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The Red Apple
is the prized apple, Mehmed.
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The sweetest.
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The ripest.
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It is the beating heart
at the center of our universe.
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The Promised Land.
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He who conquers Constantinople
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will have the world.
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But look at those walls, son.
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They've stopped every army
that has tried to take the city.
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They stopped me.
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Why not just knock down the walls?
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There is no weapon strong enough
to bring them down.
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Some have wondered
if Allah himself could do it.
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00:01:01,936 --> 00:01:02,936
Father...
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I will bring down those walls.
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And when I am sultan,
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I will take Constantinople.
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Every empire has a beginning
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forged of blood, steel,
fortune and conquest.
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In 1453, Roman Emperor Constantine XI
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and Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II
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wage an epic battle for Constantinople.
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Twenty-three armies have tried
to take the legendary city.
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All have failed.
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Out of the carnage,
one ruler will emerge victorious
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and change the course of history
for the next 300 years.
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For one empire to rise,
another must fall.
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I want the cannons firing day and night
until the Romans come crawling out,
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begging for mercy.
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April 1453.
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Sultan Mehmed II unleashes
an artillery attack on Constantinople...
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unlike any the world has ever known.
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It's the largest concentration
of cannons,
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about 69 or 70,
that the world had seenin one place.
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These cannons are not the cannons
we know from 18th century, 19th century.
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These are huge cannons.
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Dear God,
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the walls won't last until sundown
if this continues.
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Have faith, Lord Loukas.
40
00:03:07,353 --> 00:03:09,606
So long as the Holy Spirit is with us,
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we will be safe.
42
00:03:15,612 --> 00:03:17,132
Looking out from the walls,
43
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Emperor Constantine is confronted
by Mehmed's 80,000-man army.
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The monumental task
of keeping the Ottomans out of the city
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falls on the shoulders
of Genoese soldier of fortune
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Giovanni Giustiniani.
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Giustiniani and his men
must defend 14 miles of city walls.
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Emperor Theodosius II built the walls
in the 5th century.
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They are among the strongest
ever constructed.
50
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The walls of Constantinople
have been there
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for 1100 years in that form.
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This is an extraordinary piece
of military engineering.
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00:03:53,274 --> 00:03:55,235
There are five layers to the walls.
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There's the outer moat,
55
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then there is an open area
that troops had to run across,
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a sort of killing field,
57
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then there is an outer wall
with towers on it,
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then there's another killing field,
and then there's an inner wall.
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The whole system is about 200 feet deep;
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from the bottom of the moat
to the top of the walls
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it's about 100 feet high.
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Nobody had found a way across it.
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Mehmed looks at the city,
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he says, "All right,
it's got these huge walls
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nobody penetrated.
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Now, how do you tear them down?
You need artillery.
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I want a cannon
that's gonna bring these things down."
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And he decided a frontal attack.
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He takes it as a challenge.
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This was the man.
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This was his character.
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Mehmed's plan is
a medieval version of shock and awe.
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Taking down the massive walls
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with an overwhelming storm
of cannon fire.
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The centerpiece
of Mehmed's artillery attack
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is a 27-foot cannon called Basilica.
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00:05:05,054 --> 00:05:08,975
An immense cannon is built.
Huge!
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00:05:09,642 --> 00:05:13,187
You know, they say that hundreds
of oxen pulled it.
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00:05:13,771 --> 00:05:16,649
It's incredible metallurgical skill
to make the thing,
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it had walls of bronze,
eight inches thick,
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cannonballs of half a ton.
82
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A very large number of the bells
of Balkan churches
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were melted down to cast the thing.
84
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The Ottomans nickname
the mammoth bombard "The Bear"
85
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and the smaller cannons "The Cubs."
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Easy with that.
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The man who brings
Mehmed's supergun to life
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is a master cannon founder
from Hungary named Orban.
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- Father!
- Yes?
90
00:05:47,555 --> 00:05:49,057
The cracks are growing larger.
91
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These cannons have huge firing power,
but could only fire every three hours.
92
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More likely than not,
they're gonna blow up in your face.
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If you fire them too often,
for example,
94
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little cracks can develop,
and then they blow up.
95
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They're pretty rudimentary things.
96
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We'll give her a break after this one.
Okay?
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All right. Go.
98
00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:15,375
Ready, sir!
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Send it!
100
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The cannons fire day and night...
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engulfing the city in chaos.
102
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Giustiniani was faced with something
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he has no experience of,
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and that is a cannon
that can knock down a wall.
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Giustiniani has his soldiers go down
106
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and essentially pile up the rubble,
107
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remake the walls, and that actually
works better than the original wall
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because the loose bricks
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absorb the impact of the cannonballs.
