May 29, 1453
1453-05-29 05:00 UTC
Held by The Museum. Not for sale.
Constantinople falls
After a fifty-three-day siege, Ottoman forces enter Constantinople and the Eastern Roman Empire ends.Source ↗
What happened in this minute
Mehmed II's final assault began before dawn. The walls that had held for a thousand years were breached near the Kerkoporta, and Constantine XI died fighting somewhere in the collapse.
The city became Istanbul and the Ottoman capital. Greek scholars carrying manuscripts west contributed to the Renaissance, and the closure of overland trade routes pushed European states toward Atlantic exploration.
The pre-dawn timestamp reflects contemporary accounts of when the final assault began; the exact minute is unrecorded.
Questions and answers
- When did Constantinople fall?
- On 29 May 1453, after a siege that began in early April. The final assault started before dawn.
- What changed because of it?
- The Eastern Roman Empire ended, the city became the Ottoman capital, and disrupted trade routes encouraged European Atlantic exploration.
- Is this minute for sale?
- No. Museum minutes are permanently held and cannot be purchased.