The emergence of Galata as a Genoese colony
The emergence of Galata as a Genoese colony
The Genoese occupation of Galata came about as a result of the long running conflict between Byzantium, Genoa Galata and Venice for the control of trade along the Dalmatian coast and through the Aegean, and later by the fourth Crusade.
By the 12th century Galata was home to a large Jewish community, and by the middle of that century both Venice and Genoa had established settlements in the district.
In 1271 an attack on the Genoese settlement was blamed on Venice, with the Byzantine emperor ordering the arrest of all Venetians in the empire and the seizure of their property.
Revenge came in 1303 when Venice was instrumental in the decision of the fourth crusade to seize first Galata, expelling its Jewish residents, and, the following year Constantinople itself.
Latin rule over both Constantinople and Galata lasted until 1261, and saw the construction of the church of San Paolo, later expanded, and around 1475 following the Ottoman conquest, converted into a mosque, and later renamed Arap Camii.
The Byzantines re-took Constantinople in 1261, and in 1267 in recognition of their assistance in Byzantium's war against Venice, the Genoese were granted sole occupancy of Galata for use as a trading port.
At this time the hill of Galata above the port area was not so densely populated with much of the hillside still occupied by vineyards.
Conflict with Venice continued and in 1296 a Venetian fleet attacked and set fire to the Genoese colony.
Subsequently the Genoese expanded their colony using a regular street plan, fortified within a series of walls enclosing most of the settled areas.
The first set of walls enclosed only the lower part of what we now know as Galata, with three of the most important religious sites: the churches of St Benoit, St Pierre and St Georges, remaining outside.
In 1348 the settlement was expanded uphill, with the fortifications culminating in a monumental new tower affording uninterrupted views over the port below as well as all land and sea approaches to the colony.
Originally named "Christ's Tower", it was what we know today as "Galata Tower".
As trade through the colony boomed and its population expanded to include Armenians, Greeks, Levantines and traders from around the Mediterranean the colony was also expanded. New sets of walls were built using stone blocks taken from earlier buildings, boasting fortified towers and gateways and eventually encompassing even the monastery of Saint Benoit.
In little over 100 years, by 1404, the colony of Galata had grown to cover 37 hectares, around 3 times its original size.
The Ottoman conquest of 1453 saw the Genoese lose control of Galata which became an administrative district of their new capital of Istanbul. But the district's importance as a centre for trade, with more than 3,000 shops and eight bazaars meant that the genoese were permitted to remain and continue trading. Over the subsequent centuries Galata continued to grow in importance as a trading port, eventually becoming the "European Quarter" of the Islamic Ottoman capital, and expanding further up the hill and along the flat summit through the district which came to be known as "Pera" (beyond) and which by the middle of the 19th century was home to the opulent embassies and residences of the great European powers, many of them still occupied today as consulates.
Notes sur la Colonie génoise de Péra - Author(s): J. Sauvaget
Source: Syria, T. 15, Fasc. 3 (1934), pp. 252-275 - Published by: Institut Francais du Proche-Orient
The Genoese occupation of Galata came about as a result of the long running conflict between Byzantium, Genoa Galata and Venice for the control of trade along the Dalmatian coast and through the Aegean, and later by the fourth Crusade.
By the 12th century Galata was home to a large Jewish community, and by the middle of that century both Venice and Genoa had established settlements in the district.
In 1271 an attack on the Genoese settlement was blamed on Venice, with the Byzantine emperor ordering the arrest of all Venetians in the empire and the seizure of their property.
Revenge came in 1303 when Venice was instrumental in the decision of the fourth crusade to seize first Galata, expelling its Jewish residents, and, the following year Constantinople itself.
Latin rule over both Constantinople and Galata lasted until 1261, and saw the construction of the church of San Paolo, later expanded, and around 1475 following the Ottoman conquest, converted into a mosque, and later renamed Arap Camii.
The Byzantines re-took Constantinople in 1261, and in 1267 in recognition of their assistance in Byzantium's war against Venice, the Genoese were granted sole occupancy of Galata for use as a trading port.
At this time the hill of Galata above the port area was not so densely populated with much of the hillside still occupied by vineyards.
Conflict with Venice continued and in 1296 a Venetian fleet attacked and set fire to the Genoese colony.
Subsequently the Genoese expanded their colony using a regular street plan, fortified within a series of walls enclosing most of the settled areas.
The first set of walls enclosed only the lower part of what we now know as Galata, with three of the most important religious sites: the churches of St Benoit, St Pierre and St Georges, remaining outside.
In 1348 the settlement was expanded uphill, with the fortifications culminating in a monumental new tower affording uninterrupted views over the port below as well as all land and sea approaches to the colony.Originally named "Christ's Tower", it was what we know today as "Galata Tower".
In little over 100 years, by 1404, the colony of Galata had grown to cover 37 hectares, around 3 times its original size.
The Ottoman conquest of 1453 saw the Genoese lose control of Galata which became an administrative district of their new capital of Istanbul. But the district's importance as a centre for trade, with more than 3,000 shops and eight bazaars meant that the genoese were permitted to remain and continue trading. Over the subsequent centuries Galata continued to grow in importance as a trading port, eventually becoming the "European Quarter" of the Islamic Ottoman capital, and expanding further up the hill and along the flat summit through the district which came to be known as "Pera" (beyond) and which by the middle of the 19th century was home to the opulent embassies and residences of the great European powers, many of them still occupied today as consulates.
Notes sur la Colonie génoise de Péra - Author(s): J. Sauvaget
Source: Syria, T. 15, Fasc. 3 (1934), pp. 252-275 - Published by: Institut Francais du Proche-Orient