204 by Frankish soldiers, the most part of the army of
the Fourth Crusade.
Stratiotes (stra-TEE-oh-tace, Greek): a Byzantine soldier, plu-
ral stratiotai.
Theotokos (thee-oh-TOE-kos, Greek): the Virgin Mary; liter-
ally meaning “the God-bearer”.

6
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeMeYTeHIeC CeONeSTAeNTeINOePLeE: eHISeTOeRY e& GeEOeGReAPeHY
HISTORY &
GEOGRAPHY
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O City, City, head of all cities! O City, City, the centre of the four cor- 695–717: Twenty Years Anarchy. First Arab sieges of Con-
ners of the earth! O City, City, the boast of Christians and the ruin stantinople (674, 717).
of barbarians! O City, City, second Paradise planted in the West with
717–802: Isaurian Dynasty. The First Iconoclasm (730–787,
every tree abundant in spiritual fruits! Paradise, where is your beauty; where is
page 31), commencement of the Byzantine-Arab Wars which
that copious outpouring of graces so salutary for body and soul? … what tongue
last 400 years (780–1180).
can express the calamity which befell the City and the terrible captivity, and the
802–813: Nikephorian Dynasty. Bulgarian War against
bitter migration she suffered … Shudder, O Sun! And you too, O Earth, heave
Khan Krum (811). Concession of territory to Bulgarian Empire
a heavy sigh at the utter abandonment by God, the Just Judge, of our generation
(814).
because of our sins! ~Doukas, from Lesbos after 1453
813–867: Amorian Dynasty. Second Iconoclasm (814–842).
The aim of this chapter is to present an overview of the history and Macedonian Renaissance – political and legal reform, blossom-
setting of Constantinople. ing of intellectual thought (840s).
867–1057: Macedonian Dynasty. End of the Byzantine-Bul-
HISTORY garian wars (927). The Great Schism (1054, page 31)
1059–1081: Doukas Dynasty. Battle of Manzikert (1071)
According to legend, the settlement that was to become Constanti- marks beginning of Byzantine retreat from Anatolia
nople was founded by Byzas in 667 BC as a colony of the city-state 1081–1185: Komnenian Dynasty. First Crusade (1096).
of Megara. The subsequent history of Constantinople encompasses Rivalry with Venice leads to Massacre of the Latins (1182): sixty
over two thousand years, and cannot be given a full treatment here; thousand Franks killed in Constantinople.
the key points in this timeline are given below. The bibliography (see
1185–1204: Angelid Dynasty. Fourth Crusade is redirected
Chapter One) lists several resources if you want to delve further.
by the Doge of Venice, resulting in the Sack of Constantinople
The great Byzantine Calendar, or etos kosmou, charts the passing
(1204).
of time since the Creation, which is dated as occurring on the 1st
1204–1261: Frankokratia. See boxed text on page 8.
September 5509 years before the Incarnation of Christ, calculated
precisely from Scripture. Byzantines therefore list dates as Anno 1261–present: Palaiologian Dynasty. Restoration of the
Mundi (Latin: “Year of the World”); although the more familiar Empire by General (later Emperor) Michael Palaiologos (1261).
BC-AD system is used in this book for the ease of the reader. Establishment of the Ottoman Empire (1302–1327). The Black
Death (1347). Ottomans conquer Adrianople (1362). Crushing
330–364: Constantinian Dynasty. Constantine the Great
defeat for amassed European army at Battle of Nikopolis (1396)
reunites east and western halves of the Roman Empire and
results in loss of Bulgaria and Albania to Ottomans. Ottoman
makes Byzantion his new capital (330), which is renamed Nova
Interregnum after Timur the Lame defeats Sultan Bayezid, end-
Roma.
ing six-year siege of Constantinople (1402). Byzantine Emperor
364–457: Valentinian Dynasty. The land walls protecting the
becomes vassal of Sultan Murad II (1422). Council of Florence
city are completed (415).
