Videssos the city

Videssos the city was the name of the capital and largest city of the Empire of Videssos. It was home of both the Avtokrator and the Patriarch of Videssos. It was also a very vital trading post and military center; its position at the Cattle Crossing and at the crossroads of the empire made it a very important strategic spot. The city was therefore an important target, and it was the most heavily fortified city in the world, with crenelated breastworks, a wide ditch, and double walls with observation points at strategic locations. Despite the many defences, it has been attacked many times during its rich history, its latest time during the Sphrantzes Coup d'état. Notably, the city was also besieged centuries before by the Kubratoi with the aid of Makuraner engineers. The city is noted never to have fallen by siege to a foreign foe, though it has been taken by treachery during the course of the Videssians' own civil wars.

Places of interest in the city include the palace quarter, the amphitheatre, the Milestone, from which all distances in the Empire were reckoned (and which was commonly adorned with the heads of losers in Videssos' civil wars), the Kynegion, the chief execution-ground, the High Temple of Phos, the harbor districts, and the numerous fora and plazas throughout the city. 

Marcus Scaurus noticed that every street, every juncture, every monument and the fortifications were well-planned and laid out. He had thought it would be inferior to Rome but found Rome paling in comparison to Videssos.

The closest thing to a rival the city had was Mashiz, the ancient capital of Makuran. 

Literary Comment

The city of Videssos is based on Constantinople, as the Empire of Videssos is based on the Byzantine Empire. Presumably, it shares the characteristics of being the largest city in the world, like Constantinople, at the peak of its history.

Also like Constantinople, it shares the characteristic of having seven hills (a coincidental similarity with Rome).