#Siege of Trebizond

[dreamconsumer]

Emperor David of Trebizond (1408-1463) and some of his sons (including Basil and Manuel).

David's surrender on 15 August 1461 marks the end of the Empire of Trebizond and of the Byzantine imperial tradition.

[coffeewithcutcaffeine]

Mother, in my hand is the sword of Islam, without this hardship I should not deserve the name of ghazi, and today and tomorrow I should have to cover my face in shame before Allah. — Sultan Mehmed's words addressed to Sara Khatun during the Siege of Trebizond, summer 1461

MEHMED THE CONQUEROR (30 March 1432 – 3 May 1481)

[astropote]

Constantinople, the queen of cities, fell to the the Ottoman Turks exactly 571 years ago. It had been founded by Constantine the Great in 330 AD as a new Roman capital and was the most populated city in Christendom during most of the Middle Ages. Its Greek-speaking inhabitants continued to see themsleves as Romans and preserved many works from the Ancient past.

The Turks settled Asia Minor in the eleventh century and crossed into Europe in the fourteenth century while the Romans were weakened by the Black Death and civil wars. In the following decades, the Serbian and Bulgarian Empires were also defeated by the Ottoman sultanate, which was by then the most powerful Turkish state.

When Mehmed the 2nd became sultan in 1451, he set out to finally conquer Constantinople. He built a castle on the shores of the Bosphorus to cut off the city's supplies and made enormous cannons to break through the heavy walls that had protected the city for a thousand years. It is estimated that the Ottoman army was ten times larger than the Roman army, which included Venetians, Genoese, Catalans and Turkish dissidents.

In spite of overwhelming odds, the Romans repelled several assaults and destroyed tunnels with Greek fire, a powerful weapon developped during the Arab conquests. The sultan offered to lift the siege and to let the emperor Constantine the 11th leave with his possessions if he would surrender the city but the emperor refused, unwilling to forsake his fatherland. Both sides then prepared for the final offensive with religious cermonies and speeches.

On the 29th of May 1453, waves of Ottoman troops assaulted the city. At first, they were pushed back, but the Janissaries (an elite unit of slave-soldiers) managed to severly injure Giovanni Giustiniani, a Genoese commander. His absence led to panic among the defenders, which allowed the Turks to make their way into the city. Constantine died during the street fighting that ensued but would long be remembered as the last emperor of the Romans, despite Mehmed later claiming the title.

The Turks looted the city for three days, enslaving a large part of its population. In the following years, the Ottomans moved their capital to Constantinople and annexed the Roman rump states of Morea and Trebizond. In the next century, Russians developped the idea that Moscow was the "Third Rome" while the Ottoman Empire conquered land stretching from Hungary to Algeria. Greek speakers gradually started to refer to themselves as Hellenes rather than Romans.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 8.15 (before 1800)

636 – Arab–Byzantine wars: The Battle of Yarmouk between the Byzantine Empire and the Rashidun Caliphate begins. 717 – Arab–Byzantine wars: Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik begins the Second Arab Siege of Constantinople, which will last for nearly a year. 718 – Arab–Byzantine wars: Raising of the Second Arab Siege of Constantinople. 747 – Carloman, mayor of the palace of Austrasia, renounces his position as majordomo and retires to a monastery near Rome. His brother, Pepin the Short, becomes the sole ruler (de facto) of the Frankish Kingdom. 778 – The Battle of Roncevaux Pass takes place between the army of Charlemagne and a Basque army. 805 – Noble Erchana of Dahauua grants the Bavarian town of Dachau to the Diocese of Freising 927 – The Saracens conquer and destroy Taranto. 982 – Holy Roman Emperor Otto II is defeated by the Saracens in the Battle of Capo Colonna, in Calabria. 1018 – Byzantine general Eustathios Daphnomeles blinds and captures Ibatzes of Bulgaria by a ruse, thereby ending Bulgarian resistance against Emperor Basil II's conquest of Bulgaria. 1038 – King Stephen I, the first king of Hungary, dies; his nephew, Peter Orseolo, succeeds him. 1057 – King Macbeth is killed at the Battle of Lumphanan by the forces of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada. 1070 – The Pavian-born Benedictine Lanfranc is appointed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury in England. 1096 – Starting date of the First Crusade as set by Pope Urban II. 1185 – The cave city of Vardzia is consecrated by Queen Tamar of Georgia. 1224 – The Livonian Brothers of the Sword, a Catholic military order, occupy Tarbatu (today Tartu) as part of the Livonian Crusade. 1237 – Spanish Reconquista: The Battle of the Puig between the Moorish forces of Taifa of Valencia against the Kingdom of Aragon culminates in an Aragonese victory. 1248 – The foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral, built to house the relics of the Three Wise Men, is laid. (Construction is eventually completed in 1880.) 1261 – Michael VIII Palaiologos is crowned as the first Byzantine emperor in fifty-seven years. 1281 – Mongol invasion of Japan: The Mongolian fleet of Kublai Khan is destroyed by a "divine wind" for the second time in the Battle of Kōan. 1310 – The city of Rhodes surrenders to the forces of the Knights of St. John, completing their conquest of Rhodes. The knights establish their headquarters on the island and rename themselves the Knights of Rhodes. 1430 – Francesco Sforza, lord of Milan, conquers Lucca. 1461 – The Empire of Trebizond surrenders to the forces of Sultan Mehmed II. This is regarded by some historians as the real end of the Byzantine Empire. Emperor David is exiled and later murdered. 1483 – Pope Sixtus IV consecrates the Sistine Chapel. 1511 – Afonso de Albuquerque of Portugal conquers Malacca, the capital of the Malacca Sultanate. 1517 – Seven Portuguese armed vessels led by Fernão Pires de Andrade meet Chinese officials at the Pearl River estuary. 1519 – Panama City, Panama is founded. 1534 – Ignatius of Loyola and six classmates take initial vows, leading to the creation of the Society of Jesus in September 1540. 1537 – Asunción, Paraguay is founded. 1540 – Arequipa, Peru is founded. 1549 – Jesuit priest Francis Xavier comes ashore at Kagoshima (Traditional Japanese date: 22 July 1549). 1592 – Imjin War: At the Battle of Hansan Island, the Korean Navy, led by Yi Sun-sin, Yi Eok-gi, and Won Gyun, decisively defeats the Japanese Navy, led by Wakisaka Yasuharu. 1599 – Nine Years' War: Battle of Curlew Pass: Irish forces led by Hugh Roe O'Donnell successfully ambush English forces, led by Sir Conyers Clifford, sent to relieve Collooney Castle. 1695 – French forces end the bombardment of Brussels. 1760 – Seven Years' War: Battle of Liegnitz: Frederick the Great's victory over the Austrians under Ernst Gideon von Laudon.

