The fall of Constantinople, which occurred on May 29, 1453 was the final phase of the Byzantine-Ottoman Wars (1265-1453) and the darkest era in Greek history and in the Orthodox Church.Having been the seat of the Byzantine Empire for a millennium, Constantinople was the main target of the Ottomans. Ascending to the Ottoman throne in 1451, Mehmed II began making plans to conquer the Byzantine capital. The Byzantine empire had been declining in power and influence ever since the city’s capture and sacking by the Crusaders in 1204.
In 1451, the empire of Constantine XI—with its capital city being named after his ancestor—had been reduced to the area around Constantinople, as well as a large part of the Peloponnesian Peninsula in Greece.
Already possessing a fortress on the Asian side of the Bosporus, Mehmed began construction of one on the European shore, as well. It was known as Rumeli Hisari. Taking control of the strait, Mehmed’s ships cut off Constantinople from the Black Sea and any potential aid which might have come from Genoese colonies in the region.
Constantine was forced to appeal to Pope Nicholas V for aid. Despite centuries of animosity between the Orthodox and Catholic churches, Nicholas tried to help but his efforts were fruitless, as many of the Western nations were engaged in their own conflicts and could not spare men or money to aid Constantinople.
Constantinople’s Theodosian WallsMinor help came from groups of independent soldiers. Among these were 700 professional troops under the command of Giovanni Giustiniani. Constantine reinforced the massive Theodosian Walls and the walls in the northern Blachernae district. To prevent an attack from the sea against the Golden Horn walls, he ordered that a large chain be stretched across the mouth of the harbor to block Ottoman ships from entering.
Short on men, Constantine decided to put most of his soldiers to defending the Theodosian Walls. Mehmed’s massive army numbered somewhere between 80,000 and 120,000 men by the time they approached the city.
At the same time, the Ottoman fleet was in the Sea of Marmara, ready to attack. In addition, Mehmed had a large cannon along with several smaller guns. The Ottoman army arrived outside Constantinople on April 1, 1453, and began to set camp the next day. On April 5, Mehmed arrived with the last of his men and began preparations for besieging the city.
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