Fall of Constantinople

[edyzmedieval]

Please comemorate what happened on the 29th of May 1453.....

God bless the Orthodox Constantinople.....

@ admins: Please do not delete the post as this is of great historical importance to the whole world....

[Byzantine Prince]

Here's a picture of the end of the romano/greek state:


I hope I was there to kill the bastard who left one of the gates open for the Turks to get in.

[King Henry V]

The fall of probably the greatest empire ever lead to many evils. It may be defeated, its armies ground into the dust, but its glory will live for ever.

[edyzmedieval]

King Henry... I greatly respect your words... In my opinion, the Byzantine Empire was the greatest empire and also the most educated that has existed....

Basileos Alexios I Comnen (it's gonna be my signature)

[King Henry V]

The history is a bit sad though. So many set backs for such a beautiful nation.

[edyzmedieval]

I wonder if there are links with pictures of Constantinople(not the map, I have it)...

It's my fav MTW faction,also...

[Byzantine Prince]

I'll post a picture every time I post here, to add to the theme.

I love Κωσταντινουπολη as well. I wish it had survived as it was. It would have been the Capital of the World.

[King Henry V]

God, why did the Truks have to do that?
Ladies and Gentelmen, I give to you the Hippodrome:

http://www.byzantium1200.com/hipodrom.html

[edyzmedieval]

Wow... Thnx for the pics!!!! PLz continue!!!

P.S.: I've posted my Fall of Constantinople story in the Mead Hall

[doc_bean]

The byzantine empire was a faint shadow of its former self by the time the Ottomans attacked.

They relied too much on foreign soldiers, who turned against them over time.
It didn't help that the catholic world just let things happen when they had promised aid.

[The Wizard]

Here's a picture of the end of the romano/greek state:


I hope I was there to kill the bastard who left one of the gates open for the Turks to get in.

Note 1: that is ol' Mehmed watching as his fleet gets its ass owned by the Genoese and Greeks.

Note 2: The Kerkoporta was at the moment of the final assault obstructed by debris left behind by the collapse of one of the great towers defending the Blachernae quarter. The bashi-bazouks found it, and stormed through.

Note 3: Try to say that the siege of Constantinople had any possibility of victory in it for the Byzantines. It didn't. Especially not after Galata was taken by Mehmed. The outcome could not at that time, and cannot now, ever have been disputed. Which is why the Genoese allowed Mehmed to come through Galata without a fight.

And finally, the Byzantines caused their own downfall. When one studies the history of their decline and eventual fall, one sees that at every moment when they needed one thing, they got the opposite.

When they needed longevity, they got premature death (John Kaloianis). When they needed allies, they got enemies. When they needed loyalty, they got dissension. When they needed strength, it got weakness. When it needed unity, it got civil war.

Byzantium was plagued by the bad basileioi at the bad time. And when Andronicus II and John V needed to die quickly, they had the two longest reigns in Byzantine history. Plus the fact that the Byzantines never ceased what seemed to be a Roman tradition: civil war. Even when it was clear as day that the Byzantine empire was in a deep crisis and needed unity and strong leadership to survive at all, as with John VI Cantacuzenus, the Byzantine aristrocrats never stopped their foul plotting and intriguing against him, and amongst each other. The Byzantine crown jewels were pawned for a loan of 30,000 ducats by Empress Anne to finance her struggle against John. A loan! And it didn't even arrive!

No, the Byzantines had nobody but themselves to thank for their downfall. While around them their enemies never diminished in number and vigor, the Byzantines blissfully ignored them and kept plotting and intriguing amongst each other, as if they were still the greatest empire in Europe. Take one look at the rule of Andronicus II, and you will understand. One almost wants to quit reading of the Byzantines to learn of the vigorous young empire of the Ottomans, if only to escape the senseless infighting over power that meant nothing.

The reception of Manuel II gives a little respite, and it is not until one reads of the honor and nobility displayed by the defenders of Constantinople (except the cowardly Genoese, who sailed off a day after pledging their aid to the defence), chief amongst them Constantine Dragases, that one regains the interest to read to the very end. And after that, one is left to lament all the choices of stupidity that led to the downfall of a people capable of such nobility of spirit, yet also such deplorable decadence and intrigue.



~Wiz

[Kagemusha]

I salute to late Empire of bysantium and its glorius capital Konstantinopol.
That day so many ears a go,one of the greatest lights of civilized world turned of,like a candle in the wind.
Though i think it was an honourable end for a once mighty Empire.Fighting to the end against wast hordes of Turks.Last Caesar himself dying sword in his hand.
Ave!

[edyzmedieval]

I know the Byzantine history but also thank you for extra info...

