Constantinople and its Walls

The sacking of Rome in 410 alerted regent of the young emperor Theodosius II, Anthemius, to build a wall to safeguard his city, Constantinople. The wall built with the founding of Constantinople by Constantine in 330 was deemed inadequate. Construction of what became known as the "Wall of Theodosius" began in the year 413 AD. In 447 an earthquake knocked the wall down. It was rebuilt in three months.

In the year 800, Constantinople's population was about 250,000 - the greatest city in Europe except perhaps for Cordoba.