Bronze Follis of Constantine I (307 A.D. - 337 A.D.) celebrating the founding of Constantinopolis.
Posted on 05/28/2003 7:06:05 AM PDT by Junior
The siege of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire and one of the most heavily fortified cities in the world, took place in 1453. Sultan Mehmed II, ruler of the Ottoman Turks, led the assault. The city was defended by, at most, 10,000 men. The Turks had between 100,000 and 150,000 men on their side. The siege lasted for fifty days. The Turks employed various important war tactics in taking over the city. They used huge cannon to destroy the walls, warships were used to the cut the city's sea defense. They also used an extensive infantry to engulf the city.
After using his heavy artillery to form a breach in the wall, the fist attack was launched upon Constantinople on a May morning at 1:00 a.m. The shout of men could be heard miles away. This fist attack was led by the Bashi-bazouks. They tried to attack the weakest point in the walls. They knew they were outnumbered and out skilled, but they still fought with passion. After fighting for two hours, they were called to retreat.
The second attack was brought on by the Anatolian Turks from Ishak's army. This army could easily be recognized by their specialized uniforms. This army was also more organized than the first. They used their cannons to blast through the walls of the city. By using trumpets and other noises they were able to break the concentration of their opponents. They were the first army to enter the city. The Christians were ready for them as they entered. They were able to massacre much of the army from this attack. This attack was called off at dawn.
Before the army was able to gain strength and order, another attack feel upon them. Mehmet's favorite set of troops called the Janissaries started to attack. They launched arrows, missiles, bullets, stones and javelins at the enemy. They maintained perfect unity in this attack, unlike the other attempts. This battle, at the stockade, was a long tiring battle for the troops. The soldiers fought in hand-to-hand combat. Someone had to give. It was the Christians. The Turks remembered a port called the Kerkoporta. They noticed it had accidentally been left open by the Christians. The Christian army frequently used that gate to try to penetrate the flank of the Turkish army. They stormed the gate, but the Christians were able to stop them before completely entering the city.
While battles were being fought on land, the Turks were also trying to take control of the sea. Many ships were placed in the Golden Horn and off of the Marmora shore to help siege the city. Many of the soldiers came from these ships to aid the army on land. Once the signal was sent, troops flooded off of these ships to take down the harbor walls and start looting the city.
The City was now completely taken over by the Turks. Mehmed renamed the city Istanbul. To further glorify the city he built mosques, palaces, monuments and a system of aqueducts. The city was now officially claimed for Islam. New rules and regulations came about for the conquered. The Greeks were to form communities within the empire called milets. The Christians were still allowed to practice their religion, but had to dress in distinguishing attire and could not bare arms. So came the end to the great city of Constantinople.
Sources:
Harris, William H & Levey, Judith S. The New Columbia Encyclopedia. (New York; Columbia University Press, 1975).
Runciman, Steven. The Fall of Constantinople. (London; Cambridge University Press, 1965).
THE FOURTH CRUSADE - SACK OF CONSTANTINOPLE
A motley collection of French knights setting out from Venice by sea to fight in the Holy Land, the crusaders appealed to the Venetians for transportation and food. Venice held extensive commercial interests in the eastern Mediterranean and wished an eastern emperor who would be compliant and supported a candidate for post. This was only carrying to its logical conclusion the policy that the crusading royalty and nobility had followed all along, to carve out for themselves domains and principalities in the East. The merchants of Venice agreed to furnish at a high price, more than the crusaders could pay, and also to contribute 50 armed warships if they could share equally in all future conquests. The Duke of Venice, the blind Enrico Dandoelo, used the indebtedness to use the crusaders to his own political ends. They were to capture for Venice, the port of Zara, who had revolted against Venice and had gone over to the king of Hungary. Venice was now quarreling with Constantinople, and the Crusaders consented to begin their expedition with an attack on their fellow Christians. There was no great Bernard to inspire enthusiasm, but a preacher of a distinctly lower type, Fulco of Neuilly, succeeded in obtaining support from a number of French nobles, who involved themselves in the unworthy obligations to blind Dandolo. So the crusade began with the sack and destruction of a Roman Catholic town, in 1202. Angrily, the pope had excommunicated the crusaders. Pope Innocent was infuriated by this bargain which had diverted them from such a noble cause and excommunicated the Crusaders...
This departure from their original design was followed by a still more remarkable deviation. Instead of proceeding to Palestine, they sailed against Constantinople, to dethrone the usurper, Alexius Angelus. The crusaders succeeded in restoring the lawful emperor, Isaac, to his Empire. The reward which they required was extravagant, and Isaac’s efforts to comply with the stipulations provoked such resentment, that he was deposed by his subjects, and put to death, together with his son. But worse was to follow. In July, 1203, the Crusaders took Constantinople by assault. The bulk of the fourth Crusade never reached the Holy Land at all. It started at Venice (1202), captured Zara, encamped at Constantinople (1203), and finally, in 1204, stormed the city. After an easy siege the gates were thrown open, and the Latins entered the city in triumph. The city was sacked. Naturally the pope protested at this second diversion of the crusading army "Ye took not the Cross to avenge the wrongs of the prince Alexius," he wrote. "Ye are under the solemn obligation to avenge the Crucified, to Whose service ye are sworn.”
They knew that Constantinople was a richer prize than all the Holy Land - and that it could be taken more easily. Constantinople had withstood Moslem armies for 5 centuries, it now fell. The imperial capital was stormed by the very men whose forefathers had promised rescue a century before. Untold treasures of gold, silver, and holy relics were plundered during the subsequent pillage and rape. Literary classics, great and wonderful works of art and treasures untold were either destroyed or carried away. Many of its priceless treasures were carried off to Europe. But the greatest prize of all were the relics. bones, heads and arms of saints. the crown of thorns, St. Thomas, the doubter's finger. The patriarch fled on an ass without a single attendant. Tombs were robbed. Women were outraged. Churches were desecrated. Horses were ridden in the sanctuary. Communion cups and sacred vessels were used as drinking cups in drunken revels. Prostitutes danced on the altar. Icons, even portraits of Christ were used as gaming tables.
Done by The Four Lads.
What he couldn't foresee in all his adventures was the beginning of Islam several decades after his death, which came on like a supernova, and which no one was prepared to contain. I'm not sure that it could have been withstood past the fallback lines in Asia Minor due to terrain, logistical and communications issues, but I'd like to think that Syria, Lebanon, Israel and egypt could have held longer and wound up differently (those were predominantly ethnically Greek with some local mixing at that point in time). Anyway, considering how long the line held in Asia Minor, they didn't do that badly.
Now I won't be able to get that song out of my head today!
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