I need rapidly to find link for a complete history of the Byzantine Empire...

Can anyone help???

[ShadesPanther]

There are books about the complete history of Byzantium.


Check the sticky at the top of the Monastery for links about The Eastern Roman Empire.

[King Henry V]

Yeah that would be realy useful, especially for my story, the Gold of Byzantium, set in the somewhat happier days of the 1150s, when one of the greatest of the Kmnenoi dynasty, Manuel, ruled. A great source for Eastern Roman history are the Medieval History Magazines, although I don't know if they are publishing them anymore. Its editor, Dr Timothy Dawson, is a great expert on the subject

[edyzmedieval]

WOW!!!!! Medieval History Magazine!!!!!! Man, where can I find this??????!!!!!!!

Incredible!!!!!!!!!

[ShadesPanther]

http://www.deremilitari.org/news/med...rymagazine.htm



although

http://www.harnois.co.uk/magazine_issue_n1.php

[tibilicus]

Yep my monthly visit to the Monastry is here. I am still young so i dont know as much as you guys but anyway. I read that didnt the Turks in there seige build castles to stop boats geting through like a dam? So that the west could not provide resourses e.c.t? Any way it was brave how they fought to the end 7000 Byzantines vs 80000 Turks. the Byzantine empire truley was one that was great. i think they should teach us more about this great empire by describing it as the continuation of the Roman. I salute those late dead soles who fought to the last to defend there glourious kingdom.

[Kagemusha]

There is a Great novel by Mika Waltari called Mikael Angelikos its fiction but it tells a very beutifull but sad story about those last few weeks and the fall of Konstantinopol.

[The_Doctor]

I can't the stand the Byzantine Empire. There is something about it that makes me hate it.

All I can think off is Greek churches. They look terrible. They look sort of classical, but with a tiny dome. And there is too much gold, like catholic churches, they are bling bling churches.

I am the anti-bling.



I have been Istanbul, which I think it Greek for "In the city" or somthing like that. It is an interesting place.

[Afsin]

Please comemorate what happened on the 29th of May 1453.....

Well looking at these pictures I'd say the 29th of May isn't a day people are likely to forget:

[ShadesPanther]

I am the anti-bling.

Location: Merseyside

I have been Istanbul, which I think it Greek for "In the city" or somthing like that. It is an interesting place.

Constantinople means Constantines city (It was refered to as "Polis" The city)



Istanbul Is the Turkish name for it, It means the city and was renamed from constantinople in 1923

[The_Doctor]

Constantinople means Constantines city (It was refered to as "Polis" The city)

I know that.

Istanbul Is the Turkish name for it, It means the city and was renamed from constantinople in 1923

The tour guide said it was Greek. So did Terry Jones on a program about the crusades.

[Byzantine Prince]

Istambul = is tin Polin (to the City)

Constantinople was often referred to as the City. That's one explanation anyways.

[The_Doctor]

So it is Greek?

[King Henry V]

I think it's Turkish, since the various Turkish invaders would ask the locals in Anatolia "where does this road lead to?", and they would reply "Is tin polin".

[Byzantine Prince]

Εις την Πολην is greek, not Turkish.

[LeftEyeNine]

For those friends still missing Constantinople,

Istanbul is well and healthy, we are looking after it carefully.. Do not hesitate visiting.. That culture melting-pot city has no equivalent in the whole world.

After all, all empires die somehow. So did the Byzantium. I personally am proud of the Ottoman Empire but not missing it in sorrow..

Byzantian Prince, The picture seems pretty beautiful. Can you drop us a link if there is a wider version is online ?

King Henry V, no evil ever happened after the fall of Istanbul.

God, why did the Truks have to do that?

You can guess the historical reasons behind the conquest of such a strategic city. But there is another reason that the conquest of Istanbul was important :

Hz. Muhammed - the Islamic prophet, had promised his praise upon the one to conquer Istanbul. Ottoman Empire was always a religious empire, since its founder Osman Beg, so such an attempt was unavoidable.

[The Wizard]

Istanbul Is the Turkish name for it, It means the city and was renamed from constantinople in 1923

Istanbul is usually agreed to come from eis ten Polèn which is Greek for 'to the City'. The Byzantines casually called Constantinople hè Polis, the City. The phrase eis ten Polèn was on the roadsigns pointing in the direction of Constantinople. It was apparently dumbed down to Stamboul, from which Istanbul is easily derived.

And there is indeed nothing wrong with Istanbul. Wonderful city! I'm probably going to end up living there.



~Wiz

[LeftEyeNine]

Same here, The Wizard. I wish we could be homemates so that we could give long hours of LAN party with TW series :P