As per Leonard of Chios and George Sphrantzes, these were some of the last recorded statements of Constantine XI made before his officers and soldiers as part of a speech during the last days of Constantinople >"Gentlemen, illustrious captains of the army, and our most Christian comrades in arms: we now see the hour of battle approaching. I have therefore elected to assemble you here to make it clear that you must stand together with firmer resolution than ever. You have always fought with glory against the enemies of Christ. Now the defence of your fatherland and of the city known the world over, which the infidel and evil Turks have been besieging for two and fifty days, is committed to your lofty spirits.">*He told the men that there were four great causes for which a man should be prepared to die: his faith; his country; his family and his Emperor - in that order.*>"It is impossible for me to go away: how could I leave the churches of our Lord, and His servants the clergy, and the throne, and my people in such a plight? What would the world then say of me? God forbid that I should live as an emperor without an empire. Should the city fall, I shall fall with it.">"You, my comrades in arms, obey the commands of your leaders in the knowledge that this is the day of your glory, a day on which, if you shed but a drop of blood, you will win for yourselves an eternal crown of martyrdom."
>According to both Byzantine and Ottoman sources, Constantine did not merely command from the rear; he actively led troops on the walls during the final assault on May 29, 1453. Contemporary and near-contemporary accounts (such as those of Giorgio Sphrantzes, Nikolaos Barbaro, and Kritoboulos of Imbros) describe him fighting in full armor, side by side with his soldiers and foreign allies (notably the Genoese under Giovanni Giustiniani) and encouraging and rallying his men throughout the siege.>In the final moments, after the Ottomans breached the walls, Constantine is said to have cast off his imperial regalia (to avoid capture) and fought to the death in the melee near the St. Romanus Gate (the Lycus valley sector).
>>18060801The show sucked ass. We still have no piece of media that does justice to these events.
>>18060801Why he didn't pray to Thea Nike (Goddess Victory) to win?
>>18060882Based
>>18060882He wanted to die. The whole siege was a giant blood sacrifice. Christians are satanic af.
>Mehmed sent envoys to Constantine XI proposing generous terms: he offered to allow Constantine and his family to retain their lives, keep certain privileges, and potentially rule parts of the city or at least be incorporated into the Ottoman administration. Mehmed also reportedly promised that the Orthodox Church would be protected.But muh evil Turkish barbarians o algo. Literally killed all his men and good portion of the city's population for nothing.
>But muh evil Turkish barbarians o algo. Literally killed all his men and good portion of the city's population for not-ACK
>>18060801the genoese and venetians are professional scammers
>>18060924>trusting a moslemThey would have slaughtered the city the moment the gates were opened anyway.
>>18060924Remind us kindly what happened to Trebizond emperor after he agreed to such terms?
Not sure how much I trust Leonard of Chios and George Sphrantzes.
I hate turks so much i'ts unreal
>>18062374Leo was literally there when it all went down. Sphrantzes personally knew a ton of people that were there, and he also personally knew Constantine.
>>18061617Remember when the Byzantine Empire was saved by mercenaries and the emperor responded by assassinating their leaders leading to the mercenaries pillaging half of Greece before carving out their own duchy? Greeks are the biggest backstabbers of all.
>>18062924Ahhhh yes. They were so good at fucking killing turks that the turks simply refuses to fight them lol. They were spaniard mercenaries. Alghmorvors. Something like that.
>>18060922>rabbi Jesus>bastard of Typhon>christians are satanic afIndeed.
