After reading ezymedievals story of Fall of Constantinople i have decided to make my own version of the Fall of Constantinople. This i made a when i was younger (around 13 i think) im surprised its still here... well here it is:
Fall of Constantinople
By
Hannibal99
Constantine XI looked out of his palace window. He was deeply saddened when he looked at the city of Constantinople. Capitol of the Byzantine Empire it was a glorious city. Well it shouldn’t really be called an empire. Only controlling Thessalonica and Athens, it wasn’t even a kingdom. Yet every Byzantine Emperor including him had hope for Byzantines. He called a meeting at the palace about the new threat: the Ottoman Turks. They had conquered much Byzantine land and had an army of 100,000 troops marching under Murad II the Turkish sultan. News reached Constantine of the army. When he entered the meeting hall he raised his hand and everyone quieted. “Friends, Byzantines, Greeks” Constantine continued. “As you know we are in great peril, the Ottoman Turks have fielded a large army that is ready to take the city. But we can either bow to these Turks like cowards or we can fight back like the brave Byzantines we are! All men who can wield arms meet at the city gate in fifteen minutes!” Constantine turned and walked out the door.He knew the city was lost, but he wasn’t going to give up without a fight.
Murad II looked upon his army and started to laugh. 100,000 men all at his disposal ready to storm the walls of Constantinople and take the city. He even gave the city a new name “Istanbul”. “Men of Turkey” He began “You have been chosen to take the city of Constantinople and rid the world of these Byzantine Greeks. After we take the city you can pillage the land for three days.” The soldiers let out a cheer. Pillaging the lands for three days was part of old military tradition. He mounted his horse and began to march with his army. He had a large smile on his face. He would meet the emperor personally. He also looked at the gleaming cannon he had brought. Cannons were still new to warfare and he would use it to knock down the walls of Constantinople.
Constantine looked grimly at his army. 7,000 men had answered the call of duty. This was nothing compared to the Turks but it was better than nothing. He stood at the walls on his steed and began his speech. “Men of Byzantine, you have done your country good by defending the most important city to us” He continued “Even though the Turks greatly outnumber us we will fight to the last man just like the Spartans did at Thermoplyae.” Most Byzantines knew the story of the Spartans and their king, Leodanius, fought to the last at Thermoplyae in the Greco-Persian Wars. Constantine knew this would give them courage for he knew that the city was lost yet he wouldn’t give it up easily. A messanger came up to him “Oh great Emperor of Byzantine the Turkish sultan Murad II has held a meeting for you”. Constantine galloped toward Murad II and looked at him with anger. “Emperor of Byzantine, I propose a deal for you” Murad continued “If you give up the city without resistance then you will be ruler of Athens and your soldiers will be spared” “I do not wish to rue anything then what I rightfully deserve” Constantine said “I would rather die”. Murad nodded his head and Constantine walked back to the city. “What is Constantinople worth?” Murad asked. “Everything” Constantine replied and with that he turned, his purple cloak flowing in the wind. Murad II ordered his men up the walls and his cannon to fire at the walls. The troops ran toward the walls with ladders and towers. “Archers fire!” Constantine ordered. The sky darkened yet lit as fire arrows filled up the area. Bodies scattered and burned. The siege tower had set fire. The ladders had reached the wall. And then there was the cannon…
It shot huge metal balls at the walls. It took 30 minutes to relode but it was devastating. The top of the walls fell to the Turks so Constantine rallied his troops at the weakened wall. “Pikemen make a cresent formation at the wall!” He ordered. Pikemen had made the cresent as he ordered and the wall fell. Turks started pouring through the gap. The cresent worked! Backed up by missle fire the pikemen had been holding out. A few hours later they started to crumble. “Pikemen hold the wall the rest of you fall back to the town center!” He ordered. All troops fell back with him. The pikemen had been killed and the Turks were running toward Constantine where he would make his last stand…
The Turks took a turn and were met by a hail of arrows. They started to fall but there was too many of them. Constantine looked down with sorrow and then discarded his purple cloak. “Men! Prepare swords!” He said. He and his army drew swords. “Follow me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” He shouted and ran toward the Turks with his army. Noone could see him as he discarded his cloak. Only his purple boots seperated him from the others. He was killed and so was his army. The Turks had won and just like Murad II said, the city was named Istanbul. Constantine XI the last Byzantine Emperor had fallen bravely. He is still remembered for his barvery and even today in Greece on Tuesday, the day Constantinople fell, is an unlucky day.
ok well it may contain errors and if i get some constructive critism i will continue on a historical novel series
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