Siege of Constantinople
1453 CE · Turkey
The Siege of Constantinople was fought in 1453 CE in 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.
Siege of Constantinople: quick facts
- Date
- 1453 CE
- Location
- 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
- 🏰 Medieval Europe
- Quiz difficulty
- medium
What happened at the Siege of Constantinople?
Sultan Mehmed II's Ottoman army besieged the Byzantine capital with over 80,000 troops and massive cannons that battered the ancient Theodosian Walls. Despite a heroic defense led by Emperor Constantine XI, the city fell on May 29, 1453, ending the Byzantine Empire and over a thousand years of Roman imperial continuity. The fall sent shockwaves through Christendom and marked the definitive end of the medieval era.
Did you know?
Mehmed II was only 21 years old when he conquered Constantinople. He had his engineers cast the largest cannon ever built, so massive it required 60 oxen and 200 men to transport.
Sources and further reading
- Siege 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.