The fall of Constantinople in 1453

On May 29, 1453, Constantinople fell to the Ottoman forces led by Sultan Mehmed II after a 53-day siege that began on April 6. This event marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and the Middle Ages. The Byzantine capital had been in significant decline due to internal conflicts, economic exhaustion, and territorial losses following the 1204 crusade. Despite Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos's efforts to secure Western aid, support remained insufficient. Mehmed II prepared for the assault by constructing the Rumeli Hisar fortress and utilizing advanced artillery. The Ottoman forces, significantly outnumbering the approximately 7,000 defenders, managed to transport ships overland into the Golden Horn to bypass defensive chains. Following a final assault on the Theodosian Walls, the city was captured, and Emperor Constantine XI died in battle.