Mecidiye Castle and İbrice Harbor: A Localization Discussion from the Late Middle Ages to Early Modern Coastal Defense

Abstract

This article examines the historical topography of Mecidiye Castle and İbrice Harbor through an interdisciplinary approach combining archaeological remains, medieval portolan charts, and archival records. Focusing primarily on the Late Byzantine Period, it seeks to reassess the identification, spatial organization, and functional relationships of these coastal installations within their broader maritime landscape. By critically comparing cartographic representations with material remains and written sources, the study aims to clarify longstanding ambiguities regarding the location and continuity of the harbor and its associated defensive structures. Furthermore, the article addresses the debated case of the late 18^th century cannon battery at İbrice Harbor, whose existence has been established through archival documentation but whose precise location remains hypothetical due to a lack of field verification. Drawing on a new historical topography survey alongside a technical analysis of contemporary gunpowder artillery and defensive strategies, the study proposes a revised location for the battery. This reassessment not only contributes to the accurate mapping of the site but also offers broader insights into the strategic logic governing coastal defense systems in the region.