[IslamCity] The 29th of May 1453 - The Conquest of Istanbul.

Sat, 04 Jun 2005 05:06:36 -0700



Mohamed Bokreta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
To:islamcity@yahoogroups.com
From: Mohamed Bokreta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Sun, 29 May 2005 11:21:28 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: The 29th of May 1453 - The Conquest of Istanbul.

IN THE NAME OF GOD THE COMPASSIONATE THE MERCIFUL

 

“Do they not Travel through the Earth, and see what the end of those before them was? But the home of the Hereafter is best, Will Ye not then Understand?” Holy-Quran 12-109.

Islam’s Historic Diary                                                  

 

*Subject: The Conquest of Istanbul

*Date: The 29th of May 1453

*Place: Istanbul, Ottoman Turkey

*Elapsed Time: Day for Day: 552 Years

*Main historic Figure: Sultan Mohamed Fatih.                           

                                                

            It will be worth recalling that the city of Istanbul or Constantinople as it was known before the Conquest was sieged several times in History by different nations such as the Persians, Greeks ,Romans , Avars, Bulgarians ,Russians and Latins who have tried in vain to conquer this strategic city.

 

            The Muslim Arabs sieged the city seven times but were not successful, followed by another seven sieges during the Ottoman Empire as recounted in Ottoman history from the Sultan Yildirim Bayazid in 1391 AD until the seventh and final siege that was carried out under the command of Mehmet II or Mohamed Al Fatih as he is historically known.

 

            Mohamed Al Fatih was born on the 29th of March 1432 in Edirne, so he was exactly 21 years & two months old the day of the conquest; he was the son of Sultan Murad II. His mother was Huma Hatun. He was a tall, strong and muscular man. Mohamed Al Fatih was a statesman and a military leader.

 

            He was also interested in literature, fine arts and monumental architecture. He was educated by the famous scholar Aksemseddin, furthermore Mohamed II spoke seven languages fluently, and adding to his worthy tribute is the famous portrait of him by Gentile Bellini.

 

            For Mohamed Al Fatih, the conquest of Byzantium had a special significance as the Ottomans had spread on both continents, in Europe they had reached to Danube; the capital had been moved to Edirne in Europe, and therefore the obstacles that prevented the unism of the lands on the two continents had to be removed.

 

           

            Mohamed Al Fatih thoroughly prepared plans for the conquest and in order to keep the straits of the Bosphorous safe and to cut out any help that may reach Byzantium  , he built a tower on the European  side just opposite the one on the Anatolian side , in parallel to the D day attack ships and canons were built in Gelibolu.

 

               Realizing that unless the Golden Horn was sieged the city would not fail and in trying to enter the Golden Horn, the big chains that closed the golden horn prevented the Ottoman ships from going in , so all efforts to break the chains were in vain , here came a very unique warfare tactic that is still the subject of Army strategic Analysts , as Mohamed Al Fatih ordered that the ships numbered 72 are to be carried by cows and balanced by hundreds of Soldiers via ropes and  slid on wheels, and  be brought into the Golden Horn by way of land , hence on the afternoon of the 22nd of April 1453 ,the ships were inside the well protected Byzantine bay !!!

 

            Such high profile military tactic created panic among the Byzantine army and were just dumbfounded and horrified when they saw Ottoman galleys moving down on the hills, for sure it was a deep moral blow to the Constantinople defenders as it has weakened the defense of the land fortresses.

 

            The Teacher of Mohamed Al Fatih, Molla Husrev reminded the Young Sultan of the Words of The Beloved Prophet Mohamed (P.B.U.H):

 

“Constantinople will definitely be conquered, that Commander who conquers Byzantium is a Noble conqueror and his Soldiers are Noble Soldiers.”

 

            Such driving force words significantly encouraged Mohamed Al Fatih and gave him a tremendous boost as well as to his Brave Soldiers and on the 29th of May 1453 Al Fatih gave the order to attack, the Ottoman army launched its final assault accompanied by Commemoration of Almighty Allah “Takbir” and beats of drums, meanwhile the Young Ottoman Soldier “Ulubatli Hassan” who first erected the Ottoman flag on Byzantine land fortress was Martyred , towards noon the Young Sultan entered the city on a white horse the people of Constantinople were applauding and the Ottoman troops were  praying and praising Allah for such a promised Victory !!!

 

            The conquest of Istanbul has had such a great Historical impact on the Ottoman Empire and the Muslim World to the degree that some Historians demarcate the end of the Middle Ages with the city’s Conquest and it has enabled the Ottoman Muslims to take dynamic roles in shaping international politics much to the  European Christendom’s  chagrin.

 

            As for this unique model and Charismatic Young Sultan Al Fatih, who ruled the Ottoman Empire for 30 years and joined 25 campaigns himself. He was a very strict statesman, a very brave soldier and above all a God- Fearing Man. He took place in front of his army in the wars and he encouraged his soldiers in different situations, showing them how to serve faithfully Islam and the Ummah, the Sultan had died on the 3rd of May 1481 at the age of 49. He was buried in "Fatih Turbesi" (tomb), near the Mosque of Fatih in Istanbul, May Almighty God have Mercy on his soul and make the Great Heaven his dwelling. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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