Kilia fortress of Stephen the Great

Abstract

Th e stone fortress of Kilia was erected on the banks of the Danube in the summer of 1479 on the initiative led by Stephen the Great. An inner wall separated it, following the example of the Cetatea Alba, into two distinct parts: the Outer Fortress, which corresponded to the “civil court”, and the Middle Fortress, to which conformed to the “middle court” corresponded. It was joined by the third courtyard, the “garrison courtyard”, which surrounded the old stone citadel. Th e inner citadel corresponded to the “middle court” and the “garrison court”. Th e fourth court, the “court of the citadel” or “court of the military commander”, was bounded by the citadel walls. Among the fl anking towers were the Arsenal Tower, the Weapons Tower, the Commander’s Tower, the Lighthouse Tower, the Bloody Tower, the Prison Tower, the Maiden’s Tower, the Arab Tower, the Wool Tower, the Millet Tower, the Flat Tower, the Cracked Tower, the Biscuit Tower, the Mountain Tower, etc. During the rule of Stephen the Great, ordinary towers appeared, with an inner hollow, “full” towers and “artillery towers”. Th e roads connected the Great Gate of the citadel with three Gates from the water, the Small Gate, the Guild Gate and the Greek Gate. Th e defensive complex of Kilia was conquered by Ottoman troops in July of 1484.