The Byzantine Empire had its naval headquarters there, and walls
were built along the shoreline to protect the city of
Constantinople from naval attacks. At the entrance to the Horn,
there was a large chain pulled across from Constantinople to the
old Tower of Galata (which was known as the Megalos Pyrgos (Great
Tower) among the Byzantines) on the northern side, preventing
unwanted ships from entering. This tower was largely destroyed by
the Latin Crusaders during the Fourth Crusade (1204), but the
Geneose built a new tower nearby, the famous Galata Tower (1348)
which they called Christea Turris (Tower of Christ).