The Ottoman Conquest of Constantinople 1453 from Christianity to an Islamic City

 

On May 29, 1453, the Ottoman Army, led by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, seized Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. The Ottomans established an empire and one of the most powerful empires as a result of this conquest, and the Eastern Roman Empire fell and the Constantinople city became an Islamic city (in Turkish-Istanbul). Following the capture of Constantinople, 21 years old Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, added the title "The Conqueror" to his name.

The Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453 was a watershed moment in world history. Due to its enormous influence, particularly on the trajectory of world history, it has been considered as the start of a new era, and has served as an example to monarchs in following centuries.

Following the death of Sultan Murad, Europe breathed a sigh of relief and joyful anticipation. They believed the new and 19-year-old sultan would not pose a danger to the Christian powers. Murad left a magnificent legacy to his successor, whose primary goal was to conquer Constantinople. As a result, Mehmed II, a 21-year-old Sultan, approached Constantinople on April 6, 1453, intending to conquer the city.

The Preparations of Conquest and the Construction of Rumelia Castle

Sultan II Mehmed began preparing a siege for Istanbul at a young age. He aspired to be the commander since Prophet Hz Muhammed predicted that Constantinople would be conquered one day: "One day, Constantinople will be conquered." What a marvel and blessing the commander of its conquest and his troops are!" a long time ago First, he used strategic techniques both inside and outside the state to take precautions. Following that, he went on to conquer Constantinople.

The Sultan began the construction of the Rumeli Hisari castle on the European banks of the Bosphorus as the first step toward the siege. On August 31, 1452, the work was completed. On the Anatolian side of the Bosphorus, there was already a fortification known as Anadolu Hisar. It was constructed in 1394 as part of Sultan Bayezid I's efforts for the siege of Constantinople.

On March 5, 1453, cannons were arrived at Constantinople. The road leading to Constantinople was levelled, and the bridges were strengthened, so 200 men were dispatched. 60 oxen pulled the gun, while 200 men marched alongside it. Throughout the month of March 1453, detachments of the Sultan's vast army marched across Thrace on their way to the Bosphorus. On March 23, Sultan Mehmed II left the capital (Adrianople). On the 5th of April, he arrived with the army's final detachments outside the city's walls.

The siege of Constantinople begun

On April 9th, 1453, Baltaoglu Suleyman Bey staged the first attack into the Golden Horn gulf, but failed to break the chains erected at the mouth of the horn. This chain, which was suspended from wooden logs, was powerful enough to keep any Ottoman ship out of Golden Horn. The Ottoman army's morale was lowered by the success of the Pope's Christian and Genoese ships.

On 29 May 1453, the Ottoman army launched a final assault on the capital city of eastern Roman Empire. The siege lasted from Friday, April 6th, 1453, until Tuesday, May 29th, 1453, when Sultan II. Mehmed led the Ottomans to victory. With the capture of Constantinople, a new age began in the world, and a new balance was restored.

The Ottoman commander Mehmet Fatih was cited in the books of the most important Islamic contemporary thinkers and historians who lived during the capture of Constantinople, such as Al-Suyuti, Al-Sakhawi, and Ibn Al-Imad.

Aftermath

Constantinople was recognized as the new Ottoman capital, the great Golden Gate of the Theodosian Walls was added to Mehmed's royal treasury, and the Christian community was allowed to flourish under the guidance of Bishop Gennadeios II. Meanwhile, Mehmed, now known as "the Conqueror," settled in for a long reign and another 28 years as Sultan, despite the fact that he was just 21 years old at the time. Regardless of the fact that Byzantine civilization would persist, particularly in the arts and architecture, the fall of Constantinople was a watershed moment in world history, marking the end of the old Roman Empire and the final surviving link between the mediaeval and ancient cultures. As the renowned historian J. J. Norwich states,

"That is why five and a half centuries later, throughout the Greek world, Tuesday is still believed to be the unluckiest day of the week; why the Turkish flag still depicts not a crescent but a waning moon, reminding us that the moon was in its last quarter when Constantinople finally fell. (383)."

Reference

Ahmed, Mumin, "Hagia Sophia: A Study of its Historical Perspectives, Architectural Structure and Geographical Importance", VFAST Transactions on Islamic Research, Vol 09, No 01 Jan-March 2021 pp. 05-09.