When the human stars shine

Chapter 4 The Tragedy of Byzantium
ambitious sultan

On February 1451, 2, 5-year-old Muhammad, the eldest son of Sultan Murad II[21], received a report from an emissary: ​​his father had died.The shrewd and decisive crown prince did not discuss with his ministers and counselors at all, so he jumped on the horse he was most satisfied with, whipped the horse, and rode this thoroughbred horse to finish the race in one go. 19 Li, arrived at the Bosphorus from Asia Minor, and immediately crossed the sea by boat to Gallipoli on the European side[120].At this time, he confided the news of his father's death to his cronies.To prevent anyone else from claiming the throne, he dispatched a detachment of troops to Adrianople.In fact, he met no opposition there and was recognized as the supreme ruler of the Ottoman Empire.He immediately carried out his first political action. In order to eliminate all his direct blood competitors in advance, he sent someone to drown his underage brother in the bath, and then immediately killed the one whom he forced to go to the bath. The murderer who did it.Muhammad's unscrupulous courage is simply terrifying, and at the same time, his scheming, cruel and cruel character can also be seen.

Such a young, fanatical, and fame-loving Muhammad began his era, and since then he replaced the rather sedate Murad as the Sultan of the Turks.The Byzantines were terrified when they heard the news.Because hundreds of spies obtained news that this ambitious guy had vowed to occupy this ancient capital of the world. Although he was very young, he was planning day and night on how to realize his life plan; at the same time, all the news was consistent. The claim: In addition to ambition, the new Turkish monarch has outstanding military and diplomatic skills.Muhammad has a dual nature, on the one hand he is pious and passionate, on the other hand he is cruel and insidious; A murderous, vicious man.His beautiful eyes are always filled with a melancholy look, and his nose is pointed like an eagle's claws. From his appearance, you can feel that he is like a tireless worker, and you can also think that he is like a fearless worker. A dead soldier, but more like a clear-headed, unscrupulous diplomat.And now, with all these dangerous forces converging on the same ideal, to go far beyond the exploits established by his grandfather Bayezid I and father Murad II, who had brought the Turkish state to life, And used its powerful military strength to teach Europe a lesson for the first time.But it was well known and felt that his first object was to capture the city of Byzantium, the last jewel left in the crown of Constantine and Justinian.In fact, to a man of such determination, the jewel was within easy reach, and nothing stood in the way.Back then, during the heyday of the Byzantine Empire, the Eastern Roman Empire had a vast territory, spanning three continents in Europe, Asia and Africa, extending from Persia to the Alps, and then extending to the deserts of Asia in the other direction. Across the entire territory, this is a veritable world empire.But now, it takes only three hours to walk around the whole country with ease.The Byzantine Empire, which was so prosperous in the past, now only leaves a pitiful capital without a country——Constantinople, the city of Constantine, the ancient Byzantium, like a head without a body.Moreover, what now belongs to the Eastern Roman Emperor is no longer the Byzantine city of the past, and is only limited to a part of the urban area, while Galatia on the outskirts of the city has fallen into the hands of the Genoese, and all the land outside the city walls has also been occupied by the Turks.Only such a tiny piece of land belonged to the empire of the last emperor.What people now call Byzantium was nothing more than a small space surrounded by churches, palaces, and rows of houses within the huge city walls.

Due to the massive looting and destruction by the Crusaders, the city of Byzantium has already been seriously injured; military disasters and plagues have caused the population in the city to drop sharply year after year, and it is exhausted because of the need to resist the invasion of nomads all year round. Problems, leaving the interior torn apart.Such a situation is faced with an army that has already been fully armed with golden helmets and iron armor and surrounds one's enemies from all directions, and one's own strength alone is completely powerless to resist.It lacks not only men, but also courage.The throne of Constantine XIII[22], the last Byzantine emperor, was in jeopardy.His crown is at the mercy of fate.However, Byzantium, which has been surrounded by Turks, is regarded as a holy place because it has concentrated the ancient common culture of the entire Western world for thousands of years. For Europe, Byzantium is a symbol of honor.Therefore, the last and crumbling bastion of the East needs to be defended by a united Christian world. The Church of Faith in Christ continues to exist.

Constantine XIII immediately recognized the situation and danger.Mehmed II's peaceful rhetoric did not reassure him.He was restless all day long, which is completely understandable.At the same time, he sent envoy after envoy to Italy, to Venice, to Genoa, to the Pope, imploring them to send ships and soldiers to their aid.But Rome hesitated, and Venice hesitated.The old religious differences between the East Church and the West Church still exist today.Greek Orthodoxy is hostile to Roman Catholicism.Greek Orthodox priests are reluctant to recognize the Pope as supreme priest.The danger posed by the Turks prompted the two Churches, at the Synods of Ferrara and Florence, to decide to reunite, as a condition of unification, that is, to guarantee support for Byzantium in its struggle against the Turks.However, when the danger facing Byzantium was not so imminent, some churches of the Greek Church no longer recognized the treaty.Now, Mehmet II has become the sultan, and the critical situation forced the Orthodox Church to compromise. On the one hand, Byzantium sent a message to Rome, expressing its willingness to obey, and at the same time requesting emergency support.So, a sailboat brought the Pope's envoy, and the two churches in the West reconciled, but there was one grand thing, he wanted to complete it smoothly, and announced to the world: Whoever attacks Byzantium will declare war on the entire Christian world.Immediately afterwards, the large ships began to be equipped with soldiers and ammunition.

mass of reconciliation

The magnificence of the Hagia Sophia is something we cannot imagine today from the mosque it was converted into. It is made of marble and glass inlaid with finely carved patterns and those brilliant and eye-catching decorations.It was a day in December, and the Hagia Sophia Cathedral was full of grandeur and grandeur. To celebrate the reconciliation between the two factions, grand activities were being held in the church.The emperor Constantine was present at the celebration, surrounded by all the great dignitaries of his empire.In his capacity as emperor he wanted to witness and guarantee this reconciliation, which proclaimed eternal harmony.The spacious hall was brightly illuminated by countless candles, and the hall was crowded with people.Isdorus, the envoy of the Holy See, and Gregory, the priest of the Greek Orthodox Church, celebrated mass together like brothers in front of the altar.For the first time in this cathedral the name of the Pope is mentioned again, and of course, for the first time, pious hymns are sung simultaneously in Latin and Greek.Songs echoed through the vaults of the eternal cathedral.At the same time Spiridion's host was solemnly carried in by the reconciled priests.It seems that the rift that existed between the Eastern and Western religious beliefs has been united forever.The idea of ​​Europe, what is called the spirit of the West, has at last reconciled after a long period of criminal strife.

