The Muslim Conquest of Constantinople
“If the world was one country, Constantinople would be its capital”. Serving as the ‘crossroads of the world’, Constantinople was the jewel of the mighty Byzantine empire and had, since its birth, been the target of many empires and dynasties. For over 1000 years, 23 armies had besieged the great city, but none succeeded. It was in 1453 when the remnants of the declining Byzantine Empire fell to the armies of Sultan Mehmed II’s burgeoning Ottoman Empire.
Sultan Mehmed II was a man marked out for greatness from his childhood. Born in March 30, 1434, he was under the tutelage of Aqshams al-Dīn. He could speak seven languages, had memorised the Quran, took a keen interest in history as well as being a skilled warrior and tactician. His father Murad II retired from the throne after securing the borders, leaving his 12-year-old son Mehmed II to rule the empire. However, as European powers sought to exploit the young ruler, Mehmed II recalled his father back, who initially refused. Mehmed then wrote to him, saying, “If you are the sultan, come and defend your lands and if I am the sultan, then your sultan is ordering you to come and defend the lands.” His father returned to the throne after defeating the European crusader armies at the Battle of Varna in November 1444.
Mehmed II regained the throne after his father’s death in 1451. He immediately turned his attention westward towards the capital of the crumbling Byzantine Empire – Constantinople. Emissaries were sent to neighbouring kingdoms to negotiate truces whilst the Ottoman War Machine was mobilised. An army of 80,000 men was raised, fortresses were constructed in key locations and cannons were built, including the largest cannon ever built at that time – Basilica. Everything was now ready for Mehmed II’s march to Constantinople and end the many centuries-long war his ancestors had fought. Mehmed II was gambling the future of his entire empire on this endeavour. Anything less than a victory at Constantinople would destroy the Ottoman Empire.
On April 6 1453, Mehmed II arrived at the Theodosian walls of Constantinople. The Byzantines had begun preparing for this by calling on their European neighbours for aid. Among the few who answered was Gistuniani, who led a group of 7,000 mercenaries from Genoa. After taking up their positions, Sultan Mehmed II ordered the assault to begin. For days, the Ottoman cannons bombarded the Theodosian walls but failed to cause significant damage. Gistuniani and his mercenaries repelled every attack on the wall. For weeks, this went on. Sultan Mehmed II exhausted his resources, and now with rumours spreading about a crusader army arriving from Europe, the Sultan was running out of time. His grand vizier even advised him to negotiate a truce with the Byzantines. Mehmed needed to act fast and decisively if he wanted to save his empire and he did just that.
One night, Mehmed II came up with a master plan that would etch his name into the annals of history. He ordered the trees to be cut down in a nearby forest, and the logs to be greased and placed down on the ground. The entire Ottoman navy was then dragged over these logs and dropped into the Golden Horn, a small bay right outside the walls of Constantinople. Historians have praised this remarkable feat, stating, “Muhammad al-Faatih turned the earth into sea, and his ships crossed the top of the mountains instead of the ocean waves. Al-Faatih has exceeded Alexander the great in this act.1” Constantinople was now completely surrounded from all sides. Still, the siege went on as the defenders put up fierce resistance. However, the Byzantines, out of food and out of hope, finally succumbed to the Ottoman army and on May 29, Sultan Mehmed II walked into the city of Constantinople.
Constantinople became the capital of the Ottoman Empire and was rebuilt not only to become an economic powerhouse but also a hub of education. It swiftly rose to become one of the most populated cities in the world, rivalling the glory days of Baghdad under the Abbasid Caliphate. Sultan Mehmed II continued to expand his realm into Central Europe and even into Italy until his death in 1481 It was through his efforts and the relentless efforts of his sons and grandsons that Islam reached the depths of Western Europe. We ask Allah (SWT) to bestow His mercy upon Sultan Mehmed II and his lineage.