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Epigraph
xv “Constantinople is a city …,” quoted Stacton, p. 153
xv “I shall tell the story …,” Melville Jones, p. 12
Prologue: The Red Apple
4 “The horse faces East …,” Procopius, p. 35
6 “The seat of the Roman …,” Mansell, p. 1
1 The Burning Sea
9 “O Christ, ruler …,” quoted Sherrard, p. 11
9 “In the name of Allah …,” quoted Akbar, p. 45
10 “Tell him that …,” quoted ibid., p. 44
11 “to wage the holy war by sea,” Ibn Khaldun, vol. 2, p. 40
12 “like a flash …,” Anna Comnena, p. 402
12 “burned the ships …,” quoted Tsangadas, p. 112
12 “having lost many fighting …,” quoted ibid., p. 112
12 “the Roman Empire was guarded by God,” Theophanes Confessor, p. 676
14 “It is said that they even …,” ibid., p. 546
14 “brought the sea water …,” ibid., p. 550
14 “to announce God’s mighty deeds,” ibid., p. 550
14 “God and the all-holy Virgin …,” ibid., p. 546
15 “In the jihad …,” quoted Wintle, p. 245
16 “the place that’s the vast …,” Ovid, Tristia, 1.10
17 “more numerous than …,” quoted Sherrard, p. 12
17 “the city of the world’s desire,” quoted Mansell, p. 3
17 “O what a splendid city …,” quoted Sherrard, p. 12
18 “during this time …,” quoted ibid., p. 51
18 “It seems not to rest…,” quoted ibid., p. 27
18 “the golden stream … a drift of snow,” quoted Norwich, vol. 1, p. 202
18 “we knew not whether …,” quoted Clark, p. 17
19 “The city is full …,” quoted ibid., p. 14
20 “they are introduced …,” quoted Sherrard, p. 74
22 “will be the fourth kingdom …,” quoted Wheatcroft, p. 54
2 Dreaming of Istanbul
23 “I have seen that God …,” quoted Lewis, Islam from the Prophet, vol. 2, pp. 207–8
24 “Sedentary people …,” Ibn Khaldun, vol. 2, pp. 257–8
24 “to revive the dying …,” Ibn Khaldun, quoted Lewis, The Legacy of Islam, p. 197
24 “God be praised …,” quoted Lewis, Islam from the Prophet, vol. 2, p. 208
26 “on account of its justice …,” quoted Cahen, p. 213
26 “an accursed race … from our lands,” quoted Armstrong, p. 2
26 “they are indomitable …,” quoted Norwich, vol. 3, p. 102
27 “we must live in common …,” quoted The Oxford History of Byzantium, p. 128
27 “Constantinople is arrogant …,” quoted Kelly, p. 35
27 “since the beginning …,” quoted Morris, p. 39
27 “so insolent in …,” quoted Norwich, vol. 3, p. 130
28 “they brought horses …,” quoted Norwich, vol. 3, p. 179
28 “Oh city …,” quoted Morris, p. 41
29 “situated at the junction …,” quoted Kinross, p. 24
30 “It is said that he …,” quoted Mackintosh-Smith, p. 290
31 “Sultan, son of …,” quoted Wittek, p. 15
31 “The Gazi is …,” quoted ibid., p. 14
31 “Why have the Gazis …,” quoted ibid., p. 14
34 “in such a state …,” Tafur, p. 146
35 “Turkish or heathen …,” Mihailovic, pp. 191–2
35 “They are diligent …,” Broquiere, pp. 362–5
3 Sultan and Emperor
37 “Mehmet Chelebi …,” quoted Babinger, p. 59
38 “On his clothing …,” quoted Babinger, p. 418
38 “He never took anything …,” Brocquière, p. 351
39 “If He has decreed …,” quoted Inalcik, p. 59
40 “Your father has sent me …,” quoted Babinger, p. 24
42 “my earnest desire …,” A History of Ottoman Poetry, vol. 2
43 “The Turks through such …,” Mihailovich, p. 171
43 “The treaties that …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 228
43 “He left as a bequest …,” Sad-ud-din, p. 41
44 “Why do my father’s viziers …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 227
45 “a parrot’s beak …,” quoted Babinger, p. 424
45 “The sovereign, the Grand Turk …,” quoted Babinger, p. 112
47 “a large town … now at Venice,” Brocquière, pp. 335–41
49 “a philanthropist and without malice,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 67
51 “whichever of my …,” quoted Babinger, p. 47
4 Cutting the Throat
52 “The Bosphorus …,” quoted Freely, p. 269
52 “a mob of venal …,” quoted Babinger, p. 68
52 “Come, Mr. Ambassador … since childhood,” Sphrantzes, trans. Philippides, p. 59
53 “and by the angels …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 228
54 “Standing with their arms …,” Tursun Bey, p. 33
54 “the Emperor of …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, pp. 234–5
55 “You stupid Greeks …,” quoted Nicol, The Immortal Emperor, p. 52
56 “path of the vessels …,” Sad-ud-din, p. 11
56 “stone and timber …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 19
56 “for the construction …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, pp. 237–8
57 “now you can see …,” ibid., p. 238
57 “as a son would …,” ibid., p. 239
57 “what the city contains …,” ibid., p. 239
57 “Go away and tell …,” ibid., p. 245
57 “well-prepared for …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 21
58 “masons, carpenters …,” Mihailovich, p. 89