Yet moments of sanity and reconciliation have historically been fleeting and evanescent.While the pious communal prayers were growing louder in the church, in one of the cellars outside, the learned friar Genatios vehemently began to accuse those who spoke Latin of treachery. true faith.The fanaticism of blind faith again destroyed the peaceful unity which reason had just brokered, and just as the Greek priest did not want to really submit, so the aid promised by his friends on the other side of the Mediterranean did not want to provide them.Although a few warships and hundreds of soldiers were sent to Byzantium, the city was then left to its fate.

war started
Like all great rulers who are preparing for war, Muhammad tried to spread the word of peace until the preparations were fully in place.At the ceremony of his own coronation, he received the embassy of the Emperor Constantine, comforted them with the most friendly and comforting words, and addressed them with great pomp and ceremony to God and his living mouthpiece, the Patriarch Muhammad, to the angels and The "Koran" publicly swears that he will most faithfully abide by all treaties signed with the Byzantine emperor.But at the same time, this double-faced guy, in order to allow himself to capture Byzantium without interference within three years, he signed a three-year bilateral neutrality agreement with the Hungarians and the Serbs.While Muhammad was making enough promises of peace, he was looking for the right time to start a war.

So far, only the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus belongs to the Turks.As a result, Byzantine ships could still sail unhindered across the strait into the Black Sea to their granaries.Now, Muhammad wants to block this passage.On the European side of the strait, the strait near Rumiri Hissel is the narrowest section. When the ancient Persians ruled the roost, the brave Xerxes[24] chose to cross the strait here.Therefore, he ordered to build a fortress here regardless of the reason.As a result, thousands of construction workers flocked to this side of Europe overnight.According to the provisions of the treaty, construction work was originally not allowed on the European side. However, for the powerful, the treaty is sometimes just a piece of paper.The surrounding crops were looted to meet the living needs of these workers.In order to obtain stones for building the fortress, ordinary houses were demolished by them, even the famous St. Michael's Church was also demolished.This day and night fort building project was led by the Sultan himself, while the Byzantines could only watch as they violated axioms and treaties and cut off this free passage to the Black Sea.The hitherto high seas had lost its name, and the first ships trying to pass had been bombarded in peace.Once the force has begun, there is no need for any pretense. In August 1452, Muhammad summoned all his senior civil and military officials and publicly announced to them: to attack and occupy Byzantium.With this announcement, it was not long before the brutality began.In order to recruit men capable of fighting, heralds were sent to all parts of the Ottoman Empire. On April 8, 1453, a powerful Ottoman army suddenly appeared on the plain outside the Byzantine walls like a rolling tide.

Riding on a fine horse, the sultan in a luxurious and rich uniform is at the forefront of the troops. Before the Lycas pass, he will set up his own tent.However, there was still one ceremony that was not performed. He asked someone to lay a prayer rug on the ground, and he walked up barefoot, knelt down on the ground, and kowtowed three times in the direction of Mecca.Behind him are tens of thousands of subordinates. They bowed in the same direction with him, chanted the same prayer to Allah with the same rhythm, and prayed for Allah to give them strength and victory. This is really a very spectacular scene.Then the sultan rose to his feet, and the humbler was suddenly transformed into a challenger, and the servant of Allah became master and warrior.He asked people to raise the commander's flag in front of his command department, and his "heralds", that is, the messengers of the messengers, hurriedly ran throughout the camp, beating and blowing the bugle to further announce to everyone. : "The battle to capture Byzantium is about to begin."

Walls and Cannons

In Byzantium now, only the city wall remains, which is its only reliable strength.The Byzantium, whose territory once spanned several continents, only stays in people's memory in that great and beautiful era. The legacy it left to Byzantium today is only its city walls, nothing more.The triangular city has three lines of defense at its base; its two hypotenuses along the shores of the Sea of ​​Marma and the Golden Horn, where the relatively low stone walls are always strong ; and the side facing the large open land is the so-called Theodosian wall, which is a huge rampart-like wall.Long before him, Constantine had already sensed the danger of Byzantium's future, so he surrounded the city wall with large square stones. After him, Justinian[25] expanded and strengthened the city wall.And Theodosius II was the one who really built the main fortifications. He built a seven-kilometer-long city wall.These ivy-covered remnants today can still prove the firmness of the stones back then.The city wall is majestic, built with parallel two and three floors, with concave eye openings and crenellations on it, a moat in front, and a solid watchtower built of square stones to guard it. For more than 26 years, emperors of all dynasties have not forgotten to strengthen and rebuild it, so it has become a symbol of tenacity and insurmountability.These solid fortresses of stone, the desperate attacks of the barbarian tribes and the crowd tactics of the Turks were helpless and ruthless mockery, and now all the tools of war invented so far are also the same. suffered its mockery.The battering ram slammed into the wall, and it stood still; neither the Roman battering ram nor the new field gun and mortar could only sigh at the standing wall.The Theodosian Wall is like a legend, and for this reason no European city was better and more fortified than Constantinople.

