[M2TW AAR] May 29, 1453. The last chance
Chapter 1: Introduction
"Tell me what happened Pietro. Can't you see the agony that dominates my face?"
"But, your Holiness, your doctor said you shouldn't be surprised, become extremely happy or extremely sad. Your heart..."
"Thanks for your interest, Pietro. But I would like to know..."
"Very well. I shall start describing you the events from the point when was our last appointment, three months ago."
"You have my attention."
"When I left from here, the Eternal city of Rome, I went to my home land, Venice, when the Doge ordered me to sail to Constantinople and become the personal messenger of the podesta of the Republic there. That's what happened. When the ship I was travelling on reached the Golden Horn in Constantinople, I immediately went to the Blacharnae Palace. When I arrived there, an officer told me that the Emperor of Constantinople, Konstantinos Paleologos, and the podesta were waiting for me. I entered the room of the throne, and the two men welcomed me. I gave the Emperor and the Podesta a document signed from the Doge and the members of the "Council of Ten". My role would be to be the messenger of the Podesta. That was very exciting for me, as I had the opportunity to know almost everything that was happening during the siege. In April 1, the Emperor's spies arrived at the Palace, and he invited all the Generals and the Prefect of Constantinople to Blachanae so everybody could know how the situation was. These spies were talking about an army of about 160,000 soldiers and 69 cannons led by the Sultan Mehmed II. You must know, Your Holiness, that this was the biggest army the world has ever seen. They also reported that they were approaching Constantinople quickly. But, the brave and intelligent Emperor had ordered his faithful friend and general, Georgios Sphrantzes, to recruit as many men able to fight as possible. Unfortunately, he could only recruit 5,000 Greeks and 200 permanent Italian residents of Constantinople. There were also the volunteers, particularly from the Italian city-states, being about 2,000. In April 6, the siege started,as it was the day when the Ottoman Sultan and his army took their positions in front of the Walls of Theodosius."
Chapter 2: The Siege
" The Turkish artillery started the bombardment at April 12. One of the 69 cannons was a giant cannon which could make much damage to the Walls. From April 20 they tried many times to take control of the Walls, and thus the city, but the brave defenders didn't let them enter the city. In May 20, the Saracens put a huge wooden wall they had made the previous day out of the walls. This tower had big windows, from where archers caused large casualties in the defenders on the walls that day. Also, the bombardment caused a long section and a tower of the walls to demolish. However, the following night, the Emperor, Giustiniani, the brave and extremely intelligent leader of the volunteers from Genoa, and the soldiers made terrible efforts to reverse the bad -for them- situation. In order to achieve this, a team of volunteers got out of the walls, approached the tower, threw liquid fire to it and it became ruins. In the meanwhile, the rest of the soldiers repaired the walls so well that approached excellence and re-built the tower. The following morning, when the Sultan saw his huge tower destroyed he said:"Yesterday, even all the thirty seven thousands prophets had told me that something like this would happen, I wouldn't have believed them!" The Greek generals knew that everything was hanging in a balance and also knew that the Emperor was in danger. In a Council where all the notable people from Constantinople and the defenders were present, they all believed that Constantine should leave the city. He could escape to Morea, where many local people would become volunteers under the commands of the Emperor. This army would be merged with the professional armies of the Despots and the Albanians, under Skanderberg, would join them. This, along with the Hungarian army that was on its way and the Sicilian and Venetian fleet would make the Sulatan really concerned that he would stop the siege. The Emperor heard all of them patiently and said: "Thank you, my friends, for your advices. I know that, to leave Constantinople may be good for me. But, how can I leave you here alone? How could I leave the churches of God, along with his servants alone? How could I do something like this? No, my friends! From now o, don't tell me anything else, but:"No, our Emperor! Don't leave us alone!" I will never leave you alone! I have decided to die here with you!" And, after the Emperor said all these, he turned his face back, beacause his eyes were filled with tears. And, along with him, were crying the Patriarch, the Generals and everyone that was present..."
