The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-12-04
MahOmet's Siege OF COnstantinOple in
1853,


THE city was more than eleven miles
in circumference. On the side of the
sea it was defended by simple wall
the other side were covered by regular
Notifications, towers and bastions. The
Turkish army was immense, numbering
probably 100000 or 100000 men; the
Imagination of the Greek historians ex-
tended this number to 300, 900, and even
100000. The regular army was prob
ably under 100000. The Greeks had
lost entirely the use of arms, and de-
pended upon their mercenaries. The
Emperor would not arm more than
$4,000; his chief lieutenant was an Ital-
ian, Giustiniani, who had with him
many Venetians and Genoese. The
legate, Isidore, did his duty bravely as
soldier. The city had 104 guns, and
among the number was one, gigantic for
the time, which could only fire six or
seven times day, and had to be cooled
each time after it had been fired. The
art of siege was still in its infancy. Ma
homet used all the old machines which
were made for approaches and assaults.
He had guns also. Arrows, molten
lead, and boiling oil were used
against the assailants, as
well as the famous Greek
fire, the secret of which was still pre-
served in the Greek Empire. The in
vestment of Constantinople began on the
9Th of April, 1853. The siege went on
methodically, and various assaults were
repulsed by the Greeks. Mahomet was
surprised to find so much resistance. The
Turkish ships succeeded in forcing the
entrance of the Golden Horn, and the
city from that moment began to show
all the terrible symptoms of discomfort
and discord which are noticed in all
sieges of populous capitals. While the
soldiers were on the ramparts the city
was convulSed with theological discus
sions. Even on the eve of the ruin of
their cause, the fanatical Greeks showed
more adherence for the dogmas and
rites of the Latin Church than for the
enemies who were before the gates.
Constantinople was like Jerusalem when
it was besieged by the Romans. The
monks infamed the multitude, but did
not turn their wrath against the real
enemy. 81 would prefer hundred
times" said one, ito see in Constan-
tinople the turban of the Turks rather
than the tiara of the Pope" The crowds
rushed to the shrines where the miracle
working virgins were kept, but did not
rush to the ramparts. All sorts of
prophecies were made; the Greeks be-
came the pitiable victims of what was
called during the last siege of Paris
"obsidional " madness.
Constantinople did not surrender be-
cause it was starved; it was regularly
taken by storm. While the mob accus-
ed the Emperor of treason Mahomet
kept firing his 1870 ton guns against the
walls and making breach. He prom
Used his followers the plumber of a city
which was then, after Rome, the richest
in the world. The last attack was pre-
coded by solemn fasting and by prayers.
1t began on the 29th of May in the mid
die of the day. The resistance of the
Greeks and Italians, who were fighting,
one against twenty, was truly heroic.
Constantine was among his troops, and
showed the greatest bravery. Giustini-
ami was mortally wounded. In the eve-
ming, the Italians, having lost their
chief, took to their ships and abandoned
the unfortunate Emperor. The battle be-
gan again the next day; the Emperor
fought like common soldier, like a
new Samson" The fight was hand
to-hand. Constantine fell in the car
mage, and the confusion was such that
his loss was not noticed at first. His
body was found afterward in mass OF
corpses. The Turks were at last with
in the city. They had been promised
three days ofplunder; they sacked the
magnificent Capital numerically. The
pen of Victor Hugo could hardly describe
the scenes of horror of which Byzantiun
became the theater. Bloodran in torrents
in the streets. An Italian witness says
that 'corpses were floating on the Oar
danelles like spoiled melons on the
| canals of Venice - Some historians