[richo1915]

The activities of the Venetian residents in Constantinople could be watched and to some extent controlled. The Genoese colony of Galata across the Golden Horn was an autonomous enclave beyond the control of the emperor and his officials, setting its own tariffs and collecting its own dues. In 1348 it was estimated that the annual revenue of Galata was nearly seven times that of Constantinople.

When, as a matter of form, the Genoese asked permission to enlarge and refortify their settlement the emperor refused. They took no notice and did as they wished.

The Venetians were jealous. They had never acquired the kind of independent status which the Genoese enjoyed at Galata. Before they could take any action, however, a catastrophe of global dimensions struck the just and the unjust alike.

In 1346 Bubonic Plague, known as the Black Death, swept the world from east to west. This too had its origins in the Crimea.

Tradition links it with the Tatar siege of Caffa in 1346. From there the plague was carried by the rats on Italian ships. It reached Constantinople and then Trebizond in the summer of 1347. By the end of the year it had reached Marseille; and by March 1348 it had spread to Venice.

Demographically the Black Death was one of the greatest disasters in human history. Statistics are hard to come by. The fullest and most literary account of its effects in Constantinople and the Byzantine world is that given by the Emperor John Cantacuzene in the memoirs that he wrote later in his long life. His youngest son was a victim. But he gives no figures, no roll-call of the dead; and his description of the symptoms and the suffering is derived sometimes word for word from the celebrated account written by Thucydides of the plague at Athens in the time of Pericles.

His contemporary Gregoras rightly records that the infection was brought to Constantinople from the Scythian or Tatar country of Lake Maiotis or the Sea of Azov.

The Black Death left its survivors, in the east and in the west, in a state of shock, of nervous apprehension that it would return, as it did, though in less virulent form, on several occasions in the next hundred years.

In Constantinople and the few remaining provinces of the Byzantine Empire it came at the end of a civil war which had already made normal life impossible. The treasury was empty; the fields and vineyards in Thrace had been devastated in the fighting, not least by the Turkish troops that both sides had engaged to fight their battles. The capital city was falling into ruins and the money could not be found for its upkeep.

[stylelifeso]

Porphyrogenitus for his son Romanus

It was, however, probably built by Constantine Porphyrogenitus for his son Romanus, on the site of an earlier palace built by Constantine the Great, as a conveniently situated residence when reviewing the troops. The Jucundiana, Justinian’s favourite residence, was at Galata, and not at the Hebdomon as is erroneously supposed. Tekfur Sara’i is worthy of special notice as being one of the few remaining specimens of Byzantine architecture, a style which appears to have been further developed in the palaces at Venice. The building, commanding a fine view of the Golden Horn, is a three-storeyed one, with triple windows and marble sills. The immediate vicinity is now the Jewish quarter. Admission to the interior of the palace is free; the entrance is through the glass factory near the walls.

Eghri Kapil (Crooked Gate) is the sixth gate, and is the ancient Harsia, also called Porta Caligaria, from the number of military bootmakers’ shops once in the vicinity. It is the gate so bravely defended by the gallant German, Johann Grant, and by Theodore of Carystos, during the last siege by the Turks, and is also the place from which Constantine Palaeologus made his last reconnaissance on the eve of the taking of the city.

The seventh gate has disappeared long ago, and not a vestige of it now remains.

