The Fall of Constantinople

The Brutal End of the Byzantine Empire

50minutes

• Publisher: 50Minutes.com
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9782806273062
• Topic: Storia
• Subtopic: Storia militare e marittima

Keen to learn but short on time? Get to grips with the events of the Fall of Constantinople in next to no time with this concise guide. 50Minutes.com provides a clear and engaging analysis of the Fall of Constantinople. In May 1453, Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, fell to the Ottomans after a 53-day siege. This conquest marked the end of the mighty Roman Empire and a key point in the Ottoman advance to the West. The collapse of the Byzantine Empire is a major event in European history, and is seen by some as signalling the end of the Middle Ages in Europe. In just 50 minutes you will:
•Understand the historical, political and social context of mid-15th century Europe
•Identify the two forces in the battle and their reasons for fighting
•Analyse the outcome of the battle and its role in the end of the Byzantine Empire and the golden age of the Ottomans ABOUT 50MINUTES.COM | History & Culture
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ANALYSIS OF THE BATTLE

PREPARATIONS

To achieve his objective, Mehmet II spent several months preparing the isolation of Constantinople. It was now time to gather his army. Therefore, the Sultan mobilized all the contingents available to him, as well as those due to him by his vassals. In total, approximately 80,000 soldiers gathered under the banner of the Sultan, including 10,000 Janissaries, the elite infantry of Mehmet II. The Sultan also possessed, with more than 100 ships, the largest naval fleet ever assembled by the Ottomans. Nevertheless, it was his artillery that would make all the difference in the siege: in fact, this was the first time that it was used in such large numbers. Fourteen batteries, each containing four big guns, were positioned facing the wall, the centerpiece of this structure being the Orban barrel (named after the Hungarian engineer who designed it, died in 1453), which became famous for its impressive dimensions (eight meters long) and its ability to send cannonballs of 600 kilos – a technical feat for the time. It took no less than 200 soldiers and 60 oxen to transport it to Constantinople. Its goal was to destroy the ancient city walls.

Faced with this colossal army, the situation in Constantinople seemed even more desperate. Abandoned by the West, the city could only rely on its few soldiers and some foreign auxiliary quotas. In his writings, Georges Phrantzes (1401-1478), adviser and historian to Constantine XI, mentions 4973 men able to fight, including monks and clergymen. Added to this were 2,000 to 3,000 foreign soldiers, mainly from Venice and Genoa, whose most famous contingent was that of Genoese Captain Giovanni Giustiniani Longo (c. 1418-1453), which contained 700 men. In total, there were between 7,000 and 8,000 men who were set up to defend Constantinople and were, for the most part, assigned to the defense of the city wall, against which the attacks would be charged. As for the naval defense, the city was equally as helpless as it only had 25 warships to defend the Golden Horn. Finally, weaponry was also insufficient: the soldiers were fighting with cold weapons, and artillery of the city was virtually obsolete.

GOOD TO KNOW

Giovanni Giustiniani Longo was a Genoese man from one of the main families of Genoa and a relative of the Dorias, an illustrious family of the city. In 1453, he decided to rescue Constantinople. The Republic of Genoa refused to participate in this fight, so he financed his expedition alone and led to the Byzantine capital a reinforcement of 700 well-armed soldiers. He was welcomed as a hero by Constantine XI and, to thank him, he was offered the island of Lemnos. He was then assigned to the defense of the inland wall. Taking his position to heart, he immediately inspected the walls and strengthened them where necessary. During the siege, he was known for his courage and energy. An unparalleled commander, he pushed back all the Ottoman attacks until the final assault, during which he was severely wounded. His comrades decided to evacuate him from the city by boat. They arrived in Chios, where he died two days later.

However, despite its limited resources, Constantinople had two significant defensive devices. To understand the importance of this, it is vital to remember that, geographically, the city formed a triangle on the Bosphorus: in the north was the Golden Horn, to the south was the Marmara Sea and to the west was the inland wall. These devices were:

• The chain that closed the port of the Golden Horn, connecting the tower Eugene (located on the ramparts of the city) to the walls of the fortress of Galata, which was on the other side. The chain, which rested on wood floaters and was defended by nine warships, prevented other ships from entering the Golden Horn. No frontline could therefore be opened from this side, allowing the defenders of the city to have troops in other areas;
• The fortified walls of Theodosius II (Emperor of the East, 401-450) were composed of three lines of defense. It stretched over seven kilometers and protected the inland side of the city. To reach the city, attackers must first pass an 18-meter wide ditch of six to nine meters in depth, which was followed by a slope. They would then reach the outer wall which was protected by towers of ten meters in height placed every 50-100 meters. Finally, they still needed to pass the inside wall (12 meters high), which had 96 towers that were 18 meters tall. This device was therefore vital for the inhabitants of Constantinople, who strengthened it on the eve of the battle.

The Byzantines were also fully aware of the projects of Mehmet II. In February 1453, the army of the Sultan had already taken...