Everybody Sing Along!
“Istanbul was Constantinople, it’s Istanbul not Constantinople…”
Like me, I’m sure the 1953 hit by The Four Lads is one of your favorites. I don’t think you can pass a karaoke bar without hearing someone singing the lyrics or humming the catchy tune. It made me realize you probably are not aware of the unique string of events that led to Constantinople’s downfall. Prepare for shock and awe.
In 1453 the city was besieged by the Ottoman Turks led by Sultan Mehmed II. The siege lasted for about two months, during which the defenders, numbering approximately 7,000, faced a much larger Ottoman force of around 80,000 troops. After all these years I put 2 and 2 together and came up with this insightful theory, at last putting to bed and conjecture as to why the city and the Byzantine Empire fell. They were outnumbered.
I hope, once the shock wears off, you accept this news and move on with your life. It’s not your fault!