58 “the distance between …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 22
58 “twisting curves …,” ibid., p. 22
59 “gave up all thoughts of relaxation,” Tursun Bey, p. 34
59 “publicly offered …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 22
60 “since you have preferred …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 245
61 “not like a fortress …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 22
62 “like dragons with …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 311
62 “not even a bird …,” ibid., p. 311
62 “In this manner …,” Sad-ud-din, p. 12
64 “by a stake … I went there,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 248
5 The Dark Church
65 “It is far better …,” quoted Mijatovich, p. 17
65 “Flee from …,” quoted in an article on the Daily Telegraph website, May 4, 2001
66 “Let God look and judge,” quoted Ware, p. 43
66 “over all the earth …,” quoted Ware, p. 53
67 “an example of perdition …,” quoted Clark, p. 27
67 “a difference of dogma …,” quoted Norwich, vol. 3, p. 184
67 “Whenever the Turks …,” quoted Mijatovich, pp. 24–5
68 “the wolf, the destroyer,” quoted Gill, p. 381
69 “If you, with your nobles …,” quoted Runciman, pp. 63–4
69 “Constantine Palaiologos …,” quoted Nicol, The Immortal Emperor, p. 58
70 “apart from …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 125
70 “We don’t want …,” quoted Gill, p. 384
71 “with the greatest solemnity …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 11
71 “the whole of the city …,” ibid., p. 92
71 “nothing better than …,” quoted Stacton, p. 165
72 “like the whole heaven …,” quoted Sherrard, p. 34
72 “Wretched Romans …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 254
74 “has not stopped marching …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 30
74 “without it … on this very account,” Kritovoulos, History of Mehmet, pp. 29–31
74 “we must spare nothing …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 32
75 “unusual and strange …,” ibid., p. 37
75 “wheat, wine, olive oil …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 257
76 “And from this …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 3
76 “as friends, greeting them …,” ibid., p. 4
77 “firstly for the love of God …,” ibid., p. 5
77 “With these ships …,” ibid., p. 13
78 “with many excellent devices …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 265
78 “We had received as much …,” Sphrantzes, trans. Philippides, p. 72
6 The Wall and the Gun
79 “From the flaming …,” quoted Hogg, p. 16
79 “dredged the fosse …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 37
81 “a seven-year-old boy …,” Gunther of Pairis, p. 99
82 “one of the wisest …,” quoted Tsangadas, p. 9
82 “the scourge of God,” quoted Van Millingen, Byzantine Constantinople, p. 49
82 “in less than two months …,” quoted ibid., p. 47
84 “This God-protected gate …,” quoted ibid., p. 107
86 “a good and high wall,” quoted Mijatovich, p. 50
87 “struck terror …,” quoted Hogg, p. 16
87 “made such a noise …,” quoted Cipolla, p. 36
87 “the devilish instrument of war,” quoted DeVries, p. 125
90 “If you want …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, pp. 247–8
91 “like a scabbard,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 44
91 “iron and timbers …,” ibid., p. 44
92 “so deep that …,” ibid., p. 44
92 “On the day …,” Chelebi, In the Days, p. 90
92 “the Vezirs …,” ibid., p. 90
93 “The time limit having expired …,” ibid., p. 91
93 “The bronze flowed out …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 44
93 “a horrifying and extraordinary monster,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 248
94 “the explosion and …,” ibid., p. 249
94 “so powerful is …,” ibid., p. 249
7 Numerous as the Stars
95 “When it marched …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 315
95 “the Turkish Emperor storms …,” Mihailovich, p. 177
95 “heralds to all …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 262
96 “from among craftsmen and peasants,” quoted Imber, The Ottoman Empire, p. 257
96 “when it comes …,” ibid., p. 277
96 “When recruiting for the …,” quoted Goodwin, p. 66
97 “Everyone who heard …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 262
97 “the promise of the Prophet …,” Sad-ud-din, p.16
97 “from Tokat, Sivas …,” Chelebi, Le Siège, p. 2
97 “cavalry and foot soldiers …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 38
98 “with all his army …,” ibid., p. 39
98 “the ulema, the sheiks …,” Sad-ud-din, p. 17
98 “begged God …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 262
99 “a river that transforms …,” quoted La Caduta, vol. 1, p. xx
99 “According to custom …,” Tursun Beg, p. 34