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00:07:05,633 --> 00:07:09,846
And are much harder to knock down,
takes a lot more impact to disperse them.
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00:07:13,975 --> 00:07:16,394
After six days of constant bombardment,
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the walls of Constantinople are damaged,
but standing.
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The sultan's cannons
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pin the emperor's soldiers down
behind the walls.
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To survive the onslaught,
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they must devise a plan
to put the Ottomans on the defensive.
117
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Giustiniani
and his Italian mercenaries prepare
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to launch a counterattack
against Mehmed's troops
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outside the walls.
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Giustiniani would go out
and make small raids.
121
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It was both to catch people off-guard
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and just to, kind of,
stop the other side relaxing.
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- Are you ready, brothers?
- Yah!
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- For God!
- God!
125
00:08:06,194 --> 00:08:08,154
- For the purse!
- The purse!
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For she who you fight to return to!
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Yah!
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God!
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Giustiniani,
he's an expert in defensive warfare.
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The choice that
Giustiniani has to make is,
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do I defend the outer walls
or do I defend the inner wall?
132
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And he made the decision
to defend the outer wall.
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Let's show them what a Genoese bastard
with a sword can do!
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00:08:41,646 --> 00:08:44,046
The outer wall
is essentially a suicide mission,
135
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because that's where
the cannons are hitting.
136
00:08:51,656 --> 00:08:53,616
The way the Italians fought,
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you're going to get
somebody in plate armor
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surrounded by people who use crossbows...
139
00:09:00,456 --> 00:09:02,166
- Crossbows!
- ...And he was,
140
00:09:02,250 --> 00:09:04,001
if we can draw a comparison,
141
00:09:04,085 --> 00:09:07,004
like the Second World War, the tank.
142
00:09:07,088 --> 00:09:11,217
And then you have the infantry
who is taking shelter behind the tank.
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Hold!
144
00:09:17,098 --> 00:09:18,432
Hold!
145
00:09:19,684 --> 00:09:21,102
Hold!
146
00:09:21,561 --> 00:09:23,312
Fire!
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Swords!
148
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Giustiniani actually brought with himself
this large professional army
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00:09:51,257 --> 00:09:54,135
of 2,000 people, and these guys
are professional soldiers.
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They have fighting experience.
151
00:10:01,892 --> 00:10:03,603
They belong to the condottieri,
152
00:10:03,686 --> 00:10:05,438
which means "mercenary generals."
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00:10:17,950 --> 00:10:22,455
The ferocity and effectiveness
of Giustiniani's attack
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00:10:23,247 --> 00:10:25,541
catches the Ottomans by surprise.
155
00:10:27,918 --> 00:10:31,547
The battlefield is littered
with the dead and dying.
156
00:11:11,712 --> 00:11:14,590
We will make the Genoese pay
for their bravery in blood.
157
00:11:28,104 --> 00:11:31,607
What's the delay, Orban Pasha?
Why isn't my Bear firing?
158
00:11:31,691 --> 00:11:32,858
J-Just a minute more, Sultan.
159
00:11:32,942 --> 00:11:35,486
I didn't pay you to build me a novelty,
Orban.
160
00:11:36,529 --> 00:11:39,198
You promised your cannons
would take down those walls.
161
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The barrel is cracking.
162
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The copper isn't holding
as I had hoped.
163
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If I could have a few more days...
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I want this cannon firing immediately.
165
00:11:51,419 --> 00:11:53,421
I'm doing everything in my power,
Pasha.
166
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If we are lucky,
perhaps she can fire in the morning.
167
00:11:57,091 --> 00:11:59,427
Orban, if you are lucky,
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00:11:59,510 --> 00:12:01,804
you will get this cannon firing now.
169
00:12:01,887 --> 00:12:03,764
- But the cracks...
- Now.
170
00:12:11,522 --> 00:12:13,816
The clock is ticking on the siege.
171
00:12:15,067 --> 00:12:17,069
Every day brings with it a new threat
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00:12:17,153 --> 00:12:22,616
that Mehmed's enemies to the East and West
will attack his bogged-down army.
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00:12:22,700 --> 00:12:27,747
The gravest threat of all is that the pope
will send reinforcements from Europe.
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Loaded, sir.
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Do not forsake me,
you big, magnificent bastard.
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Are you ready, Orban?
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00:12:42,762 --> 00:12:44,013
Yes, Sultan.
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Please stand back. For your safety.
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Have some faith, Orban.
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Fire.
181
00:13:05,659 --> 00:13:07,453
No, no, no, no, no!