In the Hebdomon district was the site of the Blackemce Palace, which probably stood on the very spot where Awas Kffendi’s Mosque now stands. This palace was first built by Anastasius Dicorus, in 499 A.D., before the erection of the Theodosian Walls, and was originally an imperial pavilion for the use of the emperor when proceeding to Blachernse Church; but was subsequently enlarged, and in the ninth century was considerably extended by the addition of new wings, and decorated and embellished with such magnificence as to evoke the astonishment and admiration of Peter the Hermit and his Crusaders in 1096.

Alexius Comnenus

At Blachernae took place the meeting of Godfrey de Bouillon with Alexius Comnenus (see p. 12). Here also the arrangements were made with Isaac Angelus for the fourth Crusade. During the fifty-eight years of the Latin occupation the palace suffered considerable damage; but in 1261 it was restored by Michael Palaeologus (see p. 15), and was the favourite residence of the Greek emperors. It con-tinued to be the favourite residence of the Palaeologi down to the time of the taking of the city by the Turks.

The closed gateway seen half-way between the second and third towers, beyond the foot of the hill, is the Gyrolimne, once the main entrance of the Blachernae Palace. The inscription on the fourth tower sets forth that it is the tower of Isaac Angelus, built in 1188. The next tower, known as the Tower of Anemas, was a state prison attached to Blachernae Palace, and was built by Alexius Comnenus. Its name is derived from its first inmate, Anemas, imprisoned for conspiracy against that emperor in 1107. Amongst others confined in it, at different times, were the Emperor Andronicus Comnenus; John Palaeologus and his two sons; Gregory, Duke of Trebizonde; and the patriarch Yeccus.

[hutupistravel]

Porphyrogenitus for his son Romanus

It was, however, probably built by Constantine Porphyrogenitus for his son Romanus, on the site of an earlier palace built by Constantine the Great, as a conveniently situated residence when reviewing the troops. The Jucundiana, Justinian’s favourite residence, was at Galata, and not at the Hebdomon as is erroneously supposed. Tekfur Sara’i is worthy of special notice as being one of the few remaining specimens of Byzantine architecture, a style which appears to have been further developed in the palaces at Venice. The building, commanding a fine view of the Golden Horn, is a three-storeyed one, with triple windows and marble sills. The immediate vicinity is now the Jewish quarter. Admission to the interior of the palace is free; the entrance is through the glass factory near the walls.

Eghri Kapil (Crooked Gate) is the sixth gate, and is the ancient Harsia, also called Porta Caligaria, from the number of military bootmakers’ shops once in the vicinity. It is the gate so bravely defended by the gallant German, Johann Grant, and by Theodore of Carystos, during the last siege by the Turks, and is also the place from which Constantine Palaeologus made his last reconnaissance on the eve of the taking of the city.

The seventh gate has disappeared long ago, and not a vestige of it now remains.

In the Hebdomon district was the site of the Blackemce Palace, which probably stood on the very spot where Awas Kffendi’s Mosque now stands. This palace was first built by Anastasius Dicorus, in 499 A.D., before the erection of the Theodosian Walls, and was originally an imperial pavilion for the use of the emperor when proceeding to Blachernse Church; but was subsequently enlarged, and in the ninth century was considerably extended by the addition of new wings, and decorated and embellished with such magnificence as to evoke the astonishment and admiration of Peter the Hermit and his Crusaders in 1096.

Alexius Comnenus

At Blachernae took place the meeting of Godfrey de Bouillon with Alexius Comnenus (see p. 12). Here also the arrangements were made with Isaac Angelus for the fourth Crusade. During the fifty-eight years of the Latin occupation the palace suffered considerable damage; but in 1261 it was restored by Michael Palaeologus (see p. 15), and was the favourite residence of the Greek emperors. It con-tinued to be the favourite residence of the Palaeologi down to the time of the taking of the city by the Turks.

The closed gateway seen half-way between the second and third towers, beyond the foot of the hill, is the Gyrolimne, once the main entrance of the Blachernae Palace. The inscription on the fourth tower sets forth that it is the tower of Isaac Angelus, built in 1188. The next tower, known as the Tower of Anemas, was a state prison attached to Blachernae Palace, and was built by Alexius Comnenus. Its name is derived from its first inmate, Anemas, imprisoned for conspiracy against that emperor in 1107. Amongst others confined in it, at different times, were the Emperor Andronicus Comnenus; John Palaeologus and his two sons; Gregory, Duke of Trebizonde; and the patriarch Yeccus.

[adventurebulgaria]

New Post has been published on Vasilka

Porphyrogenitus for his son Romanus

It was, however, probably built by Constantine Porphyrogenitus for his son Romanus, on the site of an earlier palace built by Constantine the Great, as a conveniently situated residence when reviewing the troops. The Jucundiana, Justinian’s favourite residence, was at Galata, and not at the Hebdomon as is erroneously supposed. Tekfur Sara’i is worthy of special notice as being one of the few remaining specimens of Byzantine architecture, a style which appears to have been further developed in the palaces at Venice. The building, commanding a fine view of the Golden Horn, is a three-storeyed one, with triple windows and marble sills. The immediate vicinity is now the Jewish quarter. Admission to the interior of the palace is free; the entrance is through the glass factory near the walls.