100 “his army seemed …,” Sphrantzes, trans. Carroll, p. 47
100 “There is no prince …,” quoted Goodwin, p. 70
100 “as the halo …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 316
100 “the best of the …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 41
100 “A quarter of them …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 176
101 “although they were …,” ibid., p. 5
101 “I can testify …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 130
101 “We had to ride …,” Mihailovich, p. 91
102 “a river of steel,” quoted La Caduta, vol. 1, p. xx
102 “as numerous as the stars,” quoted ibid., p. xx
102 “know therefore that …,” Mihailovich, p. 175
102 “at the siege there were …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, pp. 175–6
102 “tailors, pastry-cooks …,” quoted Mijatovich, p. 137
102 “how many able-bodied men …,” Sphrantzes, trans. Carroll, p. 49
102 “the Emperor summoned me … gloom,” ibid., pp. 49–50
103 “in spite of the great size …,” Sphrantzes, trans. Philippides, p. 69
103 “Genoese, Venetians …,” Leonard, p. 38
103 “the greater part of the Greeks …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 146
103 “skilled in the use of …,” Leonard, p. 38
103 “The true figure remained …,” Sphrantzes, trans. Philippides, p. 70
104 “the principal persons …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 19
104 “an old but sturdy …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 148
104 “at their own …,” ibid., p. 27
104 “John from Germany … able military engineer,” Sphrantzes, trans. Philippides, p. 110
105 “the Greek Theophilus …” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 148
105 “the most important …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 19
106 “This was always …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, pp. 152–4
106 “with their banners …,” Barbaro, Giornale, pp. 19–20
106 “Nor do We punish …,” The Koran, p. 198
107 “we accept neither …,” Chelebi, Le Siège, p. 3
107 “encouraging the soldiers …,” Doukas, trans. Magoulias, p. 217
107 “Icons sweated …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 37
109 “man experienced in war …,” ibid., p. 40
8 The Awful Resurrection Blast
110 “Which tongue can …,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 45
110 “killing some and wounding a few,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 41
111 “bringing up stones …,” ibid., p. 46
111 “burst out of the …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 266
111 “some firing …,” ibid., p. 266
111 “when they could not …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 47
111 “thirty heavily-armed …,” ibid., p. 48
112 “a terrible cannon,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 130
112 “which was protected by neither …,” Leonard, p. 18
112 “the weakest gate …,” Barbaro, p. 30
112 “a shot that reached …,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 43
112 “eleven of my …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 130
113 “stones balls for cannon …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 15
113 “whatever happened, it could not …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 45
113 “certain techniques … wide of the target,” ibid., p. 45
114 “And when it had caught …,” ibid., p. 45
114 “sometimes it destroyed …,” ibid., p. 45
114 “they pulverized the wall …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 130
115 “like the awful resurrection blast,” Sad-ud-din, p. 21
115 “voicing petitions and prayers …,” Nestor-Iskander, pp. 33–5
115 “Do not betray …,” ibid., p. 35
115 “all of the people …,” ibid., p. 35
116 “shook the walls …,” Melville Jones, p. 46
116 “but since there was …,” ibid., p. 47
116 “No ancient name …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 46
116 “The assault continued …,” Sphrantzes, trans. Carroll, p. 48
117 “cracked as it was being fired …,” ibid., pp. 48–9
118 “about thirty to …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, pp. 273–4
118 “the shot being carried …,” Melville Jones, p. 45
118 “by experiencing the force …,” Sphrantzes, trans. Philippides, p. 103
119 “The Turks fought bravely …,” Leonard, p. 38
119 “immense power in …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 266
120 “And when one or two …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 22
120 “the heavy infantry …,” Kritovoulos, History of Mehmet, p. 49
120 “I cannot describe …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, pp. 15–16
121 “the clatter of cannons …,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 37
121 “slashed to pieces … completely broken corpses,” ibid., p. 39