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Mehmed.
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00:13:50,621 --> 00:13:51,664
Mehmed.
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00:14:01,340 --> 00:14:04,093
- You can't catch me!
- Mehmed...
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00:14:05,010 --> 00:14:06,178
come sit with me.
186
00:14:09,139 --> 00:14:10,139
Come.
187
00:14:23,195 --> 00:14:24,613
What's wrong, Mama?
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00:14:27,032 --> 00:14:29,201
Your father has summoned you
to the capital.
189
00:14:29,869 --> 00:14:31,370
Will I be gone long?
190
00:14:34,331 --> 00:14:35,374
Yes.
191
00:14:43,048 --> 00:14:44,592
What about my birds?
192
00:14:44,675 --> 00:14:46,510
You will get others in the capital.
193
00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:48,762
But you are coming with me?
194
00:14:54,226 --> 00:14:55,895
We'll see each other soon.
195
00:14:58,814 --> 00:15:00,399
I don't want to go.
196
00:15:14,038 --> 00:15:17,207
From now on,
no more crying, Mehmed.
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00:15:18,918 --> 00:15:20,586
A sultan never cries.
198
00:15:22,129 --> 00:15:24,006
Now... go.
199
00:15:24,089 --> 00:15:25,883
- But Mama...
- I said go!
200
00:16:00,167 --> 00:16:03,170
His mother was probably a Byzantine.
201
00:16:04,088 --> 00:16:05,339
We don't know what she was.
202
00:16:05,422 --> 00:16:07,758
He kept the secret
and took it to his grave.
203
00:16:10,594 --> 00:16:13,931
He always called her "Hatun,"
"The Lady."
204
00:16:17,726 --> 00:16:20,396
But we don't know who she was.
205
00:16:34,785 --> 00:16:36,662
Mehmed arrives in the capital
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00:16:36,745 --> 00:16:41,125
with no friends or family,
other than his father, the sultan.
207
00:16:54,263 --> 00:16:58,392
His stepmother, Mara Brankovic,
a Serbian princess,
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00:16:58,475 --> 00:17:00,686
is Sultan Murad's third wife,
209
00:17:01,228 --> 00:17:03,397
but has no children of her own.
210
00:17:22,332 --> 00:17:26,336
In the lonely young prince,
she finds a kindred spirit.
211
00:17:28,047 --> 00:17:30,507
Mehmed had problems with his father.
212
00:17:32,384 --> 00:17:34,762
Mara may have taken him under her wing.
213
00:17:41,685 --> 00:17:43,437
He always called her "Mother."
214
00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:31,485
You have grown...
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00:18:32,736 --> 00:18:34,238
since I last saw you.
216
00:18:42,371 --> 00:18:43,539
Do you remember me?
217
00:18:49,837 --> 00:18:50,838
Answer the sultan.
218
00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:57,386
Your older brother, Prince Ali...
219
00:18:58,595 --> 00:18:59,763
has died.
220
00:19:03,267 --> 00:19:05,018
Do you understand what that means?
221
00:19:11,692 --> 00:19:12,693
Boy.
222
00:19:13,861 --> 00:19:14,861
Look at me.
223
00:19:19,700 --> 00:19:23,370
Mehmed grew up
in a very chilly atmosphere.
224
00:19:25,539 --> 00:19:29,168
Now come... and kiss my hand.
225
00:19:30,502 --> 00:19:33,797
There was no knowing
whether you were going to survive.
226
00:19:35,299 --> 00:19:37,676
Ahmed, the oldest,
was 12 years older than him.
227
00:19:37,759 --> 00:19:38,760
He died.
228
00:19:38,844 --> 00:19:41,555
And then Ali was mysteriously strangled,
229
00:19:41,638 --> 00:19:45,100
and effectively,
Mehmed was all that was left.
230
00:19:47,102 --> 00:19:49,605
You will take his place
as governor of Amasya.
231
00:19:50,147 --> 00:19:53,108
There, you will be educated
and learn to be a ruler.
232
00:19:53,567 --> 00:19:54,484
A sultan.
233
00:19:54,568 --> 00:19:58,030
There is no longer time
for childish pursuits, Prince.
234
00:19:58,488 --> 00:20:01,575
Candarli Pasha will report back to me
on your progress.
235
00:20:07,039 --> 00:20:11,084
By the age of 12,
Mehmed is fluent in five languages,
236
00:20:11,168 --> 00:20:13,795
and models himself
after Alexander the Great.
237
00:20:14,421 --> 00:20:18,383
He boasts that one day
he will take the city of Constantinople.
