At a glance
- Roles
- Ruler
- Era
- The Mongol and Post-Mongol Era
- Region
- Anatolia
- Identifiers
- Wikidata
- Review
- Draft Completeness 2/5 · Help complete it
Life in time
Overview
Constantine XI, the last Byzantine emperor, who led Constantinople's defence against Mehmed II in 857/1453.
Before the siege
He strove desperately to turn the sultan away with gifts and money, then begged aid from Europe above all the Pope — moving to proclaim union of the Orthodox church with Rome, which enraged his Orthodox until one of their chiefs said, 'I would rather see the Turks' turbans in Byzantine lands than the Latin hat' 1.
Refusing to leave
Twice his councillors urged him to quit the city and summon relief; he refused, resolved to share his people's fate 2. When Mehmed offered safe-conduct for a surrender, he answered that he would pay tribute — but for Constantinople he had sworn to defend her to his last breath: 'either I keep my throne or am buried beneath her walls' 3.
His end
Seeing the Ottoman banners on the towers he cast off his clothes so as not to be known, dismounted, and fought until he was killed on Tuesday 20 Jumada I 857 / 29 May 1453 4.
Connections
- Participated in
- Conquest of Constantinople in 857 AH
- Opposed
- السلطان محمد الفاتح
People and things also explored
Ahmad ibn Ismail al-Kurani· آق شمس الدين· Rise of Empires: Ottoman· Conquest of Constantinople in 857 AH· السلطان محمد الفاتح· Conquest of Trebizond· Ottoman invasion of Otranto· Siege of Belgrade
Sources
- al-Dawla al-Uthmaniyya — Ali Muhammad al-Salabi (2001) , p. 93-94
- al-Dawla al-Uthmaniyya — Ali Muhammad al-Salabi (2001) , p. 100-103
- al-Dawla al-Uthmaniyya — Ali Muhammad al-Salabi (2001) , p. 104
- al-Dawla al-Uthmaniyya — Ali Muhammad al-Salabi (2001) , p. 110
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Constantine XI Palaiologos”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/person/constantine-xi-palaiologos/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-22.