The Siege of Constantinople The turning point between East and West The defining moment of the Ottoman Empire The End of the Eastern Roman Empire By: Adam Love The turning point between East and West The defining moment of the Ottoman Empire The End of the Eastern Roman Empire By: Adam Love Table of Contents

The Siege of Constantinople (1453 C.E.) April 6 April 12 April 18 April 20 April 22 May 7 May 18 May 29 April 6 April 12 April 18 April 20 April 22 May 7 May 18 May 29 ~Chronology~ ~Useful Links~ The_Fall_of_Constantinople.mov Modern_Istanbul.mov ~Maps~ Byzantium Constantinople Extent of Constantinople under Theodosius TitleNextBackBibliography

April 6, 1453 –Mehmed II arrived on the plains before Constantinople, and began preliminary bombardment of the fortifications. Next Table of Contents

April 12, 1453 –Advanced the cannons to the edge of the great ditch (Foss) and began the “ first general preparatory gunpowder artillery bombardment in history. ” After 6 days of bombardment the outer towers were beginning to crumble. –Advanced the cannons to the edge of the great ditch (Foss) and began the “ first general preparatory gunpowder artillery bombardment in history. ” After 6 days of bombardment the outer towers were beginning to crumble. NextBackTable of Contents

April 18, 1453 –2 hours after sunset, Mehmed II begins assault with his elite Janissary Force. Repelled by Giustiniani with his 700 Genoese Knights Over 200 Janissary dead, no Knights killed. –Mehmed II orders his admiral Baltoghlu to attack and destroy the chain boom across the Golden Horn. Byzantine Fleet repelled the Ottoman Fleet –2 hours after sunset, Mehmed II begins assault with his elite Janissary Force. Repelled by Giustiniani with his 700 Genoese Knights Over 200 Janissary dead, no Knights killed. –Mehmed II orders his admiral Baltoghlu to attack and destroy the chain boom across the Golden Horn. Byzantine Fleet repelled the Ottoman Fleet NextBackTable of Contents

April 20, 1453 –Rescue ships sent by Pope (3 Genoese Galleys and 1 Imperial Transport). Baltoghlu was unable to stop the ships reaching the city of Constantinople. –Mehmed II began to focus his energy on controlling the Golden Horn and the waters surrounding Constantinople. –Rescue ships sent by Pope (3 Genoese Galleys and 1 Imperial Transport). Baltoghlu was unable to stop the ships reaching the city of Constantinople. –Mehmed II began to focus his energy on controlling the Golden Horn and the waters surrounding Constantinople. NextBackTable of Contents

April 22, 1453 –Mehmed II orders thousands of workmen to begin portaging his navy across the land just north of the city to bypass the chain boom. By dawn the following day, all of the Ottoman Fleet, some 70 ships, had been safely and ingeniously hauled across land using teams of Oxen and human effort. The Emperor Constantine tried to burn the Ottoman Fleet a few days later during the night. He did not succeed. –Mehmed II orders thousands of workmen to begin portaging his navy across the land just north of the city to bypass the chain boom. By dawn the following day, all of the Ottoman Fleet, some 70 ships, had been safely and ingeniously hauled across land using teams of Oxen and human effort. The Emperor Constantine tried to burn the Ottoman Fleet a few days later during the night. He did not succeed. NextBackTable of Contents

May 7, 1453 –Ottoman ’ s launch another major assault against the Mesoteichion sector involving 30,000-50,000 men. NextBackTable of Contents

May 18, 1453 –Under the direction of Mehmed II, the Ottoman ’ s constructed an armored siege tower to protect workers attempting to fill in the ditch (foss). During the night, Giustiniani led a sortie out and blew the armored siege tower up with gun powder. –Under the direction of Mehmed II, the Ottoman ’ s constructed an armored siege tower to protect workers attempting to fill in the ditch (foss). During the night, Giustiniani led a sortie out and blew the armored siege tower up with gun powder. NextBackTable of Contents

May 29, 1453 –Mehmed II planned a simultaneous 3 point attack, against the walls Blachermae Gate, the Lycus Valley, and the Romanus Gate. –It was in the Lycus Valley the Mehmed II planned on being successful. –Used three waves of attackers, denying the defenders any time to rest or repair. Bashi-Bazouk Infantry, Provincial Levies Regulars, Elite Janissary Infantry. –Killed the Emperor Constantine in battle, Siege of Constantinople ended. –Mehmed II planned a simultaneous 3 point attack, against the walls Blachermae Gate, the Lycus Valley, and the Romanus Gate. –It was in the Lycus Valley the Mehmed II planned on being successful. –Used three waves of attackers, denying the defenders any time to rest or repair. Bashi-Bazouk Infantry, Provincial Levies Regulars, Elite Janissary Infantry. –Killed the Emperor Constantine in battle, Siege of Constantinople ended. BackTable of Contents

The Fall of Constantinople Table of Contents

Modern Istanbul Table of Contents

Bibliography Discovery Education. “ United Streaming. ” accessed November 8, Gabriel, Richard A. “ Empires At War: Volume III. ” Greenwood Press, Finkel, Caroline. “ Osman ’ s Dream. ” Basic Books, Discovery Education. “ United Streaming. ” accessed November 8, Gabriel, Richard A. “ Empires At War: Volume III. ” Greenwood Press, Finkel, Caroline. “ Osman ’ s Dream. ” Basic Books, Table of Contents