238
00:20:18,842 --> 00:20:20,093
From an early age,
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00:20:20,177 --> 00:20:24,306
the ambitious young crown prince clashes
with his father's grand vizier.
240
00:20:24,389 --> 00:20:28,936
He was this rather unruly child
who had to be beaten into submission.
241
00:20:29,019 --> 00:20:30,896
Again...
242
00:20:30,979 --> 00:20:32,231
...again. Again!
243
00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:35,901
We must teach the prince humility...
244
00:20:37,444 --> 00:20:39,071
...for his own good.
245
00:20:41,865 --> 00:20:43,617
What are you doing, Prince?
246
00:20:45,118 --> 00:20:46,411
Whatever I please.
247
00:20:50,332 --> 00:20:51,541
I'm a prince.
248
00:20:58,757 --> 00:21:00,384
The wounds will heal.
249
00:21:02,469 --> 00:21:04,346
The lesson will be remembered.
250
00:21:08,392 --> 00:21:09,810
Yes, Pasha.
251
00:21:10,519 --> 00:21:11,895
It will be remembered.
252
00:21:19,444 --> 00:21:21,044
The lesson will be remembered.
253
00:21:25,450 --> 00:21:27,077
Before he is even 13,
254
00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:29,204
his father, Murad II,
255
00:21:29,288 --> 00:21:33,625
decides to retire,
leaving Mehmed to take the throne.
256
00:21:37,212 --> 00:21:38,505
The youngest sultan
257
00:21:38,588 --> 00:21:41,133
in the history of the Ottoman Empire.
258
00:21:44,845 --> 00:21:47,180
Mehmed is now the emir,
259
00:21:48,140 --> 00:21:50,058
the sultan of the Ottomans.
260
00:21:52,227 --> 00:21:54,021
And he is...
261
00:21:55,147 --> 00:21:57,607
left with the entire Ottoman force
262
00:21:57,691 --> 00:21:59,276
at his disposal.
263
00:22:02,904 --> 00:22:05,991
And so,
it becomes problematic right away,
264
00:22:06,074 --> 00:22:09,995
because the vizier of the time,
Candarli Halil Pasha,
265
00:22:10,078 --> 00:22:12,622
is very nervous about this.
266
00:22:13,123 --> 00:22:15,042
Mehmed being such a young boy,
267
00:22:15,709 --> 00:22:17,252
they could lose everything.
268
00:22:33,226 --> 00:22:36,021
Pashas, where have you been?
269
00:22:36,104 --> 00:22:37,481
There is much to be done.
270
00:22:39,733 --> 00:22:41,485
In what regard, Sultan?
271
00:22:42,110 --> 00:22:43,612
Our council meeting.
272
00:22:46,406 --> 00:22:49,493
My father built the foundation
of our empire...
273
00:22:50,327 --> 00:22:53,455
and now... I will take the next step.
274
00:23:06,468 --> 00:23:08,512
I will take Constantinople.
275
00:23:15,268 --> 00:23:16,561
Did you not hear me?
276
00:23:17,604 --> 00:23:20,065
Alexander had his first conquest at 20...
277
00:23:21,316 --> 00:23:23,068
and I shall have mine now.
278
00:23:23,527 --> 00:23:26,321
Sultan, the Romans are under control...
279
00:23:27,572 --> 00:23:30,534
but the troubles in the East
are very real.
280
00:23:31,034 --> 00:23:33,328
And in the West,
Jon Hunyadi and the Hungarians
281
00:23:33,412 --> 00:23:35,956
are amassing their army
near our border.
282
00:23:36,706 --> 00:23:39,209
There could be more crusades coming.
283
00:23:39,709 --> 00:23:41,336
They will want to test you.
284
00:23:45,966 --> 00:23:47,759
I will crush all of them.
285
00:23:48,301 --> 00:23:49,594
You need the Janissaries,
286
00:23:49,678 --> 00:23:51,888
and you've not given them
a crown gift yet.
287
00:23:52,180 --> 00:23:53,974
They are demanding more pay.
288
00:23:55,183 --> 00:23:57,436
Constantinople has more than enough gold
289
00:23:58,603 --> 00:24:01,106
to silence those greedy thugs.
290
00:24:11,450 --> 00:24:15,537
Perhaps we should consult with your father
before making any final decisions.
291
00:24:16,163 --> 00:24:18,081
Make the preparations...
292
00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:21,334
or I will find viziers that will.
293
00:24:36,683 --> 00:24:39,603
The Hungarians
look to be mounting a new crusade
294
00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:42,522
and the Janissaries are angry, Pasha.
295
00:24:44,024 --> 00:24:45,901
What are they angry at now?