Eghri Kapil (Crooked Gate) is the sixth gate, and is the ancient Harsia, also called Porta Caligaria, from the number of military bootmakers’ shops once in the vicinity. It is the gate so bravely defended by the gallant German, Johann Grant, and by Theodore of Carystos, during the last siege by the Turks, and is also the place from which Constantine Palaeologus made his last reconnaissance on the eve of the taking of the city.

The seventh gate has disappeared long ago, and not a vestige of it now remains.

In the Hebdomon district was the site of the Blackemce Palace, which probably stood on the very spot where Awas Kffendi’s Mosque now stands. This palace was first built by Anastasius Dicorus, in 499 A.D., before the erection of the Theodosian Walls, and was originally an imperial pavilion for the use of the emperor when proceeding to Blachernse Church; but was subsequently enlarged, and in the ninth century was considerably extended by the addition of new wings, and decorated and embellished with such magnificence as to evoke the astonishment and admiration of Peter the Hermit and his Crusaders in 1096.

Alexius Comnenus

At Blachernae took place the meeting of Godfrey de Bouillon with Alexius Comnenus (see p. 12). Here also the arrangements were made with Isaac Angelus for the fourth Crusade. During the fifty-eight years of the Latin occupation the palace suffered considerable damage; but in 1261 it was restored by Michael Palaeologus (see p. 15), and was the favourite residence of the Greek emperors. It con-tinued to be the favourite residence of the Palaeologi down to the time of the taking of the city by the Turks.

The closed gateway seen half-way between the second and third towers, beyond the foot of the hill, is the Gyrolimne, once the main entrance of the Blachernae Palace. The inscription on the fourth tower sets forth that it is the tower of Isaac Angelus, built in 1188. The next tower, known as the Tower of Anemas, was a state prison attached to Blachernae Palace, and was built by Alexius Comnenus. Its name is derived from its first inmate, Anemas, imprisoned for conspiracy against that emperor in 1107. Amongst others confined in it, at different times, were the Emperor Andronicus Comnenus; John Palaeologus and his two sons; Gregory, Duke of Trebizonde; and the patriarch Yeccus.

[bgfest]

Porphyrogenitus for his son Romanus

It was, however, probably built by Constantine Porphyrogenitus for his son Romanus, on the site of an earlier palace built by Constantine the Great, as a conveniently situated residence when reviewing the troops. The Jucundiana, Justinian’s favourite residence, was at Galata, and not at the Hebdomon as is erroneously supposed. Tekfur Sara’i is worthy of special notice as being one of the few remaining specimens of Byzantine architecture, a style which appears to have been further developed in the palaces at Venice. The building, commanding a fine view of the Golden Horn, is a three-storeyed one, with triple windows and marble sills. The immediate vicinity is now the Jewish quarter. Admission to the interior of the palace is free; the entrance is through the glass factory near the walls.

Eghri Kapil (Crooked Gate) is the sixth gate, and is the ancient Harsia, also called Porta Caligaria, from the number of military bootmakers’ shops once in the vicinity. It is the gate so bravely defended by the gallant German, Johann Grant, and by Theodore of Carystos, during the last siege by the Turks, and is also the place from which Constantine Palaeologus made his last reconnaissance on the eve of the taking of the city.

The seventh gate has disappeared long ago, and not a vestige of it now remains.

In the Hebdomon district was the site of the Blackemce Palace, which probably stood on the very spot where Awas Kffendi’s Mosque now stands. This palace was first built by Anastasius Dicorus, in 499 A.D., before the erection of the Theodosian Walls, and was originally an imperial pavilion for the use of the emperor when proceeding to Blachernse Church; but was subsequently enlarged, and in the ninth century was considerably extended by the addition of new wings, and decorated and embellished with such magnificence as to evoke the astonishment and admiration of Peter the Hermit and his Crusaders in 1096.

Alexius Comnenus

At Blachernae took place the meeting of Godfrey de Bouillon with Alexius Comnenus (see p. 12). Here also the arrangements were made with Isaac Angelus for the fourth Crusade. During the fifty-eight years of the Latin occupation the palace suffered considerable damage; but in 1261 it was restored by Michael Palaeologus (see p. 15), and was the favourite residence of the Greek emperors. It con-tinued to be the favourite residence of the Palaeologi down to the time of the taking of the city by the Turks.

The closed gateway seen half-way between the second and third towers, beyond the foot of the hill, is the Gyrolimne, once the main entrance of the Blachernae Palace. The inscription on the fourth tower sets forth that it is the tower of Isaac Angelus, built in 1188. The next tower, known as the Tower of Anemas, was a state prison attached to Blachernae Palace, and was built by Alexius Comnenus. Its name is derived from its first inmate, Anemas, imprisoned for conspiracy against that emperor in 1107. Amongst others confined in it, at different times, were the Emperor Andronicus Comnenus; John Palaeologus and his two sons; Gregory, Duke of Trebizonde; and the patriarch Yeccus.

[bookingacruise]

Porphyrogenitus for his son Romanus

It was, however, probably built by Constantine Porphyrogenitus for his son Romanus, on the site of an earlier palace built by Constantine the Great, as a conveniently situated residence when reviewing the troops. The Jucundiana, Justinian’s favourite residence, was at Galata, and not at the Hebdomon as is erroneously supposed. Tekfur Sara’i is worthy of special notice as being one of the few remaining specimens of Byzantine architecture, a style which appears to have been further developed in the palaces at Venice. The building, commanding a fine view of the Golden Horn, is a three-storeyed one, with triple windows and marble sills. The immediate vicinity is now the Jewish quarter. Admission to the interior of the palace is free; the entrance is through the glass factory near the walls.