Now, Mohammad, more than anyone else, understands the power of the wall.For several months, or rather for several years, he has been unable to sleep at night, even in his dreams, he is still thinking about how to destroy this indestructible city wall and conquer this indestructible city wall.Many plans, scales, and sketches of enemy fortifications were stacked on his desk.He knew every hillock, every depression, every stream of water, inside and outside the city walls.Together with his engineers he had considered every detail, but disappointment was inevitable, and the calculations of all of them showed that they would not be able to destroy it with the existing mortars. the walls of Theodosius.

To deal with this impregnable wall, a new kind of heavy artillery had to be invented, and nothing else could be done.In other words, bigger mortars had to be built!A new type of artillery must be created, with a longer barrel, longer range, and greater power than those hitherto used in war!It is also necessary to create a bullet made of harder stones than the stone bullets hitherto, more powerful and destructive!Mohammed said that this new type of offensive weapon should be created at any cost.

At all costs, this belief alone inspires endless creativity and drive.So, shortly after war was declared, a man asked to see the Sultan.The man was Urbas, sometimes called Orbas, a Hungarian who was the most creative and experienced cannon-maker in the world at the time.Although he was a Christian, and had recently served the emperor Constantine, he hoped to obtain higher rewards and more original missions for his virtuosity on the side of Mehmed.So he told Muhammad that if he could be provided with unlimited funds, then he would be able to cast the largest artillery ever hitherto unknown in the world.His hopes were not lost.You know, the Sultan, like any man whose obsession is obsessed with obsession, does not care about the cost of money.He immediately agreed and sent him workmen as much as he asked, and at the same time thousands of wagons were dispatched to carry the ore to Adrianople.More than three months have passed, and the cannon-casting workers have worked hard to finally make a clay mold blank. This clay mold blank is quenched using a secret method. Now, it is only waiting to be cast with fiery red molten iron.This exciting process has also been successfully completed.The cannon has been built.

This is the largest gun barrel ever seen in the world - this huge gun barrel that comes out of the mold and cools down.Immediately afterwards, the first launch test was carried out, but before the test, Muhammad sent his messengers to run all over the city to remind those pregnant women to be careful.Then, with a thunder-like sound, a huge stone bomb spewed out from the lightning-like muzzle, and a city wall was blown to pieces in an instant.Mehmet was ecstatic, and immediately ordered the re-equipment of the entire artillery with this oversized cannon.

It seems that this huge "catapult" has been successfully manufactured, and later Greek writers called it a cannon with lingering fear.However, although the cannon had been successfully built, the more difficult problem was: how to drag this cast-iron monster like a dragon across the whole of Thrace[27] and transport it to the walls of Byzantium?For this reason, an unprecedented course of suffering began.It took the mobilized whole people and the whole army two full months to drag this long-necked, stiff monster.In order to prevent this baby from being attacked, teams of cavalry were first sent to patrol the front.Subsequently, in order to be able to level the rough road at any time, hundreds, maybe thousands of workers, worked day and night to dig and move the earth in order to transport the extremely heavy cannon.After a few months of transportation, these roads will be damaged in a bad way again.A fortified cart was drawn by fifty pairs of bulls in two rows.All the axles of the chariot bear the weight of the metal cannon evenly, just as the obelisks were once transported from Egypt to Rome.In addition, there are two hundred strong workers who are always supporting the cannon barrel, which is swaying due to its own weight, from the left and right sides.Meanwhile, fifty wheelwrights and carpenters worked non-stop to replace and grease the logs, reinforce the brackets, and build the bridges.It is conceivable that such a huge transport team can only cross the mountains and walk across the grassland at the slowest speed like an old cow.The peasants of the village were amazed at the sight of this iron monster, and crossed themselves before it, for it looked like a company of servants and priests transporting a god of war from one country to another.However, it didn't take long for everyone to see it, because several iron-cast monsters from the same mold were dragged past them in the same way.The human will is so powerful that once again the impossible becomes possible.Now, with twenty or thirty of these gigantic objects gaping blackly at Byzantium, a contest had begun between the thousand-year-old walls of the Eastern Roman Emperor and the new cannon of the new Sultan.The heavy artillery team has since been recorded in the annals of war.

hope again
The Byzantine ramparts were slowly, unstoppably, but irresistibly nibbled and gnawed away by the lightning-like flames of this colossal cannon.In the beginning, only six or seven shots were fired per day, but even so, the Sultan could always hear about new developments every day.Every time it hits one place, dust and broken stones will fly, and the stone barrier will collapse, and new gaps will appear one after another.Those who besieged the city blocked these blasted holes at night with wooden fences and linen balls that were more and more improvised.But, after all, this is far from the original undamaged, impenetrable wall behind which you can hide and fight!Now, the 15 troops hiding behind the barrier, when they thought of the moment of the decisive battle, they became anxious.By then, how could this already riddled with holes be able to withstand the decisive impact of Muhammad's [-] troops?Right now, it's a critical moment.It's time for the European world, and the entire Christian world, to remember their promises.In the city, throngs of women and their children knelt and prayed all day before the wooden caskets containing the saint's relics in churches.Soldiers watched day and night from all the watchtowers, eager to see the expected appearance of the Pope and the Venetian reinforcements from the Sea of ​​Marmara, where the Turks' ships cruised.

At 4 o'clock in the morning on April 20, they finally saw a little hope and sent a light signal as the sail appeared in the distance.Three gigantic Genoese ships sailed slowly through the wind and waves, followed by a smaller Byzantine grain ship, squeezed between the three larger ships and relying on their protection.Although it was not a powerful fleet sent by the Christian world, which dreamed day and night, it brought hope after all.The walls by the sea were thronged with the people of Constantinople, ready to welcome the supporters.However, Muhammad was not idle. He left his vermilion tent, stepped on his horse, and rushed to the port where the Turkish fleet was moored, ordering that these ships should be prevented from entering the Golden Horn at any cost. Sail into the port of Byzantium.

