The 1453 fall of Constantinople: capturing the Byzantine capital

Jonathan Harris charts the extraordinary battle that saw the Byzantine capital fall to the Ottoman Turks

Published: January 23, 2025 at 9:00 AM

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In 1453, the once grand and formidable city of Constantinople fell to the hands of the Ottoman Turks – bringing over a millennium of Byzantine rule to a dramatic close, and heralding the rise of the Ottoman empire. But what caused this seismic moment? And how did the attack play out? Together with Emily Briffett, Professor Jonathan Harris journeys back to the 15th century to unravel how the Byzantine capital was seized – recounting the action and exploring the ramifications up to the modern day.

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Authors

Emily BriffettSenior content producer (podcasts)

Emily Briffett is senior content producer (podcasts) at HistoryExtra

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