Eghri Kapil (Crooked Gate) is the sixth gate, and is the ancient Harsia, also called Porta Caligaria, from the number of military bootmakers’ shops once in the vicinity. It is the gate so bravely defended by the gallant German, Johann Grant, and by Theodore of Carystos, during the last siege by the Turks, and is also the place from which Constantine Palaeologus made his last reconnaissance on the eve of the taking of the city.

The seventh gate has disappeared long ago, and not a vestige of it now remains.

In the Hebdomon district was the site of the Blackemce Palace, which probably stood on the very spot where Awas Kffendi’s Mosque now stands. This palace was first built by Anastasius Dicorus, in 499 A.D., before the erection of the Theodosian Walls, and was originally an imperial pavilion for the use of the emperor when proceeding to Blachernse Church; but was subsequently enlarged, and in the ninth century was considerably extended by the addition of new wings, and decorated and embellished with such magnificence as to evoke the astonishment and admiration of Peter the Hermit and his Crusaders in 1096.

Alexius Comnenus

At Blachernae took place the meeting of Godfrey de Bouillon with Alexius Comnenus (see p. 12). Here also the arrangements were made with Isaac Angelus for the fourth Crusade. During the fifty-eight years of the Latin occupation the palace suffered considerable damage; but in 1261 it was restored by Michael Palaeologus (see p. 15), and was the favourite residence of the Greek emperors. It con-tinued to be the favourite residence of the Palaeologi down to the time of the taking of the city by the Turks.

The closed gateway seen half-way between the second and third towers, beyond the foot of the hill, is the Gyrolimne, once the main entrance of the Blachernae Palace. The inscription on the fourth tower sets forth that it is the tower of Isaac Angelus, built in 1188. The next tower, known as the Tower of Anemas, was a state prison attached to Blachernae Palace, and was built by Alexius Comnenus. Its name is derived from its first inmate, Anemas, imprisoned for conspiracy against that emperor in 1107. Amongst others confined in it, at different times, were the Emperor Andronicus Comnenus; John Palaeologus and his two sons; Gregory, Duke of Trebizonde; and the patriarch Yeccus.

[huytas]

Porphyrogenitus for his son Romanus

It was, however, probably built by Constantine Porphyrogenitus for his son Romanus, on the site of an earlier palace built by Constantine the Great, as a conveniently situated residence when reviewing the troops. The Jucundiana, Justinian’s favourite residence, was at Galata, and not at the Hebdomon as is erroneously supposed. Tekfur Sara’i is worthy of special notice as being one of the few remaining specimens of Byzantine architecture, a style which appears to have been further developed in the palaces at Venice. The building, commanding a fine view of the Golden Horn, is a three-storeyed one, with triple windows and marble sills. The immediate vicinity is now the Jewish quarter. Admission to the interior of the palace is free; the entrance is through the glass factory near the walls.

Eghri Kapil (Crooked Gate) is the sixth gate, and is the ancient Harsia, also called Porta Caligaria, from the number of military bootmakers’ shops once in the vicinity. It is the gate so bravely defended by the gallant German, Johann Grant, and by Theodore of Carystos, during the last siege by the Turks, and is also the place from which Constantine Palaeologus made his last reconnaissance on the eve of the taking of the city.

The seventh gate has disappeared long ago, and not a vestige of it now remains.

In the Hebdomon district was the site of the Blackemce Palace, which probably stood on the very spot where Awas Kffendi’s Mosque now stands. This palace was first built by Anastasius Dicorus, in 499 A.D., before the erection of the Theodosian Walls, and was originally an imperial pavilion for the use of the emperor when proceeding to Blachernse Church; but was subsequently enlarged, and in the ninth century was considerably extended by the addition of new wings, and decorated and embellished with such magnificence as to evoke the astonishment and admiration of Peter the Hermit and his Crusaders in 1096.

Alexius Comnenus

At Blachernae took place the meeting of Godfrey de Bouillon with Alexius Comnenus (see p. 12). Here also the arrangements were made with Isaac Angelus for the fourth Crusade. During the fifty-eight years of the Latin occupation the palace suffered considerable damage; but in 1261 it was restored by Michael Palaeologus (see p. 15), and was the favourite residence of the Greek emperors. It con-tinued to be the favourite residence of the Palaeologi down to the time of the taking of the city by the Turks.

The closed gateway seen half-way between the second and third towers, beyond the foot of the hill, is the Gyrolimne, once the main entrance of the Blachernae Palace. The inscription on the fourth tower sets forth that it is the tower of Isaac Angelus, built in 1188. The next tower, known as the Tower of Anemas, was a state prison attached to Blachernae Palace, and was built by Alexius Comnenus. Its name is derived from its first inmate, Anemas, imprisoned for conspiracy against that emperor in 1107. Amongst others confined in it, at different times, were the Emperor Andronicus Comnenus; John Palaeologus and his two sons; Gregory, Duke of Trebizonde; and the patriarch Yeccus.

