Fall of Constantinople
1453 CE · Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey)
The Fall of Constantinople was fought in 1453 CE in Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey) between Ottoman Empire vs the Byzantine Empire and Genoese and Venetian volunteers; decisive Ottoman victory; the Byzantine Empire ended after more than a thousand years.
Fall of Constantinople: quick facts
- Date
- 1453 CE
- Location
- Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey)
- Belligerents
- Ottoman Empire vs the Byzantine Empire and Genoese and Venetian volunteers
- Commanders
- Mehmed II vs Constantine XI Palaiologos
- Result
- decisive Ottoman victory; the Byzantine Empire ended after more than a thousand years.
- Era
- ⚔️ Ottoman & Islamic Empires
- Quiz difficulty
- easy
What happened at the Fall of Constantinople?
Sultan Mehmed II besieged Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire, with a massive army and the largest cannons ever built. After a 53-day siege, the Ottomans breached the legendary Theodosian Walls. The last Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI, died fighting. The fall of Constantinople ended the Roman Empire after over a thousand years and established the Ottoman Empire as the dominant power in the eastern Mediterranean.
Sources and further reading
- Fall of Constantinople on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.