Jubelu

Are there any chance for the Byzantine to hold off their Turkish adversary?

Comet

They were so weak from internal disintegration that I don't think it would have been possible. The fact that they couldn't hold one of the most fortified and protected cities in the world at that time is a good indication on just how weak they were.

Lucius

Timur defeated the Ottomans at Ankara in 1406. Sigismund of Hungary became German Emperor in 1410. But Europe was as divided as the East was. Bohemia was in revolt, as was a lot of Hungary itself. Poland-Lithuania was more concerned with the Teutonic Knights. Venice had taken over the Dalmatian coast. "Crusading" had lost it's allure in any case. By 1453, it was way too late to save Constantinople. If the princes had known what 1529 would bring to Vienna, presumably they would have gotten their act together. But that's always the case.

Nikd

I will agree the Empire had her last chance to survive in 1329 when they hired the catalunian mercenaries. Unfortunately then there was not an emperor like Heraclius or Basil II to take full advandage of these men.
In 1453 the Empire was finished.

Melisende

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Also agree that the Empire was beyond redemption. No cohension, no manpower, the city itself was said to look nothing like its former glory, and their last Emperor Constantine was born too late to save them.

Had he been born a generation or two earlier, he may have been able to halt the rot .. but ....

Ankrom

Actually, John VIII Palaeologus attended the Council of Florence to 'unify' the Catholic and Orthodox churches and to recieve military aid from Pope Eugenius IV. After the conclusion of the Council of Florence, which was condemned by groups in both Catholic and Orthodox churches, Eugenius sent a 'crusade' to remove the Turks from Europe. The 'crusade' was destroyed at the battle of Varna, Nov. 1444, sealing Constantinople's fate.

Afrasiyab

well, we have to discuss the fate of Osmanli Beyligi, as well. before the Ottoman Empire was officially founded, there were many beyliks scattered through Anatolia and Osmanli Beyligi was one of them. in contrast to the others, The Osmanli preferred to fight against Byzantium, in other words Christians. and the location The Osmanli was founded was very close to Byzantium, today's Bursa( Nicosia) and Bilecik. but many Turkish documents deny that The Greeks really helped The Osmanli's foundation. Suleyman Shah, father of Ertugrul, received help from Byzantium.

anyway, the point is, Osmanli fought against Christians whilst the others did against eachother, muslims. so other Beyliks, let alone fighting, helped The Osmanli batlle. and Ahis ( a Muslim sect which was really important at that time) helped The Osmanli, again for the sake of so-called Jihad.

Ottomans were wise - and they were awarded. after they had an esteemed name, they started to fight other Beyliks and they did not really pose problems because The Osmanli were muslim too. many of them surrendered with no battle.

The conquest of Istanbul was not only due to a military success but also 'luck' and ' wisdom'.

Ankrom

I wouldn't call defeating 7000 troops in a city, as a "military success", when the besieging army had at least 100K troops!

Dr Realism

Hey, winning is winning. I would say it's pretty wise to bring a Tank to a knife fight.

Nikd

lol, and shoot the knight in the back?