Part 35
By Harith Ubaidah
What unfolded during this decisive phase was an achievement so extraordinary that, by the standards of its time, it bordered on the miraculous. It revealed not only remarkable technical mastery but also the towering resolve with which Allah Almighty had endowed the Ottomans.
When the Romans discovered that Ottoman ships had been transported under cover of darkness and launched into the Golden Horn by way of land, fear swept through their ranks. Such an outcome had been considered unimaginable. Yet the reality stood before their eyes. What had once seemed impossible now became an undeniable reality, forcing even the most skeptical to accept the brilliance of this audacious plan.
The engineers and laborers of the Ottoman Empire deserve particular recognition for this triumph. With tireless devotion and extraordinary patience, they transformed an ambitious vision into reality. The entire operation was completed in a single night. Until that moment, the inhabitants of Constantinople had not seriously contemplated the prospect of their city’s capture. But on the morning of April 22, as dawn broke, the air resounded with the thunderous cries of the Ottomans, devotional chants, and the earth-shaking proclamation of Allahu Akbar.
The Ottoman fleet swiftly secured control of the maritime routes, eliminating the natural barrier that had long shielded Constantinople from direct assault. A Byzantine historian, reflecting on this unprecedented feat, wrote:
“We had never witnessed such a marvel, nor even heard of its like. Muhammad the Conqueror transformed land into sea, sailing ships over mountains instead of waves. Through this deed, the second Muhammad surpassed even Alexander the Great.”
Within Constantinople, despair began to take root. Rumors multiplied, and ominous predictions circulated among the population. One widely repeated belief held that the city would fall only once ships entered the Golden Horn. The sudden presence of Muslim vessels within those waters dealt a devastating blow to the morale of the defenders. Their confidence faltered, and their resolve was shaken to the core.
As a consequence, large contingents of troops were withdrawn from other defensive sectors and redeployed to guard the Golden Horn, whose walls were known to be comparatively weak. Previously, the sea itself had served as their shield. This redistribution of forces severely weakened the defense of the remaining fortifications, leaving the city increasingly vulnerable.
The Byzantine ruler devised numerous schemes to destroy the Ottoman naval presence in the Golden Horn, yet every attempt ended in failure. Not a single plan achieved its intended result. Meanwhile, the Ottomans maintained relentless pressure, bombarding defensive positions with artillery and repeatedly attempting to scale the walls using ropes and ladders.
Byzantine troops busied themselves constructing counterworks and filling them with explosives. Whenever Muslim forces attempted to tunnel beneath the walls, their efforts were thwarted. In response, the Ottomans tightened the siege even further. With each passing day, hardship, exhaustion, and anxiety intensified within the city. The defenders remained constantly engaged, yet increasingly troubled and uncertain.
Ottoman cannons were positioned at strategic points overlooking both the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. From these vantage points, Byzantine and allied vessels were brought under direct fire. Maritime movement became impossible. Enemy naval forces in the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus, and the surrounding waters were effectively immobilized, stripped of their operational capacity.
Constantine’s Council with His Allies
Facing the mounting crisis, Emperor Constantine convened a council of his advisers and Christian commanders. Many urged him to abandon the city and seek aid from Christian nations and European powers. They argued that reinforcements might arrive, forcing Muhammad the Conqueror to lift the siege.
Constantine firmly rejected this counsel. He declared that he would fight to the death and would not abandon his people. Should defeat be decreed, he vowed to be buried alongside his subjects. He described the defense of Constantinople as a sacred duty, one he was determined to fulfill without hesitation. He expressly forbade any further advice urging him to flee the city.
Nevertheless, an envoy was dispatched to solicit assistance on Constantine’s behalf. The messenger traveled across Europe, yet no power proved willing or able to confront Muhammad the Conqueror. He returned empty-handed. At the same time, Ottoman intelligence networks were actively gathering information from Constantinople and its surrounding regions, ensuring that Ottoman leadership remained fully informed of developments on all fronts.
The Ottoman Psychological Offensive
Sultan Muhammad intensified his assaults on the city’s fortifications, accelerating the pace and severity of the attacks in accordance with his carefully devised plan. Ottoman soldiers persisted in scaling the walls with ropes and ladders, advancing with remarkable courage, discipline, and willingness to sacrifice. The resounding cries of Allahu Akbar shook the hearts of Constantine’s forces, while Ottoman battle chants struck them with the force of lightning.
Cannons were hauled to elevated positions overlooking the harbor, from which Sultan Muhammad ordered a relentless barrage. One cannonball struck a merchant vessel, sending it to the bottom of the sea. The remaining ships, seized by panic, fled the area and sought refuge behind the fortifications of Galata. On land, Ottoman units launched swift and repeated assaults, battering the Christian forces and leaving them reeling.
Day and night, without pause, Sultan Muhammad pressed the offensive across both land and sea. His objective was clear: to deny the enemy even a moment of rest. By exhausting their bodies and fraying their nerves, he aimed to break their will. In such a state, even minor threats would appear insurmountable. This was warfare waged not only with steel and fire, but upon the mind itself.
Within the besieged city, soldiers looked into one another’s faces with growing unease. Despair crept into their conversations, unmistakable and unhidden. The psychological weight of the siege had begun to crush what remained of their resistance.
