The Fall of Constantinople: The Great Siege of 1453 | Documentary

Constantinople. The City of the World’s Desire. The largest city in Christendom for nearly a thousand years. Surprisingly few remember this grand city, capital of two of history’s greatest empires: the Christian Roman Empire, and the Islamic Ottoman Empire.

This is the story of Constantinople’s fall, how Europe’s richest city fell to the Turks and became known as Istanbul: the story of the Great Siege of 1453.
When histories greatest fortification was stormed, and Europe’s largest cathedral was transformed into a mosque, the Empire formed by Romulus and Remus on the seven hills had finally come to an end. Europe shuddered. It had done nothing to help the ancient city. Now, it would suffer a renewed Islamic onslaught, not seen since the days of the great caliphs. The
shockwaves caused by the fall of the city of Constantinople would echo through history, changing world history forever.

A big thank you to Mattia Bosello and Rosie for proving the Italian narration.

Prefer to listen on the go? Check out the WotW Podcast:

🎶🎶 All music from CO.AG

Narrated by: Top5s
Written & Researched by: Harry Palmer
Edited by: James Wade

History Should Never Be Forgotten...

[wojtekkowalski]

One of the biggest mistakes Europe has made in it's history is not helping in the defence of Constantinople. It's fall one of the biggest tragedies.

[Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

An epic tale that took place during the siege of Constantinople: on the 15th of March 1453, five ships full of Cretan archers, under the leadership of Manousos Kallikratis (Μανούσος Καλλικράτης), left the port of Souda (Σούδα), province of Chania (Χανιά) in the island of Crete (Κρήτη), to assist their fellow Hellenes and their allies defending the legendary City of Constantinople.

On their way to Constantinople, while sailing at the Sea of Marmara (Μαρμαρά), they got involved in a Naval Battle with numerous turkish ships, sinking many of them but also losing two out of total five ships. The remaining three arrived in Constantinople, where the archers were divided in two teams. The first team under Captain Pavlis (Καπετάν Παυλής) rushed to provide back up to the besieged gate of Saint Romanos (Πύλη του Αγίου Ρωμανού), where Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos was fighting. The second team defended at the three towers of Vasilios, Leon and Alexios (the names of the towers, πύργοι του Βασιλείου, Λέοντος και Αλεξίου).

The Cretan archers in those towers (even though we are already in the era of cannons and the first gunpowder weapons, Cretan archers had been famous for their relative skill since antiquity), fought bravely and killed many Turks and their allies, that even after the Queen of Cities fell, they still kept fighting, killing their enemies by the thousands.

Shortly after, the Ottoman Sultan himself, admiring the spirit of those men, granted the glorious Cretans the right to flee the City unharmed. The Cretans, knowing the City was already lost, accepted, and they were allowed to return to their ships in their full combat gear and in a victorious parade they marched to their ships, where they embarked for Crete. On their way back, one ship was damaged and was forced to harbour in Mount Athos - Hagio Oros (Άγιο Όρος), where one of the monks there recorded this epic tale. Commander Manousos Kallikratis descended from the region of Sfakia (Σφακιά) in Crete, the only place along with Agrafa (Άγραφα), Souli (Σουλι) and Mani (Μάνη), that never fell under Ottoman rule.

[Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

One of the most thrilling historical novels set in the Byzantine Greek Empire during the last Siege of Constantinople, is “The Dark Angel” (original title Johannes Angelos), of prominent Finnish writer, Mika Waltari.

Truly epic.

[Theodoros_Kolokotronis]

“We are Hellenes by race and our culture has been Hellenic ever since the time of our ancestors”.

Michael Psellos, Byzantine Historian, high ranking courtier and advisor to several Byzantine Emperors (11th century).

[marklander]

had trouble understanding narrators voice.

[johnweber]

Great video ! I really appreciate the hard work and research put into this !!! 👍😎

[shirleyhernandez]

After watching the movie Rise of Empire: ottoman, I started looking for more details about the war.

[ewanbt]

This channel educates me on things I am so glad I now know

[keksterbojester]

I was starting to get tired of WW2. I would love for the Battle of Carthage to be covered, or Gangus Khan's campaign.

[dawarrior]

One of the best videos I've seen on this battle. Thank you!

[garyweaver]

Did a great Job on this. Thanks from AL usa

[Black-Sun_Kaiser]

I was actually researching this. Perfect timing!! Thank you 😊 💙🤍🇱🇷🙋🏼‍♂️

[thebookofduderonomy]

World history and the wars thereof? Be still my heart.

[livefire]

Why has an accurate movie on this battle not been made! It is literally the greatest battle in human history before world war 1!? And it was fought similar even though it was 458 years earlier!

[alsiyonealternate]

It is said that during the final days of the siege, some "miraculous" events happened which contributed to the morale of both sides:

For the Byzantines:

There was a prophecy that the city will not fall until ships sail overland... well, we all know what happened with this.
There was also a prophecy that the city will stand as long as the moon is in the heavens. Then a bloody lunar eclipse happened. An eclipse that looked like the Turkish flag.

People began to pray and hold processions in the streets to seek God's help and forgiveness. Unfortunately, a thunderstorm arrived with icy pellets from the sky. The icon of the virgin mary that they were parading a few moments ago was toppled from its stand. Those in the procession tried to put back the icon and continue the procession, but for some reason they were not able to lift it atop. The flood that ensued broke the procession. Then after the storm, the next day, a huge fog covered the whole city (and this is in the month of May). People began to believe that god was abandoning them. When the fog lifted, people saw strange flicker of lights appear and fade in strange places, but most horrifyingly at the top of hagia sophia's dome. The light on top of the dome was slowly fading upwards and was so noticeable, it looked like it was on fire (and the hagia sophia's dome never experienced fire before).

The believers thought this was the holy spirit leaving the city. If you were one of the defenders of the city on that time, if starvation did not break your morale, these events surely did.

For the Ottomans:

The found the grave of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, the companion of the prophet Muhammad, near the walls of the city. He died many centuries ago, during the failed attempt of the Arabs to take Constantinople. This was one of the holiest people in their religion and for them to discover this at this time was surely a divine blessing in their eyes. If you were one of the Muslim attackers at that time, this will surely boost your morale a hundred fold.

[Werewolf]

Yes!! going back to a much older War, don't get me wrong I love the other videos World War 1 and 2 are still extremely important and interesting to learn about, but I always found much older wars more interesting. Though I'll watch anything on this channel, War is the most interesting part of History in my opinion.

[thedoruk]

Byzantine hereby Thanks to 4rth Crusade and the Decimation of Eastern Rome Empire and the Sacking beforehand(!)

[olddriver]

Hey mate, I love the edit and information. I just want to recommend using a pop filter or at least a thicker sponge on your microphone as your "s" and "t" sounds cause spikes and make it harder to understand and slightly uncomfortable to listen to. Keep up the good work.

[shellbell]

Great content, but volume fluctuates and is often is not clear.

[miramax]

Seems that Costantinople's resistance in 626, 674, 717 was not in vain. Those great men like Voltaire and Montesquieu wouldn't have to make these comments 300 years later after the fall of the Queen of cities on their knees facing Mecca.. I suppose this is the way to say "Merci" in the 18th century. Thank Lord i was born in the 20th..