296
00:24:48,153 --> 00:24:49,988
They don't trust the young sultan.
297
00:24:50,071 --> 00:24:53,366
And he is, I confess...
298
00:24:55,118 --> 00:24:56,620
impulsive at times.
299
00:24:57,204 --> 00:24:58,413
Every sultan...
300
00:24:59,164 --> 00:25:00,707
who ever took the throne...
301
00:25:01,291 --> 00:25:02,667
had to grow into it.
302
00:25:04,586 --> 00:25:06,421
Mehmed is young, Halil Pasha.
303
00:25:06,963 --> 00:25:08,006
It will take time.
304
00:25:08,882 --> 00:25:11,510
Indeed. Which is why
I wanted to reassure you.
305
00:25:11,927 --> 00:25:14,471
We viziers are working
to find a prudent solution.
306
00:25:15,138 --> 00:25:18,141
How can I rest
with my son so unpredictable?
307
00:25:19,059 --> 00:25:20,310
He is headstrong.
308
00:25:21,561 --> 00:25:24,022
But, Allah willing,
my guidance will bring measure
309
00:25:24,105 --> 00:25:26,608
to his more... reckless plans.
310
00:25:28,068 --> 00:25:29,068
Plans?
311
00:25:32,239 --> 00:25:33,865
For Constantinople.
312
00:25:40,330 --> 00:25:42,415
Have the cooks prepare
a feast for me tonight.
313
00:25:42,499 --> 00:25:43,667
Sultan,
314
00:25:45,085 --> 00:25:46,211
you have a visitor.
315
00:26:04,688 --> 00:26:05,772
Father?
316
00:26:09,150 --> 00:26:10,569
I was not told you were coming.
317
00:26:15,699 --> 00:26:17,367
I have asked too much of you.
318
00:26:19,869 --> 00:26:21,246
I don't understand.
319
00:26:23,540 --> 00:26:24,540
Come.
320
00:26:39,681 --> 00:26:40,765
I'm here...
321
00:26:41,933 --> 00:26:43,226
to take the throne back.
322
00:26:46,896 --> 00:26:49,441
- No. Father...
- Until you are older.
323
00:26:49,899 --> 00:26:52,569
I have ruled wisely. Tell him, Pasha!
324
00:26:54,237 --> 00:26:57,032
The crusaders are almost
at our doorstep, Mehmed.
325
00:26:57,115 --> 00:26:58,742
You haven't yet seen combat.
326
00:26:58,825 --> 00:27:01,286
And I can't leave you to fight Hunyadi
and the Hungarians.
327
00:27:04,748 --> 00:27:07,184
- How could you do this to me?
- The throne will be yours again,
328
00:27:07,208 --> 00:27:08,543
my son, when you are ready.
329
00:27:12,589 --> 00:27:13,798
Traitorous dog!
330
00:27:13,882 --> 00:27:15,133
This is your doing!
331
00:27:15,216 --> 00:27:16,926
- I will take your head!
- Enough!
332
00:27:20,221 --> 00:27:23,099
How dare you speak to my viziers
this way?
333
00:27:24,768 --> 00:27:26,144
You will apologize.
334
00:27:36,071 --> 00:27:37,864
Don't test my patience further...
335
00:27:40,075 --> 00:27:41,201
Prince Mehmed.
336
00:27:46,456 --> 00:27:47,582
Pashas...
337
00:27:48,875 --> 00:27:50,919
I apologize for my behavior.
338
00:27:51,002 --> 00:27:52,170
Now leave us.
339
00:27:53,004 --> 00:27:55,340
Let's put ourselves in Mehmed's shoes.
340
00:27:55,423 --> 00:27:59,928
He's brought to the throne and told
that he is the ruler of the state.
341
00:28:00,011 --> 00:28:03,473
And then to be told,
after such a short space of time,
342
00:28:03,556 --> 00:28:05,684
that he's no longer gonna have that power.
343
00:28:07,352 --> 00:28:10,563
And then someone
who he associated with his father,
344
00:28:10,647 --> 00:28:13,358
this big figure, Candarli Halil,
345
00:28:13,441 --> 00:28:15,276
taking that power away from him...
346
00:28:16,736 --> 00:28:18,530
must have bred huge resentment.
347
00:28:45,432 --> 00:28:47,058
It will be yours again.
348
00:28:49,769 --> 00:28:50,979
They betrayed me.
349
00:28:54,232 --> 00:28:55,316
All of them.
350
00:28:57,986 --> 00:28:59,404
Learn from this.
351
00:29:00,363 --> 00:29:03,742
And I promise
you will have the throne back.