(1439, page 32). Constantine IX becomes emperor (1448).
457–527: Leonid Dynasty. Rome falls (476).
527–610: Justinian Dynasty. The Nika Riots (532, page
15) and plague (541) nearly destroy the city. Code of Justinian
reforms the law (533).
610–711: Heraclian Dynasty. War with the Persians ends in
Byzantine victory (628). Establishment of the Umayyad Caliph-
ate (661).

7
MYTHIC CONSTANTINOPLE: HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY
THE LAND on most days). Extreme events can add 15°C to the hottest sum-
mer temperatures and subtract the same from the lowest winter
If [Constantinople] did not have these vices [i.e. arrogance, treachery, and blas- temperatures.
phemy], she would be preferable to all other places because of her temperate There is nearly twice as much rain in the north of the city as the
climate, rich fertility of soil, and location convenient for propagating the faith. south: 130mm per month in the winter, with rain occurring 17 days
out of 30; and 30mm per month in the summer, with rain on less
~ Odo of Deuil, 1147 than 4 days in the month. The high humidity in the north makes
fogs rolling in from the Golden Horn a common phenomenon in
Constantinople is located at the easternmost corner of the Thracian
the autumn and winter. Cold winds from the northwest are balanced
plain. Thrace is one of the most fertile parts of the Balkans, crossed
by warmer winds from the south, and in the spring these winds can
by numerous rivers and blessed by a warm climate. Cereals, vege-
blow on the same day, leading to unsettled conditions.
tables, and fruit trees grow well here, and in rocky areas olive trees
have thrived for thousands of years. Further inland the hills are ter- THE SEA OF MARMARA
raced for grapevines, and higher elevations are used for the rearing
of sheep and goats. An inland sea, separated from the Black Sea by the Bosphoros straits
Constantinople lies at the eastern end of a broad peninsula and from the Aegean Sea by the Dardanelles straits. The sea gets
bounded by the Sea of Marmara to the south and the Golden Horn its name from its largest island, which is rich in marble (Greek mar-
to the north. It is separated from Asia Minor by the narrow strait maron). An older name for the sea is Propontis, literally “before the
called the Bosphoros, which joins the Black Sea in the north to the Pontos” (i.e. the Black Sea). Several large rivers from both Asia and
Sea of Marmara. Europe empty into the Sea of Marmara, which reduce its salinity
The whole region is prone to earthquakes: since the founding of by about a third.
the city in 330 there have been 56 significant quakes, of which 20 As well as Marmara Island, there are several other islands of
were severe and seven of these (in 437, 557, 740, 869, 989, 1346, reasonable size, including the Princes’ archipelago.
and 1354) were disastrous to the city. The earthquake of 869 was
particularly noteworthy – it continued for forty days and nights and THE BOSPHOROS
caused widespread damage including the destruction of many build-
ings and the partial collapse of the Hagia Sophia. The strait takes its name (meaning “cattle strait”) from the myth
of Io, a titaness who was transformed into a cow and cursed to
CLIMATE wander the earth until she crossed the strait. Zeus transformed her
back to her natural form, and she became the ancestress of Hera-
Due to its topology and location, Constantinople has two microcli- cles. The strait is 31 kilometres long and varies from 700 metres to
mates. The south of the city on the Sea of Marmara is warm and 3420 metres wide. The Clashing Rocks (Symplegades) once occupied
dry, with an average yearly temperature of 15°C (reaching average the hilltops at the narrowest point; they would roll down the hillside
highs of 28°C in the summer and dropping to 7°C in January). In and crash between them any ship that attempted the passage. When
the northern half of the city on the Golden Horn temperatures are
on average 3°C cooler and humidity is higher (approaching 80%
THE FRANKOKRATIA
One of the most significant historical events for Byzantium is the Sack of Constantinople and the subsequent conquest of the Byzantine Empire by western
lords. The tragic series of events is rooted in the ambitions of the Angelid emperors. In 1195 Alexios III Angelos blinded his brother Isaac II and deposed
him as emperor. The future Alexios IV (son of Isaac II) petitioned the Pope for aid against his uncle, offering a huge sum of money plus the submission of the
Orthodox Church to Catholicism for aid against the emperor. Meanwhile, the proposed Fourth Crusade to attack Egypt stalled at Venice, because the crusaders
could not afford the Venetian fee for transport to the Holy Land. The Doge of Venice suggested a compromise: if the Crusaders go to Constantinople first to
collect the money promised by Alexios IV, they could then afford to repay Venice for getting them to the Holy Land.
