Constantinopolis (36 page)

The Sultan received a separate report from one of his personal guards and commanders who had been directed to review conditions in the Golden Horn. Mehmet was not pleased with what he learned. The Turkish fleet had broken through the sea chain and both the Horn fleet and the Bosporus fleet had made its way to the city harbors and docked. However, instead of containing or destroying the Italian and Greek ships in the harbor, they had abandoned their ships to join in the looting of the city. This action was entirely against his orders. Mehmet was boiling with anger. The fleet, a tremendous innovation, had nonetheless failed him at every level during the siege. He must capture as many Italian mariners as possible, as well as their ships, and utilize them to build a more efficient and effective fleet in the future. He gave orders that sailors were to be rounded up and forced back onto their ships immediately, to form a line of defense near the broken sea chain. They were to capture or stop as many fleeing ships as possible, and also to identify all captured Italian and Greek sailors.

Mehmet also learned that a number of Italian ships had docked at Galata, and then fled from there to the Golden Horn. Mehmet knew that while Galata had claimed official neutrality, it had hardly acted the part. The Genoese city had allowed the sea chain from Constantinople to be attached to their walls. He also knew from his spies that many of the adult males from Galata had joined in the defense of the city. He was sure he would receive a delegation within the next few days requesting that he honor all previous trade agreements and the independence of the city. They were sadly mistaken if they believed this would occur. He would require them to tear down their walls and submit to his authority. He might leave the city’s population intact, as a show of good faith with the West, but Galata would be incorporated in to the Ottoman Empire along with Constantinople.

Zaganos returned in the early afternoon. He greeted Mehmet enthusiastically. “The city is ours my Lord. The reports are true. There was very little resistance in the city after we breached the walls. There has been considerable panic and quite a bit of killing. One other surprise, the city is in a very destitute state and there does not appear to be nearly the treasure we might have expected. They must have been in a very pitiful situation for the past few years. I am frankly shocked they held out as long as they did.”

“It was the will of Constantine. He was a great leader and a worthy opponent.” Mehmet was surprised at his own words. He felt a strange warmth for the Greek Emperor. Both had risked everything. Only one of them could prevail. Mehmet had proved victorious but only with the last desperate push. “Have we found Constantine?”

“We have not My Lord but I can confirm a number of reports among the Greeks that he is dead. According to multiple witnesses he was with the defenders in the palisade and fell with those defenders when they were overwhelmed by the Janissaries.”

“I want his body found and brought to me. Arrange for it.”

“I will my Lord.”

“When can I enter the city?”

“Now if you want. I would suggest you bring a reasonable number of your personal guard, just to avoid any individual Greek from trying to attack you. But there is no organized resistance left.”

Mehmet smiled, “Let us arrange it and go then.”

Another hour passed while the necessary details were arranged. Thirty of the Sultan’s personal guards were gathered. The Sultan’s full council had by now made their way to Mehmet’s tent and cheered him as he returned from the walls. Grand Vizier Halil was at the forefront, enthusiastically clapping. Mehmet thought he looked nervous.

“My Lord My Lord, truly Allah has blessed us with you in our lifetime! You have exceeded all expectations and the accomplishments of all of your ancestors, including your illustrious father. You are the supreme sultan!” Halil turned to the others, “Let us praise him.” There were renewed cheers.

Mehmet was delighted but not surprised. Halil had responded exactly as he would have expected, the same way the leader of Galata would act when he came begging for his city—like a guilty child caught red handed in an act of disobedience. He bowed in return to Halil. This was not yet the time to deal with Halil. Soon he would.

The council members mounted and so did Mehmet’s guards. The procession to the city would be made up of Mehmet and his guards in the lead, followed by the council members and then a contingent of Janissaries and representatives of the other forces involved in the siege.