352
00:29:05,410 --> 00:29:08,913
Sultan! Sultan!
353
00:29:10,540 --> 00:29:11,541
Mehmed!
354
00:29:13,585 --> 00:29:14,627
Wake up!
355
00:29:17,088 --> 00:29:18,256
Wake up!
356
00:30:02,175 --> 00:30:05,345
Mehmed's father's
failed siege of Constantinople
357
00:30:05,428 --> 00:30:07,931
dragged on for three long months.
358
00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:09,891
With each passing day,
359
00:30:09,974 --> 00:30:14,729
he now sees his own chances for victory
slowly slipping away.
360
00:30:21,861 --> 00:30:23,154
Inside the city,
361
00:30:23,238 --> 00:30:26,991
Giustiniani and his men
continue rebuilding the walls
362
00:30:27,075 --> 00:30:29,118
and tending to their wounded.
363
00:30:44,551 --> 00:30:46,427
Hold this.
364
00:30:46,886 --> 00:30:48,096
Lady Therma?
365
00:30:50,932 --> 00:30:52,308
Lord Giustiniani.
366
00:30:54,310 --> 00:30:57,564
I didn't expect to see a noblewoman
in these conditions.
367
00:30:57,647 --> 00:31:00,108
I have as much a duty to my city
as anyone.
368
00:31:00,525 --> 00:31:03,444
These men have risked their lives
to protect us.
369
00:31:06,239 --> 00:31:09,909
I believe your comfort would ease
the worst of agonies.
370
00:31:12,829 --> 00:31:14,247
You should get some rest.
371
00:31:15,290 --> 00:31:16,374
Good night.
372
00:31:19,794 --> 00:31:21,194
We think about sieges,
373
00:31:21,254 --> 00:31:25,174
you think the conditions are roughest
for those being besieged.
374
00:31:25,717 --> 00:31:28,970
But there are also pressures
on a besieging army.
375
00:31:29,053 --> 00:31:31,097
For Mehmed,
he's got additional issues,
376
00:31:31,180 --> 00:31:33,933
because he's new to the throne
377
00:31:34,017 --> 00:31:37,562
and people aren't at all sure
what to make of him yet.
378
00:31:37,645 --> 00:31:39,898
So he's gotta make this happen quickly.
379
00:31:39,981 --> 00:31:42,692
You know,
he's almost as desperate to get in
380
00:31:42,775 --> 00:31:45,111
as the Byzantines are to keep him out.
381
00:31:48,865 --> 00:31:49,865
Pashas,
382
00:31:50,283 --> 00:31:52,827
we have been pounding the walls
for nearly two weeks.
383
00:31:52,911 --> 00:31:55,622
Our cannons have turned
the mighty walls of Constantinople
384
00:31:55,705 --> 00:31:56,998
into piles of rubble.
385
00:31:57,081 --> 00:31:59,751
But that does us no good
unless we go through them.
386
00:32:00,084 --> 00:32:01,753
It is time to make our move.
387
00:32:01,836 --> 00:32:03,838
Sultan, it is still to early.
388
00:32:03,922 --> 00:32:07,342
We need to weaken their defenses more
before we send in the army.
389
00:32:07,425 --> 00:32:09,719
I advise more patience.
390
00:32:11,679 --> 00:32:14,307
There's no guarantee that
the siege is gonna be successful.
391
00:32:14,390 --> 00:32:18,311
The Ottomans don't like long,
drawn-out campaigns.
392
00:32:18,394 --> 00:32:20,021
They like quick warfare
393
00:32:20,104 --> 00:32:22,607
where they can come in,
smash the enemy, and move on.
394
00:32:24,776 --> 00:32:27,070
- Zaganos Pasha?
- The men are ready.
395
00:32:27,737 --> 00:32:29,364
You only need to give the order.
396
00:32:33,785 --> 00:32:35,411
Tell the men to rest tonight.
397
00:32:36,037 --> 00:32:37,580
And be ready to fight.
398
00:32:38,247 --> 00:32:40,249
Tomorrow we take the city.
399
00:32:47,715 --> 00:32:50,259
He's going all in
with this particular conquest.
400
00:32:57,433 --> 00:33:01,020
Day 13 of the siege dawns
at the Ottoman camp.
401
00:33:05,692 --> 00:33:08,903
Mehmed and his generals survey
the Romans' defenses
402
00:33:09,404 --> 00:33:12,573
and finalize plans
for their infantry assault.
403
00:33:13,574 --> 00:33:16,494
The attack will take place
under the cover of night.
404
00:33:17,495 --> 00:33:19,372
Mehmed II always stood firm.