Chapter 3: The decisions
"However, both sides knew that this couldn't go on forever. In May 23, a War Council took place in the Sultan Mehmed's luxurious tent. Some generals advised the Sultan to stop the siege and reminded him the Hungarian threat and the chance that a Hungarian army would show up from behind, as well as the large united Venetian and Sicilian that were approaching. It is true that this possibility was growing day by day. However, others didn't believe this information and strongly suggested the Sultan to continue the siege. Finally, the insightful Sultan chose the middle way: The last attack would take place in May 29. If it was successful, everything would be fine. If not, the siege would stop immediately and truce would be signed. In May 28, the Emperor Konstantinos invited all the Generals, the Patriarch, the Prefect of Constantinople and the leader of the volunteers to the Blacharnae Palace. They all knew when would be the last attack and were already making their preparations. In that last War Council, in the room of the throne, the Emperor talked to them using touching words, asking from them not to take into account their lives and not to hesitate to pour blood defending the honoured ancient city. He turned his face to the Venetians, in his right, and reminded them that Constantinople had always , and on accepted them like its children. "I now please you", the Emperor continued,"to show us at these hard times that you are our real friends, faithful allies and our brothers!" After that, he turned to the Genoese, he talked to them about their honorable past and asked them to show at this monumental occasion their world-famous courage. The Emperor ended with these words, addressing to all the people present:" Let us work, my brothers and my friends, to gain freedom, honour and eternal memory! I cede to your hands my sceptre! Here it is! Hold it! Crowns are waiting for you in the sky your names will be remembered with honour until the end of the world!" "Let us die for our faith and our home!" "Let us die for the church of God and for you, our Emperor!" were the enthusiastic answers of the people who were assembling nearby Konstantinos. Everyone was deeply excited. The defenders of the city were hugging each other, asking for and giving forgiveness. No one was thinking his children, his wife or his property, but the honorable death which everybody was waiting to face for the sake of the Homeland. At that night, the two sides were making preparations for the last assault. Everyone knew that, whoever had under his control the glorious city the next day, would survive. The other would not. The following day, May 29, would be the day that would decide who the winner would be. Both sides had a confidence that they would win. After all, that would be their last chance."
Chapter 4: The Final Assault
Constantinople, May 29, 1453. The grey circles are the areas we will focus in.
"Shortly after midnight, the first wave of attackers approached the Walls, the bombardment started and the Turks placed their ladders at the walls..."
Emperor: What's happening in the Outer Walls?
Messenger: The Turks have shot them and their soldiers are approaching them right now.
Emperor: Where is the breach the Turks are planning to attack?
Messenger: Near the Gate of Saint Romanos.
Emperor: Very well. Send my orders to the commanders of the reserves to move their troops there. That will make our brave soldiers ward off the enemy with less difficulties. As fast as you can.
Emperor: Yes, my Emperor. As fast as I can.
Soldier: Sir, shall we go to the breach now?
Emperor: No. I shall wait to see if they can drive back the Ottomans alone. There might be other places, where we will be more useful.
Soldier: As you command, my lord.
Meanwhile, in the Sultan Mehmed 's camp...
Sultan: My "uncle", what will be our next move?
Halil: Now, our weak and badly armoured warriors are going to attack the Greeks.
Sultan: And after that?
Halil: The second wave of the attack will be realized. That will be consisted from troops from
Rumelia and Anatolia. After that, the third and last attack by the Jannisaries will take place.
Sultan: Excellent. Now, go to your soldiers and give them your instructions.
Halil: I am now leaving to go to them, accordingly to your commands, my Sultan.
In the meanwhile, near the Gate of Rhegium...
Theophilos Paleologos: Now, brave men of war, as you can see, the infidels are approaching. Show no mercy!
Soldiers: We shall never show mercy!
Niccolo Motzenigo: General Theophilos , do you need any support? I could probably send you about 100 of my men.You see, the Ottoman Turks are not likely to make a heavy attack in my sections of walls.
Theophilos Paleologos: I am most grateful, generous general. Please, send them to me as soon as possible.
Niccolo Motzenigo: I will try to.
