Great Chain: Difference between revisions
imported>CoffeeRocks Created page with "The Megàlos Pyrgos was a giant chain at the entrance of the Golden Horn pulled from the Galata Tower preventing unwanted ships getting in the Golden horn. There were th..." |
|||
| (63 intermediate revisions by 36 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
The | {{Era|Technology}}{{WP-REAL|Boom (navigational barrier)}} | ||
{{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 | |||
|name = The Great Chain | |||
|image = The Great Chain Database image.png | |||
|description = A chain running between two towers in the Golden Horn. | |||
|location = [[Constantinople]] | |||
|dateconstructed= c. 1000 CE | |||
|functions= Prevented warships from passing into the harbor. | |||
}} | |||
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== | ||
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 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 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 burned through the Ottoman fleet with [[Greek fire]], before escaping on a ship bound for [[Cappadocia]].<ref name="Revelations" /> News of the incident soon reached [[Murat Bin Husn]], a Janissary and fellow Assassin<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – [[Database: Murat Bin Husn]]</ref> who had recently renovated the chain. Fearing the punishment for its destruction, Murat and his family fled the city.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Discover Your Legacy]]'' – Bloodlines: "Murat Bin Husn"</ref> | |||
==Trivia== | |||
*There is no evidence that the Great Chain continued to be used after the Byzantine era. | |||
==Gallery== | |||
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180"> | |||
Setting sail 4.png|Ezio Auditore standing beside the chain mechanism | |||
Setting sail 5.png|Ezio aiming at the bomb placed near the chain | |||
</gallery> | |||
==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 14:40, 12 May 2026
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 burned through the Ottoman fleet with Greek fire, before escaping on a ship bound for Cappadocia.[2] News of the incident soon reached Murat Bin Husn, a Janissary and fellow Assassin[3] who had recently renovated the chain. Fearing the punishment for its destruction, Murat and his family fled 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]
-
Ezio Auditore standing beside the chain mechanism -
Ezio aiming at the bomb placed near the chain
Appearances[edit | edit source]
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations (first appearance)
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Discover Your Legacy (mentioned only)
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Database: Great Chain
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Setting Sail
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Rebellion – Database: Murat Bin Husn
- ↑ Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Discover Your Legacy – Bloodlines: "Murat Bin Husn"