Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
1453 - The fall of Constantinople (first part)
In 1449, the Emperor of Byzance, Constantin XI Dragasces succeeds to his brother John the VIIIth
In 1451, sultan Mehemet II, an ambitious and warlike man, climbs to the throne of the Ottoman Empire
On march 1452, Mehmet II breaks the treaties concluded with the Basileus...
...and builds the fortress of Roumeli Hissar on the Bosphore, to bar the entry of the Black Sea
On the 12th of december 1452, Greeks ans Latins celebrate, in basilica Sancta Sofia, the Union concluded between the two churches...
...but instead of unifying the christians against the common ennemy, this union only divide them more
In january 1453, the Sultan has a huge 75 cm diametre cannon built, the 'Basilic'...
...work of a hungarian deserter discontented with the conditions made to him by the Basileus
On the 5th of april 1453, Mehmet II encamps before the walls of Constantinople on Saint Romanus gate
On the 6th of april 1453, the new sultan invests the imperial town with very superior forces to the byzantins
The Sultan proposes to the besieged to surrender the town without combat...
...basileus Constantin XI refuses
While the Sultan can rely on more than 200 thousand men...
...the greek garrison has only 7 to 8 thousand men to its disposal
On the 12th of april, the turkish artillery open fire against the walls of the town...
...making breaches that the defenders fill with difficulty
On the 20 of april, a genoese emergency flotilla enforce the blocade of the Golden Horn, bringing hope to the besieged
Mehmet II watch, powerless, the entering of the emegency ships inside the harbour of Constantinople, barred by a chain
In the night of the 22th of april, in great secrecy, the Sultan has his ships transported by land...
...from the Bosphore to the Golden Horn. The genoeses from Galata react too late
On the 12th of may, a first attack in force of the janissaries fails before the ramparts
From the 18th of may on, the turks attempt to penetrate into the town with wooden towers and ladders...
...but the greeks burn the towers and repell the ladders, breaking down their tentatives
End of 1st part