122 “the all-powerful God and …,” ibid, p. 39
9 A Wind from God
123 “Battles on the sea …,” quoted Guilmartin, p. 22
124 “thought that the fleet …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 38
125 “long ships …,” ibid., p. 38
125 “skilled seamen …,” ibid., p. 38
125 “a great man …,” ibid., p. 43
125 “homeland of defenders of the faith,” La Caduta, vol. 2, p. 256
126 “with cries and cheering …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 39
126 “the wind of divine …,” La Caduta, vol. 2, p. 256
126 “we put ready for battle …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 19
127 “in close array …,” Barbaro, Diary, p. 29
127 “well armed …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 20
128 “Seeing that we …,” ibid., p. 20
128 “with determination,” ibid., p. 21
128 “eager cries …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 15
128 “waiting hour after …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 22
130 “wounding many …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 51
130 “and inflicted …,” ibid., p. 51
131 “in the East…,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. lxxvi
132 “either to take …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 53
132 “many other weapons …,” ibid., p. 53
133 “with ambition and …,” ibid., p. 53
133 “with a great sounding …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 23
133 “they fought from …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 53
134 “shouted in a commanding voice,” ibid., p. 53
134 “like dry land,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 269
134 “they threw missiles …,” Leonard, p. 30
134 “that the oars …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 269
134 “There was great …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 54
136 “like demons,” Melville Jones, p. 21
136 “defended itself brilliantly …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 140
136 “the sea could hardly be seen,” Barbaro, p. 33
136 “for they took it in turns …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 54
137 “and tore his garments …,” Melville Jones, p. 22
137 “at least twenty galleys,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 24
137 “stunned. In silence …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 55
10 Spirals of Blood
138 “Warfare is deception,” Lewis, Islam from the Prophet, vol. 1, p. 212
138 “the ambitions of the Sultan …,” Leonard, p. 18
139 “This unhoped-for result …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 55
139 “They prayed to their …,” Barbaro, Giornale, pp. 23–4
139 “This event caused despair …,” Tursun Beg, quoted Inalcik, Speculum 35, p. 411
140 “This event has caused us …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 301
140 “I have been accused …,” ibid., pp. 301–2
140 “groaned from the depths …,” Sphrantzes, trans. Carroll, p. 56
140 “if you could not take them …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 25
140 “You know, it was visible …,” ibid., p. 25
141 “with a golden rod …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 214
142 “as the ripe fruit falls …,” quoted Mijatovich, p. 161
143 “Lord Jesus Christ…,” quoted Nicol, The Immortal Emperor, pp. 127–8
143 “This was the start …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 16
143 “For such a big stretch …,” ibid., p. 16
143 “These repairs were made …,” Barbaro, Diary, p. 36
144 “their huge cannon …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 17
144 “could not be seen …,” ibid., p. 17
144 “our merciful Lord …,” ibid., p. 16
145 “be certain that if I knew …,” Doukas, trans. Magoulias, p. 258
145 “by the recollections …,” Leonard, p. 28
146 “The people of Galata …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, pp. 134–6
147 “And having girdled them …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 56
148 “Some raised the sails …,” ibid., p. 56
148 “It was an extraordinary sight…,” ibid., p. 56
148 “of fifteen banks of oars …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 28
149 “It was a marvellous achievement…,” Sphrantzes, trans. Carroll, p. 56
150 “now that the wall …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 57
150 “When those in our fleet …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 19
150 “to burn the enemy fleet…,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 29
150 “a man of action, not words,” Sphrantzes, trans. Philippides, p. 111
151 “From the twenty-fourth … perfidious Turks,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 30
152 “to win honour …,” ibid., p. 31
152 “And this fusta could not have stayed …,” ibid., p. 31
152 “There was so much smoke …,” ibid., p. 32