[aldieb]

i hate that i ruined the ending of the 2nd niccolo book for myself by looking up a word and the 3rd entry was a wikipedia article that started “the successful siege of trebizond…” i know it happened in 1461 but tag ur spoilers jeez

[shoukokunoaltairfans]

My fan Timeline of SNA Turkish Balt Rhein War ( 76 - 80 Calender Turkiye )

10/08/76:Truce between Balt Rhein and Turkiye

11/09/76:Pope of Vatikan, Nicholas V begin concilion to Prepare Crusaders againts Turkiye, give Support to Balt Rhein.

08/11/76: Crusaders with Balt Rhein begin Invasion stratled in South Rumelian. Occuptated Espada.

12/11/76: Crusaders Occuptated Seallant and Humo at the same time.

19/11/76: Crusaders begin siege of chielo, while invasion Startled on Centro sea. Li'solani join to Crusaders.

19/12/76: Chielo Surrended, Mahmud Pasha Captured and slaves to Szeged city in hungary. Salos and Ponente Surrended and join to Crusaders.

25/12/76: Crusaders begin Invasion to South Cuore and Captured them.

04/01/77: Crusaders Invasion to Toro and Captured them after 2 Weeks of sieges.

13/01/77: Mahmud Pasha return to Instanbul with help of Shadow Intteligent lead by Ehsan.

26/01/77: second Centro War between Crusaders and Venedik. Venedik Defeated, and Silvestro Brega kill in action.

09/02/77: Catherina de Rossi deceaced, killed by his secretary. Giacomo became a new Gonfalniere and join with Crusaders.

16/03/77: Hungary begin Invasion to Austria and Crown of Bohemian.

22/04/77: Spain begin Invasion To Naples. Friedrich III become king unity of Habsburg.

08/05/77: Crusaders begin Invasion to South Turkiye but defeated at the battle of Cirmen.

18/05/77: John Huniyad Voivode of Translvania, invade Wallachia but repelled by 30.000 Wallachian Troops under king Zgymunt III

28/05/77: Turkiye Navy Completely Formed, begin expedition to Venete and defeated Crusaders Navy under Kapudan Hamzah Pasha.

06/06/77: Turkiye begin expedition To South Rumelian, Cuore agreement Peace Treaty with Turkiye with pay a Jizyah, and declare a Loyalty.

09/06/77: Turkiye army defeated Balt Rhein Troops in Pozo and Captured it.

23/06/77: Turkiye Occuptated Reztos, Rojo, Letra, Veletra, then Cantar.

30/06/77: battle of Cinza between Turkiye and Balt Rhein with his Allies. Balt Rhein and Allies defeated.

05/07/77: Turkiye begin Siege of Toro.

15/07/77: Crusaders in Toro Surrended. Toro Occuptated by Turkiye.

29/07/77: Turkiye expedition to South Cuore and Captured them.

28/09/77: battle of Asykavya, with desicive victory By Turkiye.

04/10/77: Turkiye Occuptated Seallant.

08/10/77: Turkiye Occuptated Humo then 2 day later Occuptated Espada.

12/10/77: Chielo Surrended without any resistance.

15/10/77: Turkiye Captured Furullio near Phoenicia.

26/10/77: Turkiye begin siege of Phoenicia.

08/11/77: Phoenicia Surrended. Ryan Lowe make a Agreement to Mahmud Pasha to give Phoenicia and freed his troops.

19/11/77: Turkiye defeated Imperial army at Town near Centro. While Turkiye - venedik Navy force Lisolani to Surrended.

27/11/77: Turkiye begin siege of Scoglio and Captured it after three day for siege.

01/12/77: Ovest Captured.

13/12/77: deadlock Situation.

08/01/78: Imperial Army Try invade Turkiye but unfortunately defeated at the battle near Muchever.

30/01/78: Turkiye and Balt Rhein Signed Peace Treaty in Florence for 3 Years and 3 Month.

14/02/78: Turkiye Stratocracy form Alliance with Mamlukes Sulthanates.

01/03/78: Turkiye expedition to Anatolian, and captured Amastris without war.

12/03/78: Turkiye Occuptated Isfandarids kingdom near of black sea.

21/03/78: Turkiye begin siege of Trebizond and Captured after 34 days.

14/11/78: The Treaty of Florence was violated due to the provocation of Balt Rhein, who began to gather troops again to war against the Turkiye, beginning the Second Balt Rhein Turkish War.

15/12/78: Turkiye begin Invasion on the Balt Teritory and defeat the Imperial army at battle of Pantellaria.

30/12/78: Turkiye Conquer Gol, Imperial old Capital in Balt Teritory.

08/01/79: Imperial Army lead by Frenztzen try to invade South Rumeliana but Defeated unfortunately and Frentzen KIA.

16/02/79: battle of Phoenicia between Turkiye - Venedik navy and Genoa,Imperial, Ponente, Lisolani, then Knight of Rhodes. Imperial with his Allies defeated. And Hamzah Pasha Succesfully Occuptated Crete Island.

20/04/79: at end of Winter, Mahmud Pasha begin invasion on Balt Teritory. Then Occuptated Turbezzel.

