Rise of Empires: Ottoman

'Rise of Empires: Ottoman' is a Netflix Docuseries about the Turkish conquest of Istanbul (then known as Constantinople). Here I am going to talk about the first season only. The reason I found it so enthralling was that this conquest was not just about battleground warfare but also dealt with the backroom politics and diplomatic manoeuvres of the 15th Century.

It was a significant geopolitical event that altered the course of history for the next 500 years, not just for Europeans but also for the Indians.

Earlier, when Constantinople was controlled by Romans, there was free passage for European traders to Asia and subsequently the Indian subcontinent. After its control fell into the hands of the Turks (also known as Ottomans), this free trade was no longer possible as they levied exorbitantly high taxes and duties. The price of Indian spices skyrocketed. This prompted the Europeans to find a sea route to India, which the Portuguese sailor Vasco da Gama ultimately did in 1498. Eventually, it paved the way for subsequent colonization by other European powers in later centuries.

I am not implying this event to be good or bad, just that its repercussions were felt by many empires of that era.

Constantinople had an excellent geography. It was established by Emperor Constantine in the 5th Century after the empire had started crumbling apart. Hinged between 2 continents, Europe and Asia, and flagged by 2 seas, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, on either side, Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire (also known as the Byzantine empire), the centre of orthodox Christianity, and the hub of all trade between Europe and Asia. A major reason for its prosperity lay in its secure location and brilliant city planning, including its 5-layer walled defence, making the city impenetrable. It was one of the best-defended cities of the Medieval world.

Mehmed II, the protagonist of our story, became the Ottoman Sultan at the mere age of 19. Though inexperienced, he was an ambitious young man who idolized Alexander the Great. He had a very disciplined upbringing, tutored by the best Pashas (high ranking Ottoman officials) of his kingdom. Before Mehmed twenty-three other kings, including his own father, had tried to capture the legendary city. None of them succeeded. Thus, it was prudent for him to employ tactical warfare involving technological innovation instead of relying on conventional methods.

In 1453, under Mehmed's leadership, the Ottoman army laid siege on the Roman capital. Constantine XI (the last Roman emperor) commissioned the Genoese warlord Giustiniani Giovani Longo, a former pirate and an expert in defending fortified cities, to shield the ancient metropolis from Turkish onslaught. His band of Italian mercenaries kept the Ottoman forces at bay for a significant amount of time. The Romans also had substantial maritime superiority over the Turks who were comparatively inexperienced in naval warfare. Last, but not the least, they had allies all over Europe. When the Ottomans besieged the city, messages were sent to all their friends.

Thus the Ottomans had to be quick in their endeavour. Turks never relied on long-drawn-out military campaigns and believed in swift operations. If they waited too long, there were good chances of arrival of a big Venetian fleet along with other allies, resulting in their ultimate doom. 

In order to bring down the walls, Mehmed commissioned the construction of some of the best cannons in the world at that time. Those fiery beasts bombarded the walls of Constantinople day and night. Apart from this, the Ottoman army consisted of some very elite soldiers known as the Janissaries, who were considered to be the best in all of Balkans. Also, as mentioned in the series, unlike Romans, the Ottoman army had a centralized command which, in my opinion, proved to be very effective later in the war.

It was a 2-month long campaign that ultimately brought an end to the mighty Roman empire, paving the way for the rise of a new empire. Many historians call it the 'fall of Constantinople'. However, at the end of the series, it is said that it wasn't really a fall. Nothing had fallen. It was a conquest. Constantinople was renamed Istanbul which then served as the new capital of the Ottoman empire for many years. Even today, it continues to be one of the most popular tourist destinations on Earth.