As a result, the sound of thousands of oars paddling suddenly sounded on the sea.The Turkish fleet has a total of 150 warships. Although these ships are slightly smaller, they are each equipped with iron claw poles, firearms, and stone shooting machines. go.However, with the help of a strong tailwind, the four large ships were much faster than these armed and screaming Turkish ships, and the four large ships sailed forward without haste , not worried about these attackers at all.They sailed for the safe harbor of the Golden Horn, for the mouth of the sea had been blocked by the famous chain between the Byzantine city and Galatia, and was sufficient to protect them from attack and raid.Now the final destination of the four great ships was in sight, and every face on board could be recognized by those on the walls.Men and women on the walls knelt and thanked God and the saints for this glorious deliverance.The iron chains in the port are being lowered, clanging and preparing to welcome the ships that came to reinforce them.

But at this moment, a terrible thing happened.The wind stopped suddenly.As if attracted by a certain magnet, the four large ships remained motionless, dead in the middle of the sea, only a few arrows away from the safe port.This gave the enemy an opportunity, and they cheered wildly, and all their warships rushed like a pack of hounds at the four paralyzed ships, which stood like four towers in the middle of the sea. middle.The big ship was like a prey, tightly bitten by the sixteen oarboats, and hooked on both sides by these small boats with iron claws.In order to sink the four ships, they hacked hard with axes and knives, and in order to set the ships on fire, more and more people climbed on the anchor chains, and threw torches and burning wood on the sails.The commander of the Turkish fleet decisively ordered his flagship to rush towards the grain ship, trying to damage it from the side.Now the two ships were twisted together like wrestlers.Although at the beginning, thanks to the protection of the helmet, the Genoese sailors were able to resist the climbers from the elevated deck, and they could also repel the attackers with stones, knives and Greek torches.But it was certainly a struggle that would not last, for it was a battle of markedly disparate forces and outnumbered men.The Genoese ship was undoubtedly a failure.

This bloody battle was terrible for the thousands of people on the wall.These people usually watch bloody battles in the ancient Greek chariot arena with incomparable pleasure, but now witnessing this massacre at sea is incomparably painful. The result of the battle is self-evident, and they feel that their side Failure was inevitable, for at most two hours the four ships would have perished to the hounds of the enemy in the arena of the sea.These rescuers came, but it was pure tragedy.The hopeless Greeks on the walls of Constantinople, a stone's throw from their own brethren, could only stand there clenching their fists and screaming in rage instead of going to the rescue own friends.Some of them made encouraging gestures, trying to motivate their friends who were fighting.Still others, with their hands stretched to the sky, prayed to Christ and the Archangel Michael[28], to all the saints of their own sect, and to the monks who had protected Byzantium for many years, and prayed that they might perform miracles.But the same enthusiasm also filled the Turks on the opposite bank of Galatia, full of anticipation and wild shouts, praying for the victory of their side.At this time, the sea has become a huge stage, and sea battles have become fighter performances.The sultan himself was very concerned about the battle, and he had already arrived on a fast horse, surrounded by a group of high-ranking generals, and eagerly urged his horse down into the water on the beach, so that the seawater splashed his coat.He made a simple megaphone with his hands around his mouth, and shouted hoarsely to his soldiers, ordering them to capture these Christian ships at all costs.As soon as he saw one of his three-masted warships being driven back, he kept scolding, and at the same time brandished the scimitar furiously, threatening his admiral: "If you can't win, don't come back alive!" .”

Although the four Christian ships were still at sea, the battle was drawing to a close.The enemy was fifty times as numerous. Such an advantage made the arms of the sailors on the four large ships sore after several hours of fighting. It has started to become sparse.The sun went down and the brilliance faded away.Although the Turks have not captured these four large ships so far, the situation is already very bad for these four large ships.If there had been another hour or so of this defenseless exposure to the enemy, combined with the rush of the current, which was now heading for the Turk-occupied shore behind Galatia, it would have been the end of it all.

However, something unexpected happened at this moment.After the light wind, the bigger and bigger winds followed.This is simply a miracle, and it is a gift from heaven in the eyes of the group of desperate, roaring, and complaining people in the city of Byzantium.The shriveled sails on the four big ships suddenly swelled up again.The wind of longing and prayer, the wind of saving human lives, finally appeared again.The bows of the four warships are like victorious roosters, with their heads held high.The wind blew up the sails suddenly, the ship started suddenly, and the enemy ships besieged around were put behind.They are free, they are saved.Thousands of people on the city wall suddenly cheered like a storm.The first ship has sailed safely into the port, followed by the second, third, and fourth. After they entered, the iron chains blocking the sea were pulled up again, blocking the ships outside.On the sea behind them, the hound-like boats of the Turks had no choice but to return to their station.Over this gloomy and hopeless city, the cheers of hope echoed again, like auspicious clouds.

miracle of miracles
The besieged were ignited with wild gaiety, and they basked in it all night long.They carried themselves away that night, and the sweet ecstasy soup of a dream drove them mad with this ray of hope that appeared before them.During this night, the besieged believe they are delivered and safe.Dreams occupied their hearts, and Europe had not forgotten them, and they dreamed that from now on a new ship would arrive every week, and that it would arrive as smoothly as the soldiers and food on these four ships.In the present anticipation they seemed to see that the siege had been lifted, as if they had demoralized and even vanquished the enemy.