405
00:33:19,455 --> 00:33:22,417
and actually said
he would sacrifice his life,
406
00:33:23,042 --> 00:33:25,878
uh... if needed,
but he will take that city.
407
00:33:25,962 --> 00:33:28,548
And if we know one thing about Mehmed,
408
00:33:28,631 --> 00:33:30,967
he's obviously a very stubborn man,
409
00:33:31,759 --> 00:33:33,428
an eventful figure,
410
00:33:33,511 --> 00:33:35,346
and a strong-minded, intelligent guy.
411
00:33:44,022 --> 00:33:45,148
Tonight...
412
00:33:46,941 --> 00:33:48,693
we will take the Red Apple.
413
00:33:50,403 --> 00:33:51,988
We are Ghazi,
414
00:33:52,739 --> 00:33:55,450
holy warriors and the heirs of Osman.
415
00:33:56,951 --> 00:34:00,413
Our ancestors fought and died
at this wall.
416
00:34:01,998 --> 00:34:05,293
But now, we are united
417
00:34:05,376 --> 00:34:07,420
in avenging their deaths!
418
00:34:08,254 --> 00:34:09,505
By all accounts,
419
00:34:09,589 --> 00:34:11,591
he seems to have been a fantastic orator.
420
00:34:12,175 --> 00:34:13,509
As a commander,
421
00:34:13,593 --> 00:34:16,679
Mehmed, number one,
understood his own people.
422
00:34:17,305 --> 00:34:19,557
Number two, understood the enemy.
423
00:34:20,808 --> 00:34:22,769
And behaved accordingly.
424
00:34:23,186 --> 00:34:26,355
If... his soldiers wavered,
425
00:34:27,065 --> 00:34:30,359
he invented ways to encourage them.
426
00:34:32,403 --> 00:34:36,574
The time of the infidels and the Romans
has passed!
427
00:34:36,657 --> 00:34:38,201
A new age is coming,
428
00:34:38,618 --> 00:34:40,536
and it begins tonight!
429
00:34:41,162 --> 00:34:42,622
Allahu akbar!
430
00:34:42,705 --> 00:34:44,540
Allahu akbar!
431
00:34:44,624 --> 00:34:47,710
Allahu akbar!
432
00:34:47,794 --> 00:34:51,297
Allahu akbar!
433
00:34:51,380 --> 00:34:53,716
Allahu akbar!
434
00:35:17,865 --> 00:35:19,492
We can surrender now.
435
00:35:20,284 --> 00:35:21,744
The sultan will show mercy.
436
00:35:22,537 --> 00:35:25,164
Don't ask me
to be the last emperor of Constantinople.
437
00:35:25,248 --> 00:35:27,708
A dead emperor will do
no good to anyone.
438
00:35:27,792 --> 00:35:31,212
Alive, we can come back
and reclaim the city with a real army,
439
00:35:31,295 --> 00:35:33,047
not a band of Italian mercenaries.
440
00:35:34,674 --> 00:35:36,300
The noblemen will be with you.
441
00:35:44,350 --> 00:35:47,353
Let's pray the Virgin Mother
is looking over us.
442
00:36:06,080 --> 00:36:09,167
The Ottomans worked on warfare
on many levels,
443
00:36:09,250 --> 00:36:11,669
and certainly on the psychological level.
444
00:36:11,752 --> 00:36:16,632
They brought skills of intimidation
to sieges.
445
00:36:26,058 --> 00:36:28,144
They would light fires
446
00:36:28,227 --> 00:36:31,814
along the front line,
so you'd be looking at a ring of fire.
447
00:36:32,356 --> 00:36:35,526
They also had military bands...
448
00:36:37,528 --> 00:36:39,363
The wall of sound, you know,
449
00:36:39,447 --> 00:36:41,991
the extraordinary wall of sound
that they created.
450
00:36:50,166 --> 00:36:51,584
Outnumbered ten to one,
451
00:36:51,667 --> 00:36:54,629
the Italian mercenaries
must counter the Ottomans' might
452
00:36:54,712 --> 00:36:56,464
with cunning and strategy.
453
00:36:57,131 --> 00:37:00,760
Giustiniani undoubtedly had great skill
454
00:37:00,843 --> 00:37:02,803
in the art of defending cities.
455
00:37:02,887 --> 00:37:04,305
He was an expert.
456
00:37:04,388 --> 00:37:07,850
He was extremely brave,
and he was untiring.
457
00:37:07,934 --> 00:37:13,022
And he brought a great deal of confidence
to the defense.
458
00:37:14,857 --> 00:37:16,943
We will meet them in the moat.
459
00:37:17,235 --> 00:37:18,611
That is our front line.