Mehmet rode slowly to the front of the procession which had formed near the entrance to the Sultan’s tent. Although many of his men were within the city, thousands still remained in the camp. They were lined up now, waiting patiently to catch a glimpse of their Sultan, their conquering leader. As he passed they cheered him, praising him and Allah for this great victory. Mehmet was filled with a peace and excitement he had never known. He had never been loved or revered by his people. At times they had hated him, always they feared him, but at this precious moment they loved him. He had given them what they all secretly desired but had been denied them all these years. The first Islamic army hammered against the walls of Constantinople in 674. They had come back over and over but never taken the city. Now they had won it and they had their great capitol.

He led the procession slowly to the Adrianople (Edirne) road outside the Charisius gate. The Charisius gate, closed against the siege but now open, was one of the main entrances into the city during peacetime. The great gate stood at the highest point of the land walls, forty feet above the sea level. The gate was a tall arch, built within the walls. Mehmet walked his horse slowly forward, the walls rising with each step of his horse. The entrance to the gate was vacant but just past the gate huge crowds of Ottomans waited. He walked slowly toward them, toward his destiny. For 53 days he had stood outside the walls. He had dreamed his entire life of setting foot inside the city. Now he would do so for the first time. Finally he passed the gate, looking up to admire the great thickness of the walls as he passed through. He was met with a thunderous roar from the crowd. The city was his. All his dreams had come true. And the dreams of his people.

TUESDAY, MAY 29, 1453, 2:30 P.M.

Mehmet passed the land walls at the Charisius gate and progressed slowly along the three miles to the main part of the city on the Mese road. He looked around with great curiosity. He too was taken aback by the large areas of unused and decaying buildings and the open pastures and wooded areas of the city. Constantinople felt like a ghost town, like an emaciated man near death still wearing his former clothes. Along the way he passed the large Church of the Holy Apostles on his left. Just past this massive structure he saw the even more impressive Aqueduct of Valens, which brought water into the city. He passed then through the main square of Constantine, then the Amastrionon and the Forum Tauri, and finally the Forum of Constantine.

There were bodies everywhere and blood flowed in rivulets down the streets. He saw huddled groups of Greeks, tied together and being led to assembly areas that also contained piles of all types of treasure. Mehmet gave orders for a number of his guards to spread out in the city and inform the men that the looting would be ended at dark today, rather than after the three traditional days. He ordered that all loot including all slaves be inventoried so he could retain his traditional one fifth share. All remaining loot would be apportioned in equal amounts to each soldier according to his station. He also ordered that they were to identify all nobles, priests, commanders and other important persons and bring those names and locations to Mehmet. He then asked that all sailors be identified. The nobles and priests would be ransomed to the west at the maximum value and then released, unless Mehmet decided otherwise.

As Mehmet traveled leisurely on through the streets, the dome of St. Sophia began to steadily rise on the horizon. He was awed at its size, the largest Christian church and in fact the largest building in the known world.

Finally the Sultan and his entourage reached St. Sophia itself. He dismounted and entered the huge narthex and then the sanctuary through the battered imperial gate. The cathedral was in chaos. He could hear the wailing within and through the doors to the sanctuary and he saw huge numbers of Greeks sitting huddled together, Ottomans walking among them with swords drawn. Occasionally a loud scream would echo above the general moaning.

Mehmet walked into the main cathedral, followed by a few guards and his council members. He was quickly recognized and soon the moaning had faded away, replaced by hushed whispering. He looked around, gauging the situation. “Who is in charge here?” he demanded.

One of the Janissaries among the Greek prisoners stepped forward and bowed low. “I am not sure anyone is really in charge My Lord. How may I be of service?”

“Tell me what’s going on in here.”

“We broke in a few hours ago. There was no resistance within. Since that time we have been gathering prisoners and also treasure.”

Mehmet looked about the sanctuary, noting the blood and the damaged walls. “I gave strict instructions that the churches were not to be damaged in any way. Why was I not obeyed?”

“I am sorry My Lord. I have not been involved in any of the looting. I have been collecting the prisoners.”