However, Muhammad is also a dreamer, and a dreamer who is better at whimsy. This kind of dreamer will not just stay at the level of fantasy, but know how to turn dreams into reality through their own will.Just as the large ships entered the port of the Golden Horn, falsely sure that they were safe, a daring plan of great fantasies emerged in Muhammad's mind.In the annals of war this plan rivals the most daring actions of Hannibal[29] and Napoleon.Byzantium tempted him like a golden apple, but he could not get it.The main obstacle to the attack was the Golden Horn, a deeply recessed promontory, this cecum-shaped bay guarding the side of Constantinople.It is almost impossible to enter this bay, because the city of Galatia, the stronghold of the Genoese, is on the edge of the entrance.Muhammad had a neutrality agreement with this city, and there was an iron chain between here and the enemy city of Byzantium.Therefore, it is impossible for his fleet to rush into the bay from the front, and it is expected to succeed in attacking the Christian warships from the internal waters at the edge of the Genoese territory.But how could a fleet reach the inner waters of this gulf?Of course, it is also feasible to build a fleet in this bay, but it will take at least a few months. For the impatient Sudan, it is impossible to wait for such a long time anyway.

So, a genius plan appeared in Muhammad's mind: since his fleet can't exert its power in the open sea area, now he wants to let the fleet cross the headland to reach the inner harbor inside the Golden Horn, that is to say, hundreds of ships The warship towed across the mountainous headland.This daring idea is completely unprecedented, it is simply jaw-dropping, how absurd and impossible it seems to be realized, the Byzantines and the Genoese of Galatia never envisioned such a strategic plan, as they had before The Romans and the Austrians after them did not expect the armies of Hannibal and Napoleon to cross the Alps with great speed and strangeness.According to the life experience of ordinary people in the world, it is the nature of the ship to sail in the water. It has never been heard of a fleet to cross a mountain.

However, it is this kind of thinking that breaks through the routine and makes the impossible possible, which is the true sign of the will of the elves. A military genius is often found in such a situation. This kind of genius often does not play cards according to common sense. Be unconventional and adaptable at a given moment.Those so-called rules of war are often the object of their ridicule.This massive operation is unparalleled in the annals.Muhammad personally directed the operation. He had countless logs brought in silently, and craftsmen made sliding boards, and the boats pulled up from the sea were fixed on these sliding boards, just like being fixed in a movable dry dock. same as above.At the same time, thousands of earthworkers also went to work.In order to facilitate transportation, they filled the narrow mountain road passing through the Pella hills as flat as possible from downhill to uphill.However, in order to deceive people and prevent the enemy from suspecting the sudden gathering of so many craftsmen, the Sultan ordered the troops to continue firing mortars to the surrounding areas except the neutral city of Galatia every night. Of course, firing these mortars has no meaning , mainly to divert the enemy's attention, to cover up their own ships crossing mountains and canyons, and to ensure that the fleet enters safely from one water area to another.On the one hand, the people in the city of Byzantium are busy at this time, and they think that the enemy's attack will only come from land.On the other hand, countless logs coated with grease began to roll. These huge logs carried boats nailed to the skateboards. In this way, one after another, they were dragged over the mountain, and countless buffaloes were lined up. The two lines dragged in front, and the sailors helped push behind.Whenever night falls, this strange migration will begin immediately.A whole fleet successfully crossed the mountain in this way.All the wise men in the world are always far-sighted, and all the great feats in the world are always accomplished silently. This is a miracle among miracles.

In all great military operations, the key to success or failure is always surprise and surprise.In this respect, Muhammad's unique genius is especially remarkable.No one could detect his intentions in advance.Once, this genius strategist said of himself: "Even if a hair in my beard knew my thoughts, I would not hesitate to uproot them." While bombarding the Byzantine walls with posturing, his orders were carried out with the utmost care.On the night of April 4, the hills and ravines were left behind by seventy warships, passed through grape-growing hills, fields and woods, and finally "airlifted" from one sea to the other.The next morning, when an enemy fleet with pennants and sailors appeared in the eyes of Byzantine citizens, they were stunned. These ships seemed to be sent by the hand of God. How could this inaccessible bay be There are enemy ships sailing, and they still think they are dreaming.As they rubbed their eyes hard to see whence such a miracle had come, there was shouts and cheers, bugles, cymbals, and drums of war, from beneath the walls of their wall which had hitherto been guarded by the harbor.Now, except for the narrow neutral zone of Galatia, this ingenious stratagem made the whole of the Golden Horn, where the Christian fleet was concealed, belong to the Sultan and his army.From his pontoon bridge he could now attack this weaker side of the Byzantine walls unimpeded.Due to the vast land and few people, this wing was already weak, and now it was threatened, and the already poor line of defense became even more fragile.The victim's throat was closed more and more tightly by an iron fist.

urgent call for help

The besieged have now recognized the truth and no longer deceive themselves.They knew very well that if there were no emergency reinforcements, even if they could temporarily hold the breached wing, 8000 people would not be able to hold out for long if they relied on the riddled city wall to withstand the attack of 15 people.However, the consuls of Venice had promised very solemnly that they would send ships of war.If the Hagia Sophia, the most magnificent church in the West, is in danger of becoming a pagan mosque, can the Pope remain calm and indifferent?Europe has long been trapped in internal strife, torn apart by endless unwarranted suspicions. Now it is time to understand the dangers facing Western culture?The people trapped in the city have always comforted themselves in this way: Maybe Venice has already prepared a reinforcement fleet, but because the danger of the situation has not been fully understood, they are reluctant to sail, and now, the facts have proved that this hesitation Will lead to destruction, and who will bear this huge responsibility?