153 “A terrible and ferocious …,” ibid., p. 33
153 “Throughout the Turkish camp …,” ibid., p. 33
153 “Giacomo Coco …,” Barbaro, Giornale, pp. 31–2
153 “The Grand Turk [makes] …,” quoted Babinger, p. 429
154 “the stakes were planted …,” Melville Jones, p. 5
154 “countless stakes planted …,” Doukas, trans. Magoulias, p. 260
154 “the lamentation in the city …,” Sphrantzes, trans. Carroll, p. 31
154 “Our men were enraged …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 144
154 “In this way …,” ibid., p. 144
11 Terrible Engines
156 “There is a need …,” Siegecraft: Two Tenth-century Instructional Manuals by Heron of Byzantium, ed. D. F. Sullivan, Washington, DC, 2000, p. 29
156 “Alas, most blessed Father …,” Leonard, p. 36
156 “this betrayal was committed …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 20
156 “so greedy for …,” ibid., p. 142
156 “each side accusing …,” ibid., p. 142
157 “put the rudders and sails … drop of blood,” ibid., p. 23
157 “many of their men … half a mile,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 34
158 “that could fire the stone …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, pp. 51–2
158 “came from the top …,” Leonard, p. 32
158 “of three hundred botte …,” Barbaro, Giornale, pp. 35–6
158 “some shots killing …,” ibid., p. 36
158 “a woman of excellent reputation …,” Leonard, p. 32
158 “whatever they were owed …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 279
158 “With this act of …,” ibid., p. 278
159 “two hundred and twelve …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 39
159 “because in that place …,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 43
159 “clatter and flashing …,” ibid., p. 45
159 “as if on the steppes … filled with blood,” ibid., p. 45
160 “What is the defence …,” Leonard, p. 44
160 “were full of hatred …,” ibid., p. 46
160 “what certain people …,” ibid., p. 44
160 “the Emperor lacked severity …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 152
160 “The forces defending …,” Tursun Beg, p. 36
161 “fell silent for a long time …,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 49
161 “he ordered all …,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 53
162 “cries and the banging …,” Barbaro, p. 36
162 “bared his sword …,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 55
162 “but they were unable …,” ibid., p. 57
163 “there was great mourning …,” ibid., p. 57
163 “On the eleventh … the unfortunate walls,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 39
163 “the blood remained …,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 47
163 “Thus one could see …,” ibid., p. 47
163 “in the jihad against …,” quoted Wintle, p. 245
164 “let us see who …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 37
165 “believed that night …,” ibid., p. 39
165 “if it continues …,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 57
165 “the Turks were already …,” ibid., p. 59
165 “the Emperor arrived …,” ibid., p. 61
165 “but the nobles of the imperial …,” quoted Mijatovich, p. 181
166 “day and night these cannon …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 40
166 “good cannon and …,” ibid., p. 40
166 “and we Christians …,” ibid., p. 40
166 “they hurriedly started rowing …,” ibid., p. 41
166 “more than seventy shots …,” ibid., p. 41
166 “with a great sounding …,” ibid., p. 44
166 “two hours after sunrise …,” Barbaro, Diary, p. 55
167 “if the bridge …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 43
167 “masters in the art …,” La Caduta, vol. 2, p. 262
168 “John Grant, a German …,” ibid., vol. 1, p. 134
169 “the Christians dug counter-mines …,” Melville Jones, p. 5
169 “overtopping the walls …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 42
170 “so that shots from …,” ibid., p. 43
170 “half a mile long … small cannon,” ibid., p. 43
170 “such as the Romans …,” Leonard, p. 22
170 “it seemed, from sheer high spirits,” Barbaro, Diary, p. 53
170 “and when they saw it…,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 42
170 “suddenly the earth roared … from high,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 51
171 “long battering rams …,” Leonard, p. 22
171 “and when they had confessed …,” Barbaro, Giornale, pp. 46–7
172 “a Christian land …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 26
172 “and so we want to return …,” ibid., pp. 26–7
172 “began to weep … that they might guard it,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 35
12 Omens and Portents
173 “We see auguries …,” quoted Sherrard, p. 167
173 “misfortune to you …,” Yerasimos, Les Traditions Apocalyptiques, p. 59