Mehmet looked at the man for a moment. “Someone has to pay.” He motioned for one of his guards who came forward and struck the Janissary a blow to the head with a mace. The soldier crumpled under the blow, blood spurting all over the worn marble floor. The body convulsed for a few moments, and then was still.

The sanctuary was dead silent. All eyes were on Mehmet. He turned to the crowd. “I commanded that this church and all churches be left alone! This command was not followed! If I see any more looting I will kill everyone responsible! You will take your prisoners out to the courtyard and gather them to be sorted. If you are aware of anyone important, you are to bring that to the attention of a superior immediately. I congratulate you on taking the city. Allah be praised!”

Mehmet turned to speak to the council. “We have taken the city my friends. We stand in the great cathedral of our enemies, the greatest church of the infidels. It is time for rewards. Halil come forward!”

The Grand Vizier came forward, a bit nervously. This was the moment Mehmet had waited for, dreamed of, since he was a boy. “Halil you are stripped of your titles and your wealth immediately. You have betrayed me and the people with your lack of faith and you have sought bribes from the enemy.”

“What!”

“You have been in contact with the enemy and you have sought bribes.”

Halil was wild eyed, his nostrils flaring. “What do you speak of My Lord? That is preposterous. Who says such things!”

“I do,” came a voice from the shadows. Sphrantzes stepped out of the darkness flanked by two of Mehmet’s guards. He spoke Turkish. He bowed to Mehmet and turned to the council members. “I can attest that I have been working closely with Halil for several years now. I am the closest advisor of the Emperor Constantine. I have paid Halil bribes on a monthly basis for information about your government, the size of your forces, and the like. Halil has provided me with substantial information about this siege, including telling me that if we survived the attacks today, you would have to lift the siege.”

There were gasps from the council. One of them shouted “Traitor!”

Halil looked in shock at Sphrantzes. “Liar! I have never seen you before. He is lying! Mehmet has set me up! Mehmet is lying to you!”

Mehmet laughed. “Always the guilty deny. Seize him!” Guards ran forward and restrained Halil. “You will be executed when I am ready. In the meantime you may sit in prison and pray to Allah for your sins. Take him away!”

Mehmet watched the guards drag Halil away. He relished this moment more than any other, perhaps even more than entering the city itself. The ghosts of his father were fading away. When Halil was out of sight he turned and walked over to Sphrantzes, moving close enough that only Sphrantzes could hear him.

“You played your part well.”

“Thank you My Lord. I hope you will give me the promised reward.”

“Yes, you will be spared, and richly rewarded.”

“And my freedom?”

“Ah, that I cannot grant. I am sorry but I have had to reconsider that request.”

“But My Lord, we had an agreement.”

“I must consider the needs of my people. I’m sorry.” He smiled to himself. He found this traitor to his people distasteful and looked forward to disposing of him as soon as he could.

Sphrantzes was pale now. He looked around as if trying to find some support. “I have one more thing to offer, for my freedom.”

Mehmet’s thought of cutting down this Greek right here and now but his interest was piqued. “What more could you give me?”

“I can give you Constantine’s lover.”

“What?”

“I can give you Zophia. I know where she is. She was the closest thing in the world to Constantine. She is young and beautiful.”

Zophia. He had heard the name before and knew the rumors of Constantine’s affections for her. He had also heard she was a great beauty, perhaps the greatest beauty of the empire. Could he find her without Sphrantzes? Even if Sphrantzes revealed her location should he kill him anyway? Mehmet paused for a moment considering. If he killed him in front of all of these Greeks they would not trust him. He would need others for information and for his plans for the city. Also if he killed him now the other elders might become suspicious of his motives. He had gained great power and prestige by taking the city but there was no reason to be reckless with his new power. What of the possibility that Sphrantzes would spread rumors about Mehmet to others in the West? Others would do so no matter what Sphrantzes said. And how could he tell his story without implicating himself as a traitor? Finally he wanted to find this Zophia. Others might lead him to her but then again, they might not. Soon the slaves would be divided and sent out. He might never find her again.