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{{Era|ACR}}
{{Era|Technology}}{{WP-REAL|Boom (navigational barrier)}}
{{WPlocations}}
{{Quote|The Great Chain was an ingenious—if slightly mad—defensive measure.|Clay Kaczmarek's observation on the Great Chain.|Assassin's Creed: Revelations|Database: Great Chain}}
{{Landmarks Infobox
{{Landmarks Infobox
|name       = The Great Chain  
|name = The Great Chain  
|image       = The Great Chain Database image.png
|image = The Great Chain Database image.png
|description =  
|description = A chain running between two towers in the Golden Horn.
|location   = [[Constantinople]]  
|location = [[Constantinople]]  
|dateconstructed=
|dateconstructed= c. 1000 CE
|functions=
|functions= Prevented warships from passing into the harbor.
|appearance  = ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]''}}'''The Great Chain''' was a giant chain at the entrance of the [[Golden Horn]] in [[Constantinople]], which was pulled from the [[Galata Tower]], preventing ships from entering or leaving the inlet.
}}
The '''Great Chain''' was a giant chain suspended between two large towers, which guarded the mouth of the [[Golden Horn]] harbor in [[Constantinople]].
 
When raised across the entryway, it prevented [[ships]] from entering or leaving the inlet, serving as a simple but efficient form of defense.


==History==
==History==
There were three notable times when the chain across the Horn was either broken or circumvented.
After its construction around 1000 CE, the chain was mainly used to keep enemy ships from entering the waterway, and attacking any of the undefended ports within Constantinople. It did so successfully for more than 400 years, with only rare cases of men circumventing it.<ref name="Database">''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' – [[Database: Great Chain]]</ref>
*In the 10th century, the Kievan Rus' dragged their longships out of the Bosphorus, around [[Galata]], and relaunched them in the Horn. However, the [[Byzantines]] defeated them with [[Greek Fire]].
 
*In 1204, during the Fourth Crusade, [[Venice|Venetian]] ships were able to break the chain with a ram.
In 1453, Sultan [[Mehmet II]] managed to bypass the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] defenses by sliding his warships over the hills of [[Galata District|Galata]] on greased tracks, and into the Golden Horn far upriver from the chain.<ref name="Database" />
*In 1453, Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, having failed in his attempt to break the chain with brute force, instead used the same tactic as the Rus', towing his ships across Galata into the estuary over greased logs.
 
In 1511, the chain was raised by the [[Janissaries]], in order to investigate the death of their Captain, [[Tarik Barleti]], and prevent the one responsible from escaping by ship. However, the [[Assassins|Assassin]] responsible, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], gained help from [[Yusuf Tazim]] and the other [[Ottoman Brotherhood of Assassins|Ottoman Assassins]] to break through the defenses.<ref name="Revelations">''Assassin's Creed: Revelations'' – [[Setting Sail]]</ref>
 
That day, Ezio [[Destruction of the Great Chain|destroyed the chain]] by bringing down one tower supporting it with a powerful [[Bombs|explosive]]. He then proceeded to burn through the Ottoman fleet with [[Greek fire]], before escaping on a ship bound for [[Cappadocia]].<ref name="Revelations" /> This also caused another Assassin, [[Murat Bin Husn]], who's a Janissary as well.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[Database: Murat Bin Husn]]</ref> Fearing the punishment for the destruction of the chain, Murat and his family fled from the city.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Discover Your Legacy]]''</ref>
 
==Trivia==
* There is no evidence that the Great Chain continued to be used after the Byzantine era.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" spacing="small" widths="180">
GiantChainGalataTowerAttachment.jpg|[[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]] standing beside the chain mechanism.
Setting sail 4.png|Ezio Auditore standing beside the chain mechanism
Ezio shooting ottoman chain.jpg|Ezio aiming at the [[Hand-held bomb|bomb]] placed near the chain.
Setting sail 5.png|Ezio aiming at the bomb placed near the chain
ACR Zipline2.jpg|Ezio escaping the blast.
ACR_chain01.jpg|A small part of the chain.
</gallery>
</gallery>
[[Category:Constantinople]]
 
[[Category:Article stubs]]
==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Discover Your Legacy]]'' {{Mo}}
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Landmarks in Constantinople]]
[[fr:Grande Chaîne de la Corne d'Or]]

Latest revision as of 11:05, 24 May 2022

"The Great Chain was an ingenious—if slightly mad—defensive measure."
―Clay Kaczmarek's observation on the Great Chain.[src]-[m]

The Great Chain was a giant chain suspended between two large towers, which guarded the mouth of the Golden Horn harbor in Constantinople.

When raised across the entryway, it prevented ships from entering or leaving the inlet, serving as a simple but efficient form of defense.

History[edit | edit source]

After its construction around 1000 CE, the chain was mainly used to keep enemy ships from entering the waterway, and attacking any of the undefended ports within Constantinople. It did so successfully for more than 400 years, with only rare cases of men circumventing it.[1]

In 1453, Sultan Mehmet II managed to bypass the Byzantine defenses by sliding his warships over the hills of Galata on greased tracks, and into the Golden Horn far upriver from the chain.[1]

In 1511, the chain was raised by the Janissaries, in order to investigate the death of their Captain, Tarik Barleti, and prevent the one responsible from escaping by ship. However, the Assassin responsible, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, gained help from Yusuf Tazim and the other Ottoman Assassins to break through the defenses.[2]

That day, Ezio destroyed the chain by bringing down one tower supporting it with a powerful explosive. He then proceeded to burn through the Ottoman fleet with Greek fire, before escaping on a ship bound for Cappadocia.[2] This also caused another Assassin, Murat Bin Husn, who's a Janissary as well.[3] Fearing the punishment for the destruction of the chain, Murat and his family fled from the city.[4]

Trivia[edit | edit source]

  • There is no evidence that the Great Chain continued to be used after the Byzantine era.

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Appearances[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

fr:Grande Chaîne de la Corne d'Or