174 “that universal ruin was approaching,” Melville Jones, p. 129
174 “in time the squares …,” Leonard, p. 14
174 “all of the people assembled …,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 69
175 “life will be short, fortune unstable,” quoted Yerasimos, Les Traditions Apocalyptiques, p. 70
175 “The air was clear and unclouded …,” Barbaro, Diary, p. 56
175 “only three days old …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 26
175 “grew little by little …,” ibid., p. 26
176 “the Emperor was greatly …,” ibid., pp. 26–7
177 “Do thou save thy city …,” quoted Tsangadas, p. 304
177 “without any reason …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 58
177 “were unable either to stand …,” ibid., p. 58
177 “many following were in danger …,” ibid., pp. 58–9
177 “certainly foretold the imminent …,” ibid., p. 59
177 “departure of God …,” ibid., p. 59
178 “great darkness began to gather over the city,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 81
178 “at the top of … Lord have mercy …,” ibid., p. 63
179 “This is a great sign …,” ibid., p. 81
179 “Emperor: weigh all …,” ibid., p. 63
179 “do not allow them …,” ibid., p. 65
181 “many kings and sultans …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, pp. 309–10
181 “the Turks began to shout…,” Leonard, p. 50
182 “Men of Greece …,” Melville Jones, pp. 47–8
182 “taking their possessions …,” ibid., p. 48
182 “as a means of testing …,” ibid., p. 48
183 “impose as large an annual tribute …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 286
183 “your power, which is already very …,” Leonard, p. 50
184 “The Genoese are split …,” ibid., p. 50
184 “the chance of making …,” Melville Jones, p. 6
184 “decide the day of battle …,” Leonard, p. 50
184 “And all the tents …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 27
184 “This strange spectacle … like lightning,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 281
184 “It seemed that the sea …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 181
185 “Illala, lllala …,” Leonard, p. 54
185 “the sky itself would …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 48
185 “they appeared to be half-dead …,” Doukas, trans. Magoulias, p. 221
185 “Spare us, O Lord …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 281
185 “I cannot describe …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 27
186 “Misfortune to you …,” quoted Yerasimos, Les Traditions Apocalyptiques, p. 157
13 “Remember the Date”
187 “These tribulations are …,” quoted Inalcik, The Ottoman Empire: The Classical Age, p. 56
187 “a great rug to be …,” Mihailovich, p. 145
188 “they did nothing apart from …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 49
188 “the provincial governors and generals …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 59
188 “fashioned out of gold and silver …,” ibid., p. 61
189 “once we have started …,” ibid., p. 62
190 “to be silent …,” ibid., p. S3
190 “you know how many …,” Melville Jones, pp. 48–9
190 “but if I see …,” ibid., p. 49
190 “by the four thousand …,” Leonard, p. 54
191 “Once the city of …,” quoted Babinger, p. 355
191 “O, if you had heard …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, pp. 156–8
192 “and all us Christians …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 49
193 “for the advantage of …,” ibid., p. 21
193 “right away his resolution …,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 75
193 “treated him all night …,” ibid., p. 77
193 “it was a thing … ending the bombardment,” Barbaro, Diary, p. 60
194 “The Prophet said …,” quoted Babinger, p. 85
195 “Gardens watered by …,” The Koran, p. 44
195 “You well know …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 302
195 “God has promised you …,” The Koran, p. 361
197 “that all who called themselves …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 50
198 “evil Turks … for his horses,” Leonard, p. 56
198 “you have decorated … immortal glory,” ibid., p. 58
198 “only two or three …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, pp. 61–2
200 “fell to the ground … reached to heaven,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 87
200 “Children of Muhammad …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 49
201 “that to us it seemed …,” Barbaro, Diary, p. 56
201 “with all their weapons …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 49
201 “and when each side …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 29
201 “from dusk till dawn …,” Sad-ud-din, p. 27
201 “the Emperor mounted …,” Sphrantzes, trans. Carroll, p. 74
202 “On the same night …,” Sphrantzes, trans. Philippides, p. 61
14 The Locked Gates
