Byzantine Era Fortress in Kavala, Eastern Macedonia, Greece - August 2014
www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Greece/Prefecture_of...
One of the most intense elements of the image of Kavala is its citadel. While it stands on the top of the peninsula of Virgin Mary (Panagia) it is tied up in a harmonious total with the houses of the homonymous historical district that extended all around it in tiers. It is interesting to watch the course of the fortress in time.
The name “Christoupolis” first appears in texts of the beginning of the 9th century. The change of the city’s name should not be linked to its abandonment, but to its reorganisation as a fortress of the Byzantine state. The role of Christoupolis as a fortress is particularly emphasized in Byzantine texts: «the Christoupolis fortress as on the one side was very powerful thanks to its construction... on the other side as a bolster lies down… it leads through Thrace, and thirdly as it is onshore and it could easily enter into alliances” (Ioannes Cantacuzenus, 1,4 Bonnae edition). The citadel (fortress) standing dominatingly on the top of the hill of the peninsula, at a height of approximately 70 metres, was reconstructed upon the remnants of the older Byzantine castle, in two phases: first, at the beginning of 1425 in view of the imminent attack of the Venetian fleet, the Ottomans built the “new walls”, obviously the parts that had been destroyed during the siege and occupation of Christoupolis (1390-1391). Secondly, in approximately 1530 the walls were repaired once again, at a larger extent and more assiduous intervention. At this time, the exterior surrounding walls of the citadel were built, with the addition of which the fortress was extended considerably and increased its defensive puissance. More specifically, the exterior surrounding walls of the citadel must have been built during the years 1530 -1536, at the era where Suleiman the Magnificent decided to enforce its defence in several coastline positions (e.g. Thessaloniki – the White Tower). The exterior surrounding walls linked the citadel with the half destroyed then perimetrical walls of the peninsula and also fortified the lowest side of the hill, towards the harbour. The two entrance gates of the citadel are found here also: the First (in the place of an older Byzantine gate), is found at the end of today’s Kapsali street and is equipped with a «zematistra» (scalding spot – from where the defenders threw boiling oil onto the enemies).
Byzantine Era Fortress in Kavala, Eastern Macedonia, Greece - August 2014
www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Greece/Prefecture_of...
One of the most intense elements of the image of Kavala is its citadel. While it stands on the top of the peninsula of Virgin Mary (Panagia) it is tied up in a harmonious total with the houses of the homonymous historical district that extended all around it in tiers. It is interesting to watch the course of the fortress in time.
The name “Christoupolis” first appears in texts of the beginning of the 9th century. The change of the city’s name should not be linked to its abandonment, but to its reorganisation as a fortress of the Byzantine state. The role of Christoupolis as a fortress is particularly emphasized in Byzantine texts: «the Christoupolis fortress as on the one side was very powerful thanks to its construction... on the other side as a bolster lies down… it leads through Thrace, and thirdly as it is onshore and it could easily enter into alliances” (Ioannes Cantacuzenus, 1,4 Bonnae edition). The citadel (fortress) standing dominatingly on the top of the hill of the peninsula, at a height of approximately 70 metres, was reconstructed upon the remnants of the older Byzantine castle, in two phases: first, at the beginning of 1425 in view of the imminent attack of the Venetian fleet, the Ottomans built the “new walls”, obviously the parts that had been destroyed during the siege and occupation of Christoupolis (1390-1391). Secondly, in approximately 1530 the walls were repaired once again, at a larger extent and more assiduous intervention. At this time, the exterior surrounding walls of the citadel were built, with the addition of which the fortress was extended considerably and increased its defensive puissance. More specifically, the exterior surrounding walls of the citadel must have been built during the years 1530 -1536, at the era where Suleiman the Magnificent decided to enforce its defence in several coastline positions (e.g. Thessaloniki – the White Tower). The exterior surrounding walls linked the citadel with the half destroyed then perimetrical walls of the peninsula and also fortified the lowest side of the hill, towards the harbour. The two entrance gates of the citadel are found here also: the First (in the place of an older Byzantine gate), is found at the end of today’s Kapsali street and is equipped with a «zematistra» (scalding spot – from where the defenders threw boiling oil onto the enemies).