Lightning on the roof of Hagia Sophia, the day before the Fall of the Byzantine Empire

On 28th May 1453, fifty-two days since the young Ottoman sultan Mehmed II lay siege on Constantinople and just hours before the Ottomans launch their final assault on the city, the sultan was still hell-bent on conquering the emerald city of the Romans in his tent outside the walls of Constantinople, refusing to give up the mission by ignoring the advice of his incredulous Grand Vizier Çandarlı Halil Pasha. One of the soldiers asked the sultan to come out of his tent to witness an apocalyptic scene. Michael Critobulus, a contemporary Byzantine chronicler reports of a chain of lightning appearing on the dome of Hagia Sophia, the patriarchal cathedral of Greek Orthodox Christianity. ‘Lights appeared to be shining on the roof of Hagia Sophia.’ says the British historian Roger Crowley, author of the book 1453. The Byzantine citizens of Constantinople were terrified by the scene they considered a bad omen. ‘It created this incredibly hysterical atmosphere within the city, that they could be looking at the end of the world.’

From the University of Greenwich, the Senior Lecturer in Ottoman History, Dr. Michael Talbot informs us that the city is meant to have been protected by the Virgin Mary. ‘There’s the story that on the last day of Constantinople, she (Jesus’ mother) was seen leaving the city.’

At a time when all hope seemed lost, Mehmed II saw this as a clear sign from God that he’ll indeed conquer the city of his ancestors’ dream. ‘Allah has abandoned the infidels!’, roared the fierce Mehmed, boosting the morale of his troops to go for one final push. Mehmed's army was finally successful in breaching the walls of the city and the sultan entered the city the very next day on 29th May. Alongside King William I of England and James I of the Iberian Kingdom of Aragon, Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire gained the epithet ‘Conqueror’. Constantinople was renamed Istanbul, which then became the new capital of the Ottoman Empire. By 1683, under Mehmed II's great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson Mehmed IV, the Ottoman Empire reached its greatest extent with an area of 2.01 million square mile, which was as large as the empire of Alexander the Great.

[somethingaboutpastelcolors]

It doesn't matter whether you are Muslim, Christian or otherwise, seeing events like this will really scare you. It is more than dreadful.

[remaong]

This scene make me goosebump and speechless

[Joe-poxn]

"That they could be looking at the end of the world."

They were looking at the end of their world. That's for fucking sure.

[wayneable]

Mehmed II was the ultimate hype man. He ain’t have to do much to inspire his men. That kind of charisma is not often if ever seen in a 21 year old man

[msa]

Greatest thing is that the Ottomans preserved Hagia Sophia better than the Christians.

[christianprince]

1453 fall of Constantinople
1493 falll of Andalusia
Proper revenge by Christians 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😢😢😢😮😮

[Cevorter]

God truly was attempting to warn those brave 7, 000 Romans who fought and died for Him

[teammaker]

ALLAHU AKBAR! ALLAH HAS ABANDONED THE INFIDELS!! salam from dagestan, russia

[dragoncustodiodeplata]

But the Holy Spirit now is In Moscow the third Rome. Rome Constantinople and Moscow are built over 7 hills.

[fimfengius]

Be sure, the spirit will return to Hagia Sophia.

[axdllxh]

At one time one of us asked the Prophet, 'Oh Messenger of Allah! Which will be the first to be conquered: Constantinople or Rome? ' He replied: 'Heraclius' city, Constantinople, will be conquered. and another opens with a famous quote from the prophet Muhammad — “One day Constantinople will be conquered. Great is the commander who will conquer it

[Northmenn]

I have read in Islamic history that the event of the bloody moon happened in the time of the last Prophet and the people believed that it was a sign of something from God and that the prophet Muhammad firmly said it has nothing to do with death and life, if you see this event they were told by him to pray, is a sign to remind God's greatness

[fatihsultanmehmed]

The Prophet gives the good news of the conquest of the city and the city is conquered after about 800 years O Christians who see Jesus as a god, how will you explain this?

[AbdulRahman-binu]

For us orthodox Christians that’s when the Holy Spirit left and thus we were not protected because our emperor liked the Catholics so we got what we deserved

[fard]

Yeah its real but the documentary left out that:
1. The Turks didn't see it and didn't care.
2. The Romans saw and saw it as a sign that God would grant them victory over the Turks. (ironic)
3. This phenomenon is called St. Elmo's Fire, likely caused by all the friction in the air caused by cannons firing everywhere.

This scene took way too many creative liberties.

[ars]

ALLAH HAS ABANDONED THE INFIDELS !! ✨
~SULTAN MEHMET II

[tonydivito]

Looks like St. Elmo's Fire. I've seen this happen on a flight I've taken near thunderstorms.

[burn_it]

Prophet already predicted about it
Mehmet was send by Allah to conquer it the seeds were planted by Ertugrul Ghazi.

[АмарДарамзагд]

1:11 Look at Mehmed’s face and eyes. He’s like “how do i explain this to my soldiers”. Then shouts “allah has abandoned the infidels” and changed whole mind of scared soldiers, boost up their morales. After soldiers cheered his face like “yeah, that worked”. 😂😂😂 Kudos for actor.

[Carlo-zkcy]

Constantinople was like a time capsule.

It preserved and protected the Greco-Roman civilization for 1, 123 years while the world beyond its walls were changing.

When it was founded in 330 AD, the empire was still a hegemonic power.

When it fell in 1453 AD, what left was a city-state and some small territories.