203 “There is no certainty …,” Ibn Khaldun, vol. 2, p. 67
203 “the moat has all been filled …,” Kritovoulos, History of Mehmet, p. 62
204 “three thousand …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 283
205 “victory was assured,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 42
206 “Christians, kept in his camp …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 30
206 “Greeks, Latins, Germans …,” Leonard, p. 16
206 “with arrows from … blasphemies and curses,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 66
206 “threw big stones down … dying on one side or the other,” Barbaro, Diary, p. 62
207 “Advance, my friends …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 67
207 “like lions unchained …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 52
207 “When they heard …,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 71
208 “killed an incredible …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 52
208 “We hurled deadly missiles …,” Leonard, p. 60
208 “all brave men,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 52
208 “they continued to raise …,” Leonard, p. 60
208 “Sometimes the heavy infantry …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 67
209 “that the very air …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 53
210 “where the city’s defenses …,” Leonard, p. 40
210 “they were frightened by nothing …,” ibid., p. 40
210 “men who were very …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 68
211 “neither hunger …,” ibid., p. 68
211 “the blackness of night …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 158
211 “the bowmen, slingers and …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 68
211 “there were so many …,” Melville Jones, p. 7
211 “the rain of arrows … war cry,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 68
211 “not like Turks …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 53
211 “With their great shouting …,” ibid., p. 53
211 “eager and fresh …,” ibid., p. 53
212 “like men intent …,” ibid., p. 53
212 “all his nobles …,” ibid., p. 53
212 “javelins, pikes …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 68
212 “fell, struck by …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 160
212 “taunts, those stabbing …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 69
212 “It seemed like something …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 53
212 “We repelled them …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 161
212 “brave soldiers …,” Leonard, p. 44
213 “wicked and merciless fortune,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 68
214 “Friends, we have the city …,” ibid., p. 70
215 “such cries that it seemed …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 54
215 “so that they made …,” Melville Jones, p. 50
216 “Then all the rest of …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 70
15 A Handful of Dust
217 “Tell me please …,” Sherrard, p. 102
217 “ordered his trumpeters …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 296
218 “attacked them …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 71
218 “to create universal terror …,” ibid., p. 71
218 “everyone they found …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 55
218 “threw bricks and …,” Nestor-Iskander, p. 89
218 “the whole city was filled …,” Melville Jones, p. 51
219 “their wives and children … friends and wives,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 295
219 “beautifully embellished …,” Doukas, trans. Magoulias, p. 228
219 “slaughter their aged …,” Sad-ud-din, p. 29
219 “nations, customs and languages,” Melville Jones, p. 123
219 “plundering, destroying …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 71
219 “terrible and pitiful … their bed chambers,” ibid., pp. 71–2
220 “slaughtered mercilessly … and the infirm,” Leonard, p. 66
220 “The newborn babies …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 295
220 “dragging them out …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 72
220 “young and modest …,” ibid., p. 72
220 “holy artifacts and …,” ibid., p. 73
220 “walls of churches and sanctuaries …,” ibid., p. 73
220 “The consecrated images …,” Melville Jones, p. 38
220 “led to the fleet …,” Barbaro, Diary, p. 67
220 “hauled out of the … things were done,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 73
221 “and from the West …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 292
222 “to search for gold …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 34
222 “and so they put …,” Barbaro, Diary, p. 67
222 “churches, old vaults …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 74