However, how to notify the Venetian fleet?Turkey's ships are all over the Sea of ​​Marmara. If the entire fleet is dispatched together, it means risking complete destruction, and it will reduce the city defense by hundreds of troops, and the defense of the city is unambiguous.It was therefore resolved to send on the adventure only a very small ship, containing only twelve men in all, to undertake this heroic deed valiantly.If history is just, their names should be remembered like the heroes of the "Argonauts", but none of them has survived.They hoisted an enemy's flag on the brig, in order to hide the eyes and ears from the Turkish raids. These twelve men were all dressed up in the Turkish style, wrapped in Muslim turbans or wearing Fez. cap. On May 30, taking advantage of midnight, the iron chains that blocked the sea were quietly loosened, and under the cover of night, this brave boat rowed out, trying not to make the sound of paddling.You see, it is awe-inspiring that this light little boat managed to cross the Dardanelles and sail into the Aegean without being recognized.As usual, it was this extraordinary bravery that paralyzed the other side.Mahomet had thought of everything except how inconceivable that a small ship with twelve warriors would have dared to make an Argonaut voyage through his fleet!
But in the Aegean Sea, they did not see a single Venetian galleon, and no fleet was ready to set out to rescue Byzantium, how sad and hopeless it is!Byzantium had been forgotten by Venice and the Pope, all too busy with the trivialities of ecclesiastical politics to neglect credibility and oaths.In fact, such tragic moments in history are not uncommon. When it is urgent to unite all the forces that can be united to defend European civilization, the princes and countries still cannot put aside those small disputes. It is better to put Venice aside than to fight against the common enemy for an hour; the same attitude is taken by Venice towards Genoa.The sea was empty, and there was no rescue ship in sight, but in a small boat like a walnut shell sat these twelve brave men, who rowed desperately from one island to the other.However, those ports have already been occupied by the enemy, and there is no friendly ship that dares to sail in this combat area.

What to do now? Several of the 12 have lost their nerve, which is understandable.What was the point of going back to Constantinople and risking that part of the way, they felt, even if they went back they couldn't bring any hope back?Maybe that city has fallen into the hands of the enemy, and if they go back, what awaits them is either captured or killed.However, most people are always full of pride, even though they are just unknown heroes, but they still decide to go back.Now that they have undertaken this mission, they should be determined to complete it.They had been sent out to hear the news, and now they had to take the news home, so depressing as it was.So, this lone boat returned alone through the Dardanelles, the Sea of ​​Marmara and the enemy fleet without hesitation.On the No.20 day after they set off, that is, May 5, on this day, several sentries on the city wall suddenly waved small flags, because they found a small boat paddling quickly towards the Golden Horn Bay. Come.The people of Constantinople thought the little ship was lost, and no one thought it would send news or return.The besieged rejoiced when they saw the ship return.This alarmed the Turks, who were amazed to find that the brig, flying the Turkish flag and daring through their seas with impunity, was an enemy ship.So innumerable boats were brought out and rushed the brig from every direction, trying to catch her before she was about to enter the safe harbor.The return of the small boat instantly caused the hope of salvation to occupy the whole of Byzantium, thinking that Europe had never forgotten this city, and the ships that came last time were only the advance troops.Thousands of people cheered, but the joy was short-lived, and in the evening the real bad news spread quickly.Byzantium had been forgotten by Christendom.Those locked inside are helpless. If they don't want to perish, they have to save themselves.

On the eve of the attack
After nearly six weeks of fighting, day and night, the sultan's patience was worn out.Although the opponent's walls have been destroyed by his cannons, the opponent has tenaciously repelled all the attacks he directed so far.For a commander, there are only two options left: one, give up the siege.The second is to launch a large-scale decisive general offensive after countless small-scale attacks.Muhammad chose the latter, and his fervent will prevailed over all scruples, so he summoned his generals for a council of war. May 5 was set for the start of this massive and decisive general offensive.The Sultan made all the preparations with his usual resoluteness.A religious ceremony was going on under his arrangement. All the troops of 29 people, whether they were the supreme commander or ordinary soldiers, had to complete all the religious rituals stipulated by Islam - performing wudoo[15] and praying three times during the day .In order to strengthen the artillery offensive, the sultan brought all the gunpowder and stone bombs in existence, the whole army was organized into various parts for the general offensive, and everything was creating conditions for the capture of Byzantium.Muhammad worked tirelessly from early morning till late at night, never resting for even an hour.He rode from camp to camp along the entire vast camp from the Golden Horn to the Sea of ​​Marmara, personally cheering up the generals and motivating the soldiers.However, he has always been familiar with other people's psychology and knows how to most effectively arouse the high spirits of these 31 people.He made a frightening promise, which, of course, he later kept, which, like a double-edged sword, brought him both honor and disgrace.His promise was proclaimed everywhere with trumpets and trumpets: "Muhammad not only swears in the name of Allah, in the name of the Patriarch Muhammad and in the name of the four thousand prophets, but also in the soul of his father Murad Sultan , swearing by the heads of his own children and his saber, that he would allow his troops to plunder for three days after the fall of Byzantium. Women, women, and children belong to the soldier who has won the battle, and he—Muhammad himself—will give up all of these things for the honor of conquering the last bastion of the Eastern Roman Empire."

After hearing such a seductive announcement, in an instant, there was a jubilant and resonant cheer like the roar of the wind, and prayers shouting "Allah, Allah" like the roar of the sea. Roll away. "Scramble!" "Scramble!" The word echoed with the drums, cymbals and bugles, and it became a slogan on the battlefield.At night, the barracks is even more of a sea of ​​festive lights.The lights and torches lit here and there on the plains and hills are like countless stars, and the enemy celebrates the victory before he wins with trumpets, flutes, brass drums, and tambourines, and the besieged see all this from their walls, Can't help but shudder.The scene resembled the noise, noise and cruelty of the pagan priests before offering their sacrifices.However, at midnight, according to Muhammad's order, all the lights were suddenly extinguished.The earth-shattering enthusiastic sound came to an abrupt end.More disturbing, however, was the darkness and the sudden silence, which certainly boded ill.To the disturbed besieged, the silence in the dark was more frightening than the uproar and wild cheers in the light.