After three minutes, at the Blacharnae Walls...
Johannes Grant: These infidel dogs are coming, men. Prepare to defend your city, your faith and your families! Show your bravery!
Soldiers: We will! Of course we will!
After four hours, near the Gate of Saint Romanos...
Giovanni Giustiniani: Our defenders are very brave, but it seems they have difficulties to deal with the enemies...
Messenger: General! General!
Giovanni Giustiniani:What?
Messenger: The first wave of the Ottoman attack is retreating! Our soldiers have managed to push back the enemy!
Giovanni Giustiniani:That's good news. Very good news, indeed! But, now comes the really difficult part of the day... The night has already given its place to the sun...
After twenty minutes...
Emperor: What's going on at the Walls?
Messenger: The first wave has been successfully driven back, but the second wave is coming. That will be a hard task for our warriors...
In the meanwhile, near the Gate of Rhegium...
Theophilos Paleologos: Prepare for the upcoming storm, men. Prepare to defend your positions and the city.
After one hour, near the Gate of Saint Romanos...
Captain Giacomo: The Turks have gained the upper hand here. Messenger!
Messenger: Yes?
Captain Giacomo: Go as soon as you can to the Emperor. You will describe the situation here: Tell him that the defense at the Gate of Saint Romanos is about to collapse. We need him here immediately with as many men as possible, else I will order the troops to retreat to the Inner Walls.
Messenger: As you command, sir!
At the same time, at the Blacharnae Walls...
Johannes Grant: I see you fighting the enemy well, men! Don't give up now! Never give up!
Soldiers: Never!
After one hour, at the Gate of Saint Romanos...
Captain Giacomo: It's been an hour since I ordered the messenger to invite the Emperor here! Why didn't he come? What shall we do now?
Giovanni Giustiniani: We shall wait for him for twenty more minutes and, if he doesn't show up, we will retreat to the inner Walls. Although, I'm afraid that would be a suicide. We will lose many men during the retreat... It seems like the battle for the Outer Walls will finish in some minutes...
After five minutes, at the Inner Walls, near the Gate of Saint Romanos...
Giovanni Giustiniani: Look, the Emperor is coming! At last! I am grateful to God for this! But, my Emperor, where have you been? Why are you so late?
Emperor: It took me time to gather a lot of men to reinforce you here. And, as I can see, you need these reinforcements immediately! Now, let's go to work, all together!
Giovanni Giustiniani: As you command, my Emperor!
After one hour, at the same place...
Emperor: Our men have gained a lot of courage, and they, along with the reinforcements I brought, can now hold their positions!
Giovanni Giustiniani:Wow! The Emperor inspires the troops greatly!
In the meanwhile, at the Blacharnae Walls...
Johannes Grant: Oh! What's that open door over there?
Soldier:It's the Kerkopotra, my general...Johannes Grant: You and five others will now go to close and lock that door. Many Saracens could rush in, before anyone can stop them!
Soldier: I will follow your instructions, my general, right now!Johannes Grant: At least, the good point is that we're defending the walls successfully... (after he saw the soldiers closed the door)
After two hours, at the Gate of Saint Romanos...
Emperor: I can't believe this! The Ottomans are retreating! This is... amazing!
Giovanni Giustiniani: Yeah! And the second wave came with the third all together, so that was the last attack! If God wants to, ...
At the same time, at the Sultan's tent...
Sultan: Now what shall we do?
Halil: I am afraid that we must stop the siege of Constantinople and return to Andrianople, as the War Council had decided my lord...
Sultan: Fine. Then, order all the commanders to realize the tactical retreat...
Halil: As you command!
Chapter 5: Conclusion
"That's how Constantinople was saved that day, your Holiness. Now, the Hungarian army is crossing the Danube, and the Venetian&Sicilian fleet are arriving at Constantinople. The Albanian army, lead by Skanderberg, as well as the armies of the Despots of Morea and the Greeks of Constantinople, along with the armies I mentioned, are likely to become extremely dangerous for the Ottomans, at least in Europe..."
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Originally Posted by LlamaD