223 “men, women, monks …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 296
223 “the fury of … help them,” La Caduta, vol. 1, pp. 185–6
224 “not without great danger …,” ibid., p. 44
224 “I always knew that …,” ibid., p. 44
225 “We were in a terrible situation …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 36
225 “all of us would …,” ibid., p. 37
225 “at midday with …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 58
225 “like melons along a canal,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 36
226 “some of whom had been drowned …,” ibid., p. 36
227 “to the very heavens,” Procopius, quoted Freely, p. 28
228 “trapped as in a net,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 74
228 “a certain spot, and … extraordinary spectacle,” Doukas, trans. Magoulias, p. 227
228 “in an instant …,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 292
228 “ransacked and desolate,” ibid., p. 227
229 “the blind-hearted emperor,” Sad-ud-din, p. 30
230 “the Emperor turned to …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 214
230 “The Emperor of Constantinople …,” ibid., pp. 184–5
230 “Weep Christians …,” Legrand, p. 74
231 “The ruler of Istanbul …,” quoted Lewis, The Muslim Discovery of Europe, p. 30
231 “seventy or eighty thousand …,” quoted Freely, pp. 211–12
232 “like a fire or a whirlwind …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, pp. 74–5
233 “mounting as [Jesus] … castle of Afrasiyab,” quoted Lewis, Istanbul, p. 8
233 “dumbfounded by … a few pence,” La Caduta, vol. 1, pp. 219–21
233 “gold and silver …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 327
234 “women and children …,” Norwich, vol. 3, p. 143
16 The Present Terror of the World
235 “Whichever way I look …,” Melville Jones, p. 135
235 “I ransomed … in pain and grief,” Camariotes, p. 1070
236 “scattered across …,” La Caduta, vol. 2, p. 416
236 “said that we did …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, pp. 44–6
237 “full of wine … the bloodthirsty beast,” Doukas, trans. Magoulias, pp. 234–5
237 “and the Islamic invocation …,” quoted Lewis, Istanbul, p. 8
237 “the sweet five-times-repeated …,” Sad-ud-din, p. 33
237 “what a city we have …,” Kritovoulos, Critobuli, p. 76
238 “Nothing worse than this …,” quoted Wheatcroft, The Ottomans, p. 23
238 “a great and excessive crying …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. xxxviii
239 “On the day when the Turks …,” quoted Schwoebel, p. 4
239 “What is this execrable news …,” quoted ibid., p. 9
239 “in this year was …,” ibid., p. 4
239 “the cunning of the Pope …,” Lewis, The Muslim Discovery of Europe, p. 32
239 “the Sultan and all the men …,” Ibn Taghribirdi, pp. 38–9
240 “stuffed with straw … Turks,” Doukas, Fragmenta, p. 300
240 “It is your responsibility …,” Inalcik, The Ottoman Empire, p. 56
240 “there must … be only …,” quoted Schwoebel, p. 43
240 “Our Senators would not …,” Barbaro, Giornale, p. 66
241 “I thank Muhammad …,” quoted Schwoebel, p. 11
241 “The enemy is at …,” quoted Babinger, p. 358
242 “We ourselves allowed …,” quoted Babinger, pp. 170–71
245 “general enemy Ottoman … malignant and turbaned Turk,” Othello
245 “the first troop … their mother,” quoted Nabil, p. 158
245 “the churches which were within the city …,” Sad-ud-din, p. 33
246 “Be Patriarch …,” quoted Runciman, The Fall of Constantinople, p. 155
246 “Here in the land of …,” quoted Mansel, p. 15
246 “The Turks do not compel …,” quoted Mansel, p. 47
246 “a second death for Homer and Plato,” quoted Schwoebel, p. 9
247 “made up of a horse and a man,” quoted Nabil, p. 159
247 “a reflection of the infinite …,” quoted Levey, p. 15
250 “I beheld the prospect …,” quoted Istanbul: Everyman Guides, p. 82
250 “What I have created …,” quoted Levey, p. 18
250 “the sight whereof …,” quoted Mansel, p. 57
251 “It seems to me …,” quoted Freely, p. 14
Epilogue: Resting Places
253 “It was fortunate for …,” quoted Babinger, p. 408
253 “a short, thick neck …,” quoted ibid., p. 424
254 “men who have seen him …,” quoted ibid., p. 424
254 “his father was domineering …,” quoted ibid., p. 411
254 “there are no ties …,” quoted ibid., p. 405
256 “I am George Sphrantzes …,” Sphrantzes, trans. Philippides, p. 21
256 “my beautiful daughter Thamar …,” ibid., p. 75
256 “I confess with certainty …,” ibid., p. 91
256 “either from his wound …,” La Caduta, vol. 1, p. 162
256 “Here lies Giovanni Giustiniani …,” quoted Setton, p. 429
259 “like a border of tulips,” Chelebi, La Siège, p. 2
260 “Among the fragments …,” Gilles, p. 130
About the Sources
261 “There were so many …,” La Caduta, vol. 2, p. 261
265 “Therefore, O mighty Emperor …,” Kritovoulos, History of Mehmet, pp. 4–6