Fall of Constantinople
The Fall of Constantinople happened on May 29, 1453, marking the end of the Eastern Roman Empire (known after the 1800s as the Byzantine Empire) and the end of the Middle Ages. The city was conquered by the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Mehmed II.
Constantinople was protected by the Theodosian walls. There were two sets of walls, the outer and the inner. The inner walls were higher. There was also a seawall facing the Golden Horn and a giant chain across the harbor.
One factor making this different from previous sieges was the construction of an Ottoman fort to the north of Constantinople, on the European side of the Bosphorus. Together with a complementary fort in Asia, this cut the outnumbered Romans off from friendly Genoese and Venetian colonies along the Black Sea coast, as well as the Empire of Trebizond, Georgia, and Greek cities in the Crimea.
The siege lasted several months, with at least two major attacks being repulsed with heavy losses. The Ottomans brought some impressive cannons but their slow rate of fire allowed the defenders to keep repairing the wall. Attacks with ladders failed as did mining operations, defeated by skilled Byzantine counterminers. By the end of May the sultan was considering giving up. The coming hot weather threatened to lead to water and supply shortages, and disease outbreaks. He agreed with his commanders to one more attack.
During the final assault, Giovanni Giustiniani, a Genoese soldier and commander of the defense, was wounded and carried away. He would die days later from his wounds. Because of this there was a breakdown in command and control, and mass panic as many defenders streamed back into the city. In the confusion, a gate to the inner wall was left open and the defenders lost their last chance at victory. Emperor Constantine XI died in the melee. Some of the Genoese made it safely to their ships and escaped.
References[edit]
- The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation by Victor Davis Hanson. Publisher : Basic Books (May 7, 2024) Language : English Hardcover : 352 pages ISBN-10 : 1541673522 ISBN-13 : 978-1541673526