With the Byzantine empire in decline and growing Italian influence in the Aegean and Black Seas, the young Ottoman sultan Mehmed II besieged Constantinople in order to secure his position and prevent the city from falling into rival hands. From 6th April 1453 the Byzantine capital faced constant land and sea attacks before the defences finally collapsed on 29th May.
Here we see the view from the Ottoman siege line, as gunners begin their bombardment of the city walls.
Mehmed’s batteries included large cannon, designed by the Hungarian gunmaker Urban, that were made from bronze or iron hoops and staves. Once they were placed in trenches with wooden blocks to absorb recoil, the guns were hard to readjust for aim and were often prone to bursting.
By Ibrahim Zamir
Empire of History 