460
00:37:18,694 --> 00:37:22,365
One of the key issues
in, uh, siege warfare
461
00:37:22,448 --> 00:37:25,368
is getting across the ditch, the moat,
which is quite deep.
462
00:37:25,785 --> 00:37:27,495
And a great deal of work
463
00:37:27,578 --> 00:37:29,618
will be put in by the attackers
to fill up the moat.
464
00:37:30,665 --> 00:37:32,959
We must not let them reach the walls,
465
00:37:33,542 --> 00:37:35,461
or we don't stand a chance.
466
00:37:35,544 --> 00:37:36,796
Tonight...
467
00:37:37,463 --> 00:37:39,298
we live or die in the moat!
468
00:37:52,979 --> 00:37:56,524
Giustiniani was
the iconic figure, undoubtedly,
469
00:37:56,607 --> 00:37:58,567
for the defenders,
around whom they rallied.
470
00:37:58,651 --> 00:37:59,986
He was the linchpin.
471
00:38:01,612 --> 00:38:04,156
Constantine gave him control
472
00:38:04,240 --> 00:38:07,952
of the critical zone,
the center of the wall,
473
00:38:08,035 --> 00:38:10,079
and, really, organizing the defense.
474
00:38:18,004 --> 00:38:19,088
Fire!
475
00:38:25,052 --> 00:38:26,220
Take cover!
476
00:38:35,146 --> 00:38:38,399
The Ottoman assault is led
by Mehmed's elite troops,
477
00:38:38,482 --> 00:38:39,859
the Janissaries.
478
00:38:40,276 --> 00:38:43,154
The Janissaries were
the most capable force
479
00:38:43,237 --> 00:38:44,447
in the Balkans at the time.
480
00:38:45,656 --> 00:38:48,534
They were all well-equipped, well-armored.
481
00:38:48,617 --> 00:38:50,494
Different tactics, though.
482
00:38:51,871 --> 00:38:53,247
Attack!
483
00:38:55,708 --> 00:38:58,753
The Janissaries
wear lighter chain mail armor
484
00:38:58,836 --> 00:39:01,005
and rely on speed and precision.
485
00:39:02,048 --> 00:39:05,134
The Italians fight in thicker plate armor
486
00:39:05,217 --> 00:39:06,594
and wield broadswords.
487
00:39:30,034 --> 00:39:32,953
The Janissaries were all about
javelins and archery.
488
00:39:33,037 --> 00:39:35,581
You can't do that with a siege.
You have to take a few hits.
489
00:39:37,166 --> 00:39:40,711
And this doesn't necessarily suit
the Ottoman vision of warfare.
490
00:39:48,969 --> 00:39:52,014
In this human wave
of death and destruction,
491
00:39:52,098 --> 00:39:54,683
hundreds of Ottoman soldiers are killed.
492
00:39:57,436 --> 00:40:00,856
The Turks come in,
and Giustiniani fights them off
493
00:40:02,358 --> 00:40:05,986
and if you believe the Roman sources,
they didn't lose a single soldier.
494
00:40:35,015 --> 00:40:37,351
Giustiniani and the Roman defenders
495
00:40:37,435 --> 00:40:40,563
have turned back the Ottoman attack
yet again.
496
00:40:41,522 --> 00:40:44,275
The defeat is devastating for Mehmed.
497
00:40:45,109 --> 00:40:46,485
With each passing day,
498
00:40:46,569 --> 00:40:49,989
the odds of taking Constantinople
grow longer.
499
00:40:50,948 --> 00:40:52,908
When Mehmed launches his siege,
500
00:40:52,992 --> 00:40:55,619
he has to be quick,
for three reasons.
501
00:40:55,995 --> 00:40:59,540
One, he has to be quick
in order to finish the city off
502
00:40:59,623 --> 00:41:02,001
without losing tens of thousands of men.
503
00:41:02,501 --> 00:41:05,087
Second is that there was opposition
in the military,
504
00:41:05,171 --> 00:41:08,215
led by Candarli Halil Pasha,
the grand vizier,
505
00:41:08,966 --> 00:41:11,177
who didn't want the siege to continue.
506
00:41:11,260 --> 00:41:12,511
And the third is,
507
00:41:12,595 --> 00:41:14,263
if the siege took too long,
508
00:41:14,346 --> 00:41:18,434
that there was gonna be reinforcements
coming from the West.
509
00:41:27,026 --> 00:41:30,446
The walls of the ancient city
hold for another day...
510
00:41:31,697 --> 00:41:35,451
and Giovanni Giustiniani Longo
proves himself
511
00:41:35