23/05/79: Candarli Ibrahim Pasha Captured Vidin.

25/04/79: Imperial army lead by Lelederick defeated Turkish army in battle near Scneestrum.

26/04/79: Turkish army try to Suddenly Assault on lelederick Military Camp. Finally Lelederick killed.

06/04/79: Turkish army siege of Schneestrum and Captured after three days.

09/05/79: Turkiye Captured Eascherung.

14/05/79: Turkiye Captured Saint Simon Fortress, near banks of danube.

22/05/79: gorge Argile, Leader of Elvadesz Defeated Turkish army near Ghilman Fortress. 30.000 Turkiye Troops are killed.

25/05/79: Mahmud Pasha begin siege of ghilman then Captured after a few Hours.

08/06/79: Turkish army conquer Shafina and Arima Fortress. Those two Rampart are Strongest fortress in balt Teritory.

16/06/79: battle of Tharza between Elvadez, Imperial vs Turkish troops. Imperial defeated and Turkish captured a few thousand of Enemies troops including gorge Argile. Gorge argile convert to islam in mahmud hand.

19/06/79: Mahmud siege of Cave, Albans as his duke Surrended and convert islam in Mahmud hand.

02/07/79: Turkish begin siege of Jourdain and Conquer it after battle of few days.

03/07/79: deadlock situation

10/07/79: Turahan Pasha as sanjak of Toro, begin invasion at Rhein Teritory, then defeated Imperial army in Camino.

14/07/79: Karaja Pasha Conquer Religion.

21/07/79: Turkish army of South Rumeliana Sanjak Conquer Dirtton and Coton.

30/07/79: Karaja Pasha Conquer salz therme, and Nagel.

07/08/79: Turahan Pasha begin siege of Saint Jacob but fail to Captured it.

17/08/79: Saruja Pasha Captured Brise, and defeated imperial Troops near Dickrich.

20/08/79: deadlock situation, Truce for three month only.

13/09/79: Pope Nicholas V deceaced and replaced by Pope Piuz II. Between Habsburg and Papal States Signed Peace Treaty and form 'Holy Alliance to Support Balt Rhein against Turkiye.

24/01/80: Massive battle on valley of Anata between Turkiye against Holy Europe Allies; Balt Rhein, Moldavia, Translvania, Hungary, Poland Lithuanian, Habsburg, Papal States, and little country on italy. Terminated by Decisive Turkiye Victory.

27/01/80: Turkish Captured Saint Jacob.

08/02/80: Turkiye Captured Skopje, then Bitola and Ohrid.

18/02/80: Turkiye Captured Skhodra.

20/02/80 : Turkiye Occuptated Arch without any resistance.

28/02/80: Turkiye Troops Conquer Kruje then Nis.

10/03/80: Karamanli Ishaq Pasha Occuptated Bait leh, Gabriel, then Montzerrat.

14/03/80: Balt Rhein and Turkiye Signed a final Peace Treaty in Edirne. End of Balt Rhein Turkish war for 4 Years.

[brookstonalmanac]

Events 8.15 (before 1900)

