Great Chain

The Great Chain was a giant chain at the entrance of the Golden Horn in Constantinople, which was raised from the Galata Tower, preventing ships from entering or leaving the inlet by blocking the way.

History

There were three notable times when the chain across the Horn was either broken or circumvented.

• 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, Venetian ships were able to break the chain with a ram.
• 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.

Trivia

• Only a small part can be seen in total at either end, where the chain rises to link up with either tower.

Gallery

• Ezio Auditore standing beside the chain mechanism.
  Ezio Auditore standing beside the chain mechanism.
• Ezio aiming at the bomb placed near the chain.
  Ezio aiming at the bomb placed near the chain.
• Ezio escaping the blast.
  Ezio escaping the blast.
• 
  A small part of the chain.