Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened/Chapter XIV
CHAPTER XIV.
THE CAPTURE OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
In order to show the effect of this great historical event upon European civilization, and to illustrate the style of Turkish invasions, it is worth while to say something on this subject.
1. The Capture of Constantinople. According to the established usage of the education of the Turkish princes, Sultan Mohamet was placed under the care of fanatic tutors, so that Islam in all its fierceness and bigotry early enslaved his mind, and he grew up a strict observer of its rites and spirit; for he is said never to have conversed with a Christian without afterwards purifying himself by the legal mode of ablution. Having twice been clothed with the regal dignity, and twice suspended in the lifetime of his father, Mohamet finally gained possession of it when twenty years of age. He may be called the most gifted of all the sultans, but he certainly was one of the most detestable. He commenced his reign with the murder of his younger brothers, who were destroyed to make the throne an indisputable possession. From the moment of his accession all his thoughts were directed to give the death-blow to the Greek empire, and to transfer the seat of his government to Constantinople. Adrianople was the Turkish capital by this time.
2. Preliminary Steps Toward the Siege of Constantinople. On the European side of the Bosphorus, about five miles above the city proper, Sultan Mohamet raised a fortress opposite to one on the Asiatic side, which had been erected by one of his predecessors. The Greek Emperor, Constantine Palæologus, heard of the rise of the massive towers in his neighborhood with alarm; and his anxiety increased upon quarrels arising between his subjects and the Turkish workmen. The latter invaded without scruple the surrounding villages and despoiled homes; horses and mules were turned into the tilled fields and the crops destroyed. If resistance was offered, insult was repeated in an aggravated form. Constantine implored the Sultan to observe the courtesies of peace, till, convinced of his hostile intentions, he closed the gates of the capital and prepared himself for the inevitable approach of open war. "My trust," said he, "is in God alone; if it should please him to soften your heart, I shall rejoice in the happy change; if he delivers my city into your hands I shall submit without a murmur. But until the Judge of the whole earth pronounces between us, it is my duty to live and die in defense of my people." In the autumn of that year (1452) Mohamet withdrew to Adrianople, after carefully viewing the grounds about the city and examining its defenses. "Next summer," he said, "I must take up my abode in Constantinople." Both parties during the winter prepared for the approaching struggle.
3. The Siege of the City. Having collected his resources early in the spring of 1453, Mohamet enclosed the city with an army of 120,000 men, desolated the environs and confined the inhabitants within the walls. Engines of war and guns of great magnitude were slowly dragged by oxen from Adrianople. One huge piece of artillery is particularly noticed, which had a caliber of twelve spans in diameter, and could carry a stone ball of 600 pounds over a mile. But the imperfect condition of it was indicated by the circumstance that it could be loaded and fired only seven times in one day. It finally bursted with an awful explosion, killing the gunner and others. Including army and navy, the total force brought against the city was 260,000 strong. On the other side was a garrison of only 8,000 soldiers, who had to defend a circuit of thirteen miles, comprising both sea and land.
In the Turkish army sheikhs and fanatics predicted a triumph and repeated the dream of Osman from tent to tent, and the passages from Koran was quoted as expressly promising this conquest: "Know ye a city encompassed on two sides by water and on the third by land; the last hour shall not come before it be taken by 60,000 of the faithful." The Greeks, few in number but brave in spirit, heroically defended their walls and kept the enemy in check for more than fifty anxious days. So powerful was their resistance that Mohamet at one time despaired of success and thought of raising the siege, but overwhelming numbers proved irresistible in the final assault.
The Sultan prepared for it characteristically on the preceding day by a religious festival, which involved a rigid fast, ablution seven times repeated, the prayer for victory, and a general illumination. As the night approached lamps were hung out before every tent and fires were kindled in various localities. Thousands of lanterns were suspended from the flag-staffs of the batteries and from the masts and yards of the ships, but a deep silence prevailed through the entire camp. The meaning of these demonstrations without the walls was truly interpreted by those within. Emperor and subjects, bishops and priests, monks and nuns, men, women and children, formed processions to the churches, singing supplicatory chants by the way, with the accompaniment of "the holy and venerable images and the divine pictures." Constantine went that night to St. Sophia and received the sacrament.
4. The Fall of the City. Before dawn on the fatal day the signal was given for the attack, and it was obeyed with greatest delight. Column after column advanced in orderly array. For two hours the besieged kept the enemy at bay. Then the Greek commander received a wound which unnerved him, and dispirited by this calamity the defenders' courage failed them, while that of the foe increased. Led by an officer called Hassan, a company of janissaries crossed the ruins in the ditch, gained the breach and mastered the position. Constantine fell in defending it; Hassan, too, was slain; and over the bodies of both the Turks rushed into Constantinople The terrified Greek population hastened into the sanctuary of St. Sophia for protection, and to the last moment many clung to the belief that an angel would be sent from heaven there to vindicate the orthodoxy of the Greek church and destroy the Mohametan who should dare to enter its door. The victor, attended by his pashas and generals, visited the desolate hall of the imperial palace, and arriving at the door of St. Sophia alighted from his horse, passed into the temple, and ordered all the crosses to be thrown down and all the paintings torn from the walls, and got upon his knees and muttered his prayer. A few days afterwards the muezzin proclaimed the public invitation for prayer in the name of Allah and His apostle, Mohamet. Thus the stately edifice of Justinian, which upon its completion drew from him the exclamation, "I have outdone thee, O Solomon," became a Mohametan mosque, and has ever since been preserved with the greatest care and pride.
After a time of perfect license to his ferocious troops, the Sultan undertook the task of repairing the ravages of war, and commemorated his triumph by taking the proud title of "The Lord of Two Continents and Two Seas," and fixed his residence on the site of the imperial palace, and founded that seraglio where his successors have resided, and which has been the scene of so much luxury, violence and crime.
5. "Lord, Save Us from the Devil, the Turk and the Comet." It was the settled purpose of Mohamet II. to extend his empire to the west, and some succeeding sultans also entertained the same idea; and for over a century after the capital of Christendom in the east surrendered, the liberties and institutions of the western nations were seriously threatened. In the year 1456 a comet passed very near the orbit of the earth, and swept the heavens with a tail extending over 60 degrees, in the form of a sword or saber. Men watched it with mingled emotions at Rome, Vienna and Constantinople. The night of the full moon having come, and then by chance an eclipse having taken place at the latter city, some thought that the Christian inhabitants of the west had agreed to march against the Turks, and would gain the victory. The Pope, however, regarded the comet as in league with the Moslems, and ordered the prayer "Ave Maria" to be repeated three times a day instead of twice. He directed the church bells to be tolled at noon, a custom which still prevails in Roman Catholic countries. To the "Ave Maria" the prayer was added, "Lord, save us from the devil, the Turk and the comet." Every first Sunday of the month a solemn procession was appointed, with a special mass, and a sermon upon the subject. The comet at length, after patiently enduring some months of daily excommunication, showed signs of retreat, and Europe breathed more freely when it vanished from the skies.