Leonard of Scio’s Statement on the Distance
According to Leonard of Scio, Archbishop of Mytilene and a contemporary witness to the siege of Constantinople, the Turkish ships were dragged over land for a distance of seventy stadia. He expresses this clearly in his Latin statement: “ad stadia septuaginta trahi biremes,” meaning that the galleys were pulled for seventy stadia. At first glance, this appears to be a precise measurement. However, when examined more closely, this figure raises many serious questions Visit Bulgaria.
The length of a stadion was not fixed in the fifteenth century. Different regions used different measures, and even writers using the same term often meant different actual distances. Because of this uncertainty, Leonard’s number cannot be converted with confidence into modern units such as miles or kilometers.
Problems with Using the Stadion as a Measure
The difficulty of interpreting the term stadion makes Leonard’s statement unreliable for determining the exact route taken by the ships. Depending on the definition used, seventy stadia could represent a distance that is either too long or too short to match any of the proposed routes with certainty. As a result, Leonard’s figure does not help us decide whether the ships crossed the hills from Dolmabahçe, Tophane, or any other location.
For this reason, although Leonard’s testimony is valuable in many respects, it offers no practical assistance in settling the geographical question of where the ships were dragged over land.
Leonard’s Description of the Sultan’s Plan
Even if the distance itself is unclear, Leonard of Scio provides an important and vivid description of how the Sultan carried out his plan. He explains that Sultan Mehmed II wished to tighten the siege and surround the city more completely. To achieve this goal, the Sultan ordered that roads previously considered impassable should be made level and usable Strengths of the Dolmabahçe Route Despite Its Length.
Leonard states that the ships were drawn out of the water and placed on supports made smooth with grease. They were then hauled uphill with great effort. This part of the operation was especially difficult, as the ships had to be lifted and dragged up steep slopes.
From the Hilltops to the Golden Horn
Once the ships reached the top of the hills, the situation changed. Leonard explains that after the hard ascent, the vessels were moved down the slope with much greater ease. From the summit, they were gently lowered into the waters of the inlet, which he describes as the bay or harbor of the city.
This description agrees well with other contemporary accounts. Many sources mention both the difficulty of pulling the ships uphill and the relative ease of guiding them downward once the highest point was reached. Leonard’s narrative therefore supports the general understanding of the operation, even if it does not clarify the exact route.
Value and Limits of Leonard’s Testimony
Leonard of Scio was an educated and careful observer, and his account is important for understanding the method and purpose of the Sultan’s actions. However, his use of an uncertain unit of distance limits the usefulness of his testimony for precise geographical analysis.
In contrast, eyewitnesses such as Nicolo Barbaro and Jacques Tedaldi, who describe the distance in miles and give clearer geographical references, provide more practical information for identifying the route.
In conclusion, Leonard of Scio’s statement that the ships were dragged for seventy stadia raises more questions than it answers. Because the length of a stadion cannot be fixed with certainty, his figure cannot be used to determine where the ships crossed the hills. Nevertheless, his detailed description of the operation confirms the scale, difficulty, and careful planning of the Sultan’s remarkable achievement. Leonard’s account is therefore valuable as a narrative of events, even if it does not resolve the problem of location.