As the crusading army approached Constantinople late in 1203, Alexios III fled. Isaac II and Alexios IV were incapable of paying the promised funds,
and when riots broke out in the city, father and son were both killed. The Crusaders breached the walls of Constantinople in early 1204 and massacred the
population, killing perhaps a hundred thousand people, a third of the city’s inhabitants. The bodies were piled high in the streets and fires wrecked untold
damage to properties. The Crusaders entered the richly decorated churches of the city and stripped them of everything they could sell. Statues were looted from
public squares, and they even pulled gilded tiles off the roofs of the palaces.
The Crusade to the Holy Land forgotten, the crusader lords divided up the Byzantine Empire between themselves. The new Latin Emperor was given direct
control of one quarter of the Byzantine territory including Thrace and Bithynia, with three eighths going to the Republic of Venice (including three-eighths of
Constantinople itself), and the remaining two eighths divided amongst the other parties of the Fourth Crusade. Three Byzantine successor states arose from the
ruins of their empire: the remaining Angeloi claimed the Despotate of Epiros while Theororos Laskaris was proclaimed Emperor of Nicaea. The Komnenos
family established the Empire of Trebizond in the far east.
It is Nicaea that proved the downfall of the usurping Franks. In 1246 this Anatolian empire recovered Thrace, Macedonia, and Thessaloniki, and in
1259 at the Battle of Pelagonia, Empire of Nicaea defeated the coalition formed of Epiros, Sicily, and Achaea, paving the way for the recovery of the Empire.
General Michael Palaiologos, who masterminded Pelagonia as well as several other decisive battles, seized the throne of Nicaea from the underage Laskaris
emperor, and, with the help of Genoa, retook Constantinople and the Empire in 1261.

8
MYTHIC CONSTANTINOPLE: HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY
Jason escaped them on his quest for the Golden Fleece they became
THE MANY NAMES OF
fixed in place, opening up the Bosphoros from then on.
CONSTANTINOPLE
THE GOLDEN HORN
The original Thracian settlement was called Lygos, which then
The Chrysokeras or Golden Horn is a major inlet of the European became Byzantion under the Megarans, Augusta Antonina under the
side of the Bosphoros at the point where it meets the Sea of Mar- Romans, and then Nova Roma when it became capitol of the Roman
mara. Between them the three water bodies form the peninsula Empire. The name Constantinople (or more properly Konstantinoupolis,
upon which Constantinople sits. At its mouth, the Golden Horn is the City of Constantine) started to be used in the fifth century and has
750 metres wide and reaches 7½ kilometres inland, where two rivers persisted for over a thousand years.
(Cydaris and Barbysis) empty into its northern end. Constantinople also has plenty of epithets. Most common amongst
these are Basileouousa (Queen of Cities), Megalopolis (Great City), or
just he polis “The City”. It is also known as Chrysopolis (the Golden
SHAPE OF THE CITY
City), Theophylakteopolis (the God-Guarded City), Theotokopolis
(City of the Theotokos), and Ateleutopolis (the Immortal City). Other
This section gives the reader an overview of Constantinople. Games names include New Jerusalem, The Leader of Faith, The Guide of
Masters will find more information in the Constantinople in Detail Orthodoxy, and The Eye of the World.