636 – Arab–Byzantine wars: The Battle of Yarmouk between the Byzantine Empire and the Rashidun Caliphate begins. 717 – Arab–Byzantine wars: Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik begins the Second Arab Siege of Constantinople, which will last for nearly a year. 718 – Arab–Byzantine wars: Raising of the Second Arab Siege of Constantinople. 747 – Carloman, mayor of the palace of Austrasia, renounces his position as majordomo and retires to a monastery near Rome. His brother, Pepin the Short, becomes the sole ruler (de facto) of the Frankish Kingdom. 778 – The Battle of Roncevaux Pass takes place between the army of Charlemagne and a Basque army. 805 – Noble Erchana of Dahauua grants the Bavarian town of Dachau to the Diocese of Freising 927 – The Saracens conquer and destroy Taranto. 982 – Holy Roman Emperor Otto II is defeated by the Saracens in the Battle of Capo Colonna, in Calabria. 1018 – Byzantine general Eustathios Daphnomeles blinds and captures Ibatzes of Bulgaria by a ruse, thereby ending Bulgarian resistance against Emperor Basil II's conquest of Bulgaria. 1038 – King Stephen I, the first king of Hungary, dies; his nephew, Peter Orseolo, succeeds him. 1057 – King Macbeth is killed at the Battle of Lumphanan by the forces of Máel Coluim mac Donnchada. 1070 – The Pavian-born Benedictine Lanfranc is appointed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury in England. 1096 – Starting date of the First Crusade as set by Pope Urban II. 1185 – The cave city of Vardzia is consecrated by Queen Tamar of Georgia. 1224 – The Livonian Brothers of the Sword, a Catholic military order, occupy Tarbatu (today Tartu) as part of the Livonian Crusade. 1237 – Spanish Reconquista: The Battle of the Puig between the Moorish forces of Taifa of Valencia against the Kingdom of Aragon culminates in an Aragonese victory. 1248 – The foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral, built to house the relics of the Three Wise Men, is laid. (Construction is eventually completed in 1880.) 1261 – Michael VIII Palaiologos is crowned as the first Byzantine emperor in fifty-seven years. 1281 – Mongol invasion of Japan: The Mongolian fleet of Kublai Khan is destroyed by a "divine wind" for the second time in the Battle of Kōan. 1430 – Francesco Sforza, lord of Milan, conquers Lucca. 1461 – The Empire of Trebizond surrenders to the forces of Sultan Mehmed II. This is regarded by some historians as the real end of the Byzantine Empire. Emperor David is exiled and later murdered. 1483 – Pope Sixtus IV consecrates the Sistine Chapel. 1511 – Afonso de Albuquerque of Portugal conquers Malacca, the capital of the Malacca Sultanate. 1517 – Seven Portuguese armed vessels led by Fernão Pires de Andrade meet Chinese officials at the Pearl River estuary. 1519 – Panama City, Panama is founded. 1537 – Asunción, Paraguay is founded. 1540 – Arequipa, Peru is founded. 1549 – Jesuit priest Francis Xavier comes ashore at Kagoshima (Traditional Japanese date: 22 July 1549). 1592 – Imjin War: At the Battle of Hansan Island, the Korean Navy, led by Yi Sun-sin, Yi Eok-gi, and Won Gyun, decisively defeats the Japanese Navy, led by Wakisaka Yasuharu. 1599 – Nine Years' War: Battle of Curlew Pass: Irish forces led by Hugh Roe O'Donnell successfully ambush English forces, led by Sir Conyers Clifford, sent to relieve Collooney Castle. 1695 – French forces end the bombardment of Brussels. 1760 – Seven Years' War: Battle of Liegnitz: Frederick the Great's victory over the Austrians under Ernst Gideon von Laudon. 1843 – Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest still intact amusement parks in the world, opens in Copenhagen, Denmark. 1863 – The Anglo-Satsuma War begins between the Satsuma Domain of Japan and the United Kingdom (Traditional Japanese date: July 2, 1863). 1893 – Ibadan area becomes a British Protectorate after a treaty signed by Fijabi, the Baale of Ibadan with the British acting Governor of Lagos, George C. Denton. 1899 – Fratton Park football ground in Portsmouth, England is officially first opened.

[zeyneptuncblr]

Ottoman Empire (1299-1922):

In the 13th century the Ottoman Empire emerged. It would become the most powerful empire in the area and rule for 700 years

The Ottoman Empire ruled a large portion of the Middle East and Eastern Europe for over 600 years. It first formed in 1299 and dissolved in 1923, becoming the country of Turkey. 

The Ottoman Empire was founded by Osman I (Osman's ancestors were the Oguz turks; Seljuk empire), a leader of the Turkish tribes in Anatolia in 1299. Osman I expanded his kingdom, uniting many of the independent states of Anatolia under one rule. Osman established a formal government and allowed for religious tolerance over the people he conquered.

Timeline

1299 - Osman I founded the Ottoman Empire.

1389 - The Ottomans conquer most of Serbia.

1453 - Mehmed II captures Constantinople putting an end to the Byzantine Empire.

1517 - Ottomans conquer Egypt bringing Egypt into the empire.

1520 - Suleiman the Magnificent becomes ruler of the Ottoman Empire.

1529 - The Siege of Vienna.

1533 - The Ottomans conquer Iraq.

1551 - The Ottomans conquer Libya.

1566 - Suleiman dies.

1569 - Much of Istanbul burns in a great fire.

1699 - The Ottomans give up control of Hungary to Austria.

1821 - The Greek War of Independence begins.

1914 - The Ottomans join the side of the Central Powers in World War I.

1923 - The Ottoman Empire is dissolved and the Republic of Turkey becomes a country.

Fatih Sultan Mehmet (Mehmed the Conqueror) 1451

I am mostly inspired by Fatih Sultan Mehmed in the Turkish history due to his courageous attitude and determination; this is evident as he conquered Constantinople(Istanbul) at the age of 21, which his father and great grandfathers failed to conquer their whole lives. This was a big achievement for mehmed as he grew up believing he will be the one to conquer it. Fatih Sultan Mehmed has left a massive legacy behind him; he has conquered numerous cities which are still a part of Turkey today, he conquered a city called ‘Trebizond’ at the time which now it’s called ‘Trabzon’; I am originally from Trabzon which is on the Black Sea. Mehmeds biggest legacy has to be the beautiful city,Istanbul especially Hagia Sophia and the Fatih Sultan Mehmed Bridge.

Rise of Empires: Ottomans (Netflix Series)

I started watching this docudrama on Netflix that explained Fatih sultan mehmeds thought process when planning to conquer Constantinople, this helped me understand him better as a person and made me more inspired.

Hagia Sophia

(Primary research)

Hagia Sophia is the former Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral, later an Ottoman imperial Mosque and now a museum in Istanbul,Turkey. Built in AD 537 during the reign of Justinian.It is famous for its large dome.It was the world's largest building and an engineering marvel of its time.

Here are a few images from my visit to Hagia Sophia last summer

I believe it is a place that brings together people from different ethnicities and religions as they all share the same place to practice their faiths which I think is very beautiful as it’s bringing people together without discrimination and hate.

[isidoros1983]

Byzantine empire Trebizond city siege by Turks Part B