Podcasts · The Ottoman Empire: How It Ruled Three Continents for 600 Years — Fexingo History
Ottoman Siege Tactics: The Guns of Constantinople
· 8:33 · S6 E267
Episode Ottoman Siege Tactics: The Guns of Constantinople
In this episode, we look past the political maneuvering and cultural flourishes to examine the mechanical engine of Ottoman expansion: siege warfare. We focus on the pivotal year 1453, when Mehmed II turned his sights on Constantinople, a city that had withstood sieges for centuries. The narrative centers on Orban, a Hungarian engineer who offered his services to the Sultan, crafting cannons of unprecedented scale. Lucas walks through the logistical nightmare of moving the Basilica gun across Anatolia, the engineering feats required to stabilize such massive weapons, and the psychological impact these thunderous machines had on both defenders and attackers. Luna asks about the human cost of this technological leap, leading us into the grim reality of the final assault and the breach of the Theodosian Walls. We explore how this victory didn't just end an empire but redefined military history, shifting the balance from castle fortifications to artillery dominance. This is a story of metal, fire, and the sheer will to break through.
#MehmedII #Constantinople #Orban #BasilicaCannon #SiegeOf1453 #TheodosianWalls #Janissaries #OttomanEmpire #MilitaryHistory #GunpowderEmpires #ByzantineFall #Artillery #Fortification #Warfare #MiddleEastHistory #EuropeanHistory #FexingoHistory #History
Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
Links in the notes 1
Transcript
Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.