last mass

Those who were besieged already knew what they were facing, and there was no need for any spies to be sent out to find out the news, nor for anyone who defected from the enemy to bring news.They clearly knew that Muhammad had given the order for a general attack.They had a premonition of great danger in the future and their own great responsibility, and the sky above the whole city seemed to be covered with dark clouds before the storm.The inhabitants, usually divided and mired in religious strife, were finally brought together in these last hours, as is always the case, and the unprecedented scenes of unity do not appear until the most critical moments.In order to inspire everyone to defend the Christian faith, great history, and common culture, the Eastern Roman Emperor held a stirring ceremony.According to his order, all the people in the city, whether Orthodox or Catholic, priests or ordinary believers, young and old, gathered together to hold a huge religious procession.No one was allowed to stay at home, and of course no one wanted to stay at home, and from the richest to the most impoverished, all stood devoutly in solemn procession and sang the prayer "God bless."The procession first passed through the city and then passed the outer walls.At the front of the procession held up Greek Orthodox icons and relics of saints taken from churches.Icons were pasted up in the gaps in the walls, as if they could withstand the heathen attack better than earthly weapons.At the same time, the Emperor Constantine summoned the members of the Senate, dignitaries and commanders, and addressed them for the last time to encourage their courage and fighting spirit.Instead of Muhammad promising them untold spoils, he described to them the honor they would win for all Christians and the whole Western world if they repelled this last decisive assault; At the same time he described to them the dangers they would face if they were defeated by the murderers and arsonists.Both Muhammad and Constantine knew that hundreds of years of history might be determined by this one day.

Immediately afterwards came the final scene--a haunting and passionate scene before the end, and one of the most moving in the history of Europe.Hagia Sophia was the most luxurious Christian cathedral in the world at that time since the two denominations of Christianity established a brotherly relationship, and now these dying people are gathered here.The emperor was surrounded by all the court, the nobles, the priests of the Greek and Roman churches, and the Genoese and Venetian sailors in full armor.Thousands of ordinary people full of fear and worry knelt on the ground quietly and respectfully behind them. It looked like a dark place. They lowered their heads and muttered words in their mouths.Kneeling in prayer like a human body, the candles illuminated them, as if struggling with the darkness formed by the low vaults.These Byzantines are praying to God here.Now the archbishop took the lead in prayer, solemnly raising his voice, and the choir joined him in his chorus.The music rang out again in the hall, the divine sound of the West, the eternal sound.Then, the emperor walked in the front, and everyone walked to the altar one by one to receive the comfort brought by piety. In the spacious hall, on the high vault, there were bursts of prayers.This is the last requiem mass in the Eastern Roman Empire.Because it was the last time a Christian service was held in the main church built by Justinian.

After such an exciting ceremony, the emperor hurried back to the palace, perhaps for the last time.He begged their pardon for all the wrongs he had done to his subjects, and then he mounted his horse and walked along the wall from one end to the other, encouraging the soldiers while his defiant adversary, Muhammad, It is doing so at this time.The night fell, and the clanging of voices and weapons had subsided.But thousands of people in the city are waiting for the day with trepidation, and death is ahead.

The Forgotten Kyle Carmen
At 1 o'clock in the morning, the Sultan gave the signal to attack.As the huge handsome flag fluttered in the wind, everyone shouted "Allah, Allah" in unison. Countless people rushed towards the city wall of Byzantium with weapons, ladders, ropes, and iron claw poles. Ming, the shouts of people, the roar of cannons and the deafening sound of drums, cymbals, and flutes merged into one, like a storm attacking.The Volunteer Death Squadron was sent to the city wall first without mercy.Their half-naked bodies served only as scapegoats in the sultan's attack plan, ensuring that the enemy would be fatigued before the main force made a decisive charge.These driven scapegoats have no way out, they can only numbly run forward with hundreds of ladders in the dark, climbing to the battlements and battlements, even if they are repelled, they rush up again, just like this Rush upwards, they are only used as needless victims of cannon fodder, there is no way out.Behind them stood the elite main force, and these scapegoats were constantly driven to a situation where they were almost certain to die.Of course, for the countless arrows and stones, these human flesh armors that can penetrate immediately cannot resist.So those who temporarily guard the city are still at an advantage, but their own weariness is the real danger they face, and this is what Muhammad calculated.The heavy armor is pressing down on the people on the city wall, and they have to fight against the light troops rushing up without stopping. They fight here for a while, and then jump to another place to fight. Such a passive defense, no matter how strong His exuberant energy will also be exhausted.

And now, two hours into the struggle, it was beginning to get dark.The second echelon launched a charge, which was composed of Anatolians. These Anatolians were all well-disciplined and well-trained warriors, and they wore mesh armor for protection. Therefore, Combat became more and more dangerous.Moreover, they were absolutely superior in numbers, and refreshed by a good rest beforehand, in contrast to the men on the walls who had to be here and there in order to defend the various breaches.However, they continued to push back the attackers.So the Sultan had to send his last elite troops, which was the backbone of the Ottoman Empire, the Turkish Guards.These 1 soldiers were well-selected and strong, and they were regarded as the best military force in Europe at that time. Now, the Sultan personally leads this powerful force, shouting in unison and rushing towards the exhausted enemy.This was the real critical moment, and all the bells in the city were tolling, for the really decisive battle had begun, and those who were at last able to fight were called to the walls, and the sailors were called to the walls from the ships. superior.However, at this critical moment, the arrow stone hit the commander of the Genoese army, the brave Giustiniani. He was seriously wounded and carried to the ship. What an unlucky thing, as soon as he fell, the strength of the guardian was shaken for a moment.

Fortunately, in the face of this very dangerous breakthrough, the emperor had personally rushed to stop it, so the ladder of the charge was successfully pushed down again.In the desperate struggle between the two sides, it seems that Byzantium has won another chance to breathe.With the wildest attacks repelled, it can be said that the most critical moment is over.However, at this moment, the fate of Byzantium was completely changed by a tragic accident. Perhaps the fate of Byzantium was decided by a second of those mysterious seconds, just as sometimes history Same for those few seconds in its inexplicable decision.

