The Palace of Bucoleon, sometimes called “Chastel de Bouchelyon,” has been a subject of debate among historians. Some, like Labarte, suggest that the name was used in a very specific sense by Ville-Hardouin. However, this is not necessarily true. The Great Palace of Constantinople was located within a fortified area, which means it could accurately be called a “castle.” For example, Labarte himself refers to the Palace of Blachernae as a “chastel” for a similar reason. Therefore, the designation of the Palace of Bucoleon does not prove that Ville-Hardouin had a restricted or special use of the name The Identity of Three Ancient Harbours.
Access to the Palace by the Sea
Another point of discussion is the way the Marquis of Montferrat reached the Palace. Labarte mentions that he rode along the shore, “chevaucha tout le long du rivage, droit vers Bouchelion.” Some interpret this to mean that he specifically aimed to reach the residence near Tchatlady Kapou. However, the Great Palace could be entered through a gate located at the eastern end of the Tzycanisterion. This gate opened onto the plain by the Sea of Marmara and connected to a part of the city near the promontory. Using this entrance, the Marquis would have reached the main apartments of the Great Palace, not necessarily the smaller buildings associated with the Bucoleon name.
Evidence from Byzantine History
Historical events provide strong evidence for the existence of this gate. In 944, Emperor Romanus Lecapenus was deposed by his sons, Stephen and Constantine, and sent to a monastery on the island of Proti. At that time, the people of Constantinople feared that the popular Emperor Constantine VII, Porphyrogenitus, might face a similar fate. Citizens crowded around the palace to see him, and he appeared at the iron bars of the gate at the end of the Tzycanisterion, with his hair disheveled. This clearly confirms that a gate existed at this location.
Further evidence comes from Constantine Porphyrogenitus himself. He wrote that Saracen ambassadors, after meeting the emperor, left the palace grounds by descending to the Tzycanisterion and mounting their horses there. This shows that the gate was a normal entrance and exit for the main palace, not an indication of a special intention to reach the Bucoleon buildings Customised Private Istanbul Tour.
In conclusion, the designation of the Palace of Bucoleon as “Chastel de Bouchelyon” and the route taken by the Marquis of Montferrat do not prove that he aimed for a particular residence near Tchatlady Kapou. The Great Palace was accessible through multiple gates, including one at the Tzycanisterion, which led to the main apartments. Historical records confirm the existence and regular use of this gate, making it clear that approaching the palace from the shore was a practical route rather than a symbolic or targeted choice.