chapter about specific places and people. The Norsemen call it Miklagarðr (Great City), the Arabs Rumi-
yyat al-kubra (Great City of the Romans), and the Persians Tahkt-e
THE SEVEN HILLS Rhum (Throne of the Romans). Constantinople is Tsargrad (City of
the Emperor) to the Rus’; whereas the Ottomans call it simply Konstan-
Like many cities of the ancient world, Constantinople is built on
tiniyye, but also Kizil Elma or “the Red Apple” in Turkish.
seven hills. The first hill faces the Bosphoros, and has the steepest
slope despite being only 40m above sea level. The second and third
hills form the bulk of the commercial districts of the city and pro-
water officers to control the flow of the water to monumental foun-
vide natural boundaries to the administrative districts. The remain-
tains and to flush drains and sewers. Throughout the city are small
ing four hills form the sides of the Lycos valley, with the seventh
fountains with basins that provide the daily water of most of the
hill forming its southern border and the remaining three hills – the
inhabitants, with some richer properties having a personal supply.
tallest of the seven at 70 metres – to the north.
Responsibility for maintenance and repair comes under the budget
WATER SUPPLY of the General Fisc (see page 106), putting them at odds with the
Chancellery which controls city governance. When these two squab-
The natural supply of fresh water to Constantinople is limited to the ble about jurisdiction, a whole neighbourhood can be left without a
small River Lykos, which runs down the central valley north of the water supply.
seventh hill and empties ultimately into the Eleutherion. From the
ARCHITECTURAL
point that it passes into the bottom of the valley, the river plunges
into an underground culvert and travels beneath the Forum of the
FEATURES
Ox. There are also some small springs, most prominently in the sub-
urb of Pege (see page 187) and the Church of Saint Mary of Blach-
Constantinople is an eclectic mixture of architectural styles. The
ernai. None of these sources of water are anywhere near sufficient
oldest buildings are to the east, and the city gradually spread west
to support the needs of the city, and in the summer months when
as the city expanded, reaching its maximum extent some time in the
there is often no rain for weeks, life in the city would have been
sixth century. However, riots, invasions, fires, and earthquakes have
untenable without a remarkable feat of Roman engineering.
destroyed parts of the city to a greater or lesser extent, and new
The Emperor Hadrian began the process of supplying the city
buildings have been built amongst the old following these destructive
with water by building an aqueduct originating 16 kilometres north-
events. There are still buildings standing that are over a thousand
west. After extensive improvements from successive emperors, there
years old, but few that are younger than a century old – there has not
is now nearly 250 kilometres of underground pipes and complex
been a sufficient budget for urban improvement since the civil wars.
hydrological mechanisms to the west of the city that feed into Hadri-
an’s Aqueduct and bringing water into Constantinople at the Gate TENEMENTS & HOUSES
of Charisios. From here it flows into a pipeline, where the excess is
stored in the Cistern of Aetios in Petrion and the rest is conducted Constantinople is crowded with residences but not by people; many
further into the city via the Valens aqueduct between the fourth buildings lay vacant since the city, at one time holding over a mil-
and third hills. From thence the water goes into underground pipes, lion people, now holds barely a twelfth of that. Many residences at
which feed the municipal water supply. Excess water and rainfall is the periphery of the commercial districts have long crumbled and
collected in buried cisterns and open air tanks throughout the city. become overgrown. Competition for inner city houses can be fierce
The system built by the Roman engineers provides high-pres- since these are better maintained than others, but even the most
sure water to all parts of the city through gravity-fed plumbing. The crowded residences are in desperate need of repair.
pipes are made of terracotta and lead, and they run beneath the Most of the population live in tenement buildings rather than
roads and pavements of the city. There are settling tanks at critical houses. These are typically two or three-storey high buildings (some-
places for the removal of sediment, and manual valves which allow times higher), square in nature and built around a central courtyard.

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