A completely unimaginable thing happened.Not far from the real attack, a few Turks rushed in through one of the many breaches in the outer wall.They didn't dare to rush directly towards the inner city wall.But when they wandered aimlessly between the inner and outer walls with curiosity, they found that a gate in the middle of the smaller gates of the inner wall was open.This gate, known as the "Kelcarmen", was an incomprehensible oversight.As far as it is concerned, it is nothing more than a small gate, which is the place for pedestrians to enter and exit during the hours of peace when the other major city gates are closed.Since it had no military significance at all, its existence was apparently forgotten in the general excitement of that last night.The Turkish Guards were surprised to find that the door was leisurely open to them in the solid fortifications.At first, they suspected that this was a military trick, because they felt that such a ridiculous thing was really incredible.Usually, every breach, every little window, every gate is fortified, and in front of them there are piles of corpses, burning oil and spears will fly down the sky, but now, it seems like a Sunday here. The scene of peace, the Kerka door leading to the center of the city, was wide open.

The Turks at once managed to call reinforcements, and a whole force rushed into the inner city without the slightest resistance.Those guarding the outer walls were completely unaware and did not expect the attack to come from the back.To make matters worse, when a few soldiers found the Turks behind their lines, they couldn't help shouting: "The city has been captured!" It can even disintegrate people's will and put people to death.Now the Turks simply followed the cry, shouting and cheering, "The city has been captured!" And all resistance was crushed by this cry.Mistaking themselves to be betrayed, the mercenaries fled from their positions in order to escape back to port in time to their ships.Constantine took several followers to fight the invaders tenaciously, but to no avail, and soon he died.In the noisy crowd, no one recognized him.He was killed.It was only the next day, amidst a mass of corpses, that it was confirmed from a pair of scarlet boots adorned with a golden eagle that this was the last emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, who had honorably accompanied his Empire in the spirit of Rome perish together.It can be described as a sesame accident that a forgotten Kyle Carmen has decided the history of the world in this way.

the cross fell

Sometimes history is playing a numbers game.Because 1000 years ago Rome was memorably sacked by the Vandals, and now a sack of Byzantium has begun.Muhammad has always kept his oath, and the time has come for him to fulfill his promise, what a terrible thing.After the first massacre, he allowed his soldiers to loot houses, palaces, churches, monasteries, men, women, and children. Thousands of looters chased each other in the streets like devils in hell. Do not give in.First of all were the churches, where their gleaming gold vessels and gleaming jewels made their greedy eyes shine.And when they broke into a house, they immediately hung their own flags in front of the house to show that all the trophies here belonged to the owner, and those who came later should not covet them.These trophies include not only precious stones, clothing, gold, and property, but also women, men, and children.Women became commodities in the sultan's palace, men and children in the slave market.The whip drives out the wretches who hide in the church.Elderly people were killed because they were useless freebies and unsellable liabilities.And young people were tied up like livestock and dragged away.Not only was there looting but the most savage and inhuman destruction.This group of crazy victors smashed, tore, and smashed the precious relics and artworks of saints left over from the almost equally brutal looting of the Crusaders, leaving them in a mess.They burned the precious paintings, smashed the most outstanding sculptures, burned or carelessly threw away the books that contained the wisdom of thousands of years, and preserved the immortal wealth of Greek thought and poetry, which condensed human civilization. The fine works of art have since disappeared forever.Mankind will never fully know what devastation an open kelcarmen wrought at that critical moment; what loss was suffered in the spiritual world of man in the sack of Rome, Alexandria, and Byzantium.

It was not until the afternoon of this great victory that Muhammad entered the conquered city.At this point the massacre was over.He rode his own steed with a golden bridle and saddle, with a proud and serious expression.He turned a blind eye to the savage and frenzied scenes of looting, always keeping his promise not to interfere with the terrible deeds that the soldiers who had won him victory were doing now.However, for him, what he was fighting for was no longer the most important thing, because he had already obtained everything, so he went straight to the cathedral, which was once the center of glory of Byzantium, with incomparable arrogance.For more than 50 days, he has been looking up from his tent with yearning to the shining and inaccessible bell-shaped dome of the Hagia Sophia.And now, a victor, he could march straight through the bronze doors of the church.However, Mohammad restrained himself despite his agitation, because before he could dedicate this church to God forever, he had to thank God first.The sultan respectfully dismounted from his horse, kowtowed on the ground, and prayed to Allah.In order to remind himself that he himself was only a mortal man who could not live forever, and therefore could not flaunt his victory, he took a pinch of earth and threw it on his head.After expressing his awe to Allah, the Sultan stood up and walked into the Hagia Sophia built by Justinian, the church of divine wisdom, with his head held high as the first servant of Allah.

Curiosity and excitement filled the heart of the sultan, and he carefully inspected this magnificent building.At dusk, the high dome, the shining marble and mosaics[33], and the delicate curved arches are extraordinarily bright.He felt now that this most excellent palace of prayer was not his own, but his God's.So he immediately ordered someone to call an imam[34], and asked him to go to the pulpit and preach the creed of the founder Muhammad there.At this time, the Turkish monarch made his first prayer to Allah, the ruler of the three worlds, facing Mecca in this Christian church.The next day, he gave the craftsmen the task of throwing away all the signs of Christianity in the past.So they tore down the Christian altars, and the innocent mosaics were plastered.For thousands of years, the cross standing high on the top of the Hagia Sophia has been stretching its arms, embracing all the sufferings of the world, but now it falls to the ground.

The cathedral resounded with the loud sound of falling stones, and the sound was heard far and far away at the same time.The fall of this cross sent tremors throughout the Western world.Resounding fearfully in Rome, in Genoa, in Venice, it rolls toward France, Germany like a forewarned thunderbolt.Europe realizes with horror that, because of its own indifference, this doomed and destructive force has broken in through the tragically forgotten Kelecarmen, a violence which will hold Europe back for centuries.However, history is just like a person's life. It is often an instantaneous mistake that creates eternal hatred, and it is difficult to redeem the loss caused by an hour of delay in a thousand years.

(End of this chapter)