The Fall of Constantinople and Its Last Emperor Constantine Palaiologos

The Fall of Constantinople and Its Last Emperor Constantine Palaiologos

Emperor Constantine XI fought to the end as Constantinople fell to the Ottomans on May 29, 1453, marking the collapse of the Byzantine Empire. Credit: Theophilos Hatzimihail, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. On May 29, 1453, as dawn broke over the ancient walls of Constantinople, the thousand-year-old dream of a Roman Empire breathing through Christian lungs came to a shattering fall. Sultan Mehmed II’s forces finally overwhelmed the city that …

May 29: The Last Day of the World

From its foundation in 1299 until its fall in 1922, discover how this powerful empire dominated three continents, uniting cultures, religions and traditions. Meet legendary leaders such as Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople, and discover the keys to its expansion: an innovative army, an efficient bureaucracy and a rich cultural heritage. From the majestic mosques of Istanbul to the intrigues of Topkapi Palace, immerse yourself in an epic…

On 29 May 1453, Constantine was defeated, the symbol of Eastern Christianity, but also of the old European civilization. Its role, a 21-year-old, will reach one of the most famous Ottoman Sultans and an innocent enemy of European Christianity.

Lou Katsos To Speak On the Fall of Constantinople This Sunday 5.30 pm At Stathakeion - Helleniscope

This Sunday, June 1st, 2025 at 5:30 PM at the Stathakion Cultural Center (22-51 29th Street, Astoria, NY 11105), Lou Katsos. The President of EMBCA and our 2026 Parade Chairman will be the Keynote Speaker for the Anniversary and Commemoration of the Fall of Constantinople (May 29, 1453). Says Lou: “I accepted without hesitation, as […]

The capture of Constantinople in 1453: the end of an empire and the beginning of another On 29 May 1453 marks a decisive turning point in world history: the fall of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire, at the hands of the Ottomans. At only 21 years old, Sultan Mehmed II, later nicknamed "the Conqueror" (Fatih Sultan Mehmet), succeeds where many others had failed. The city, surrounded since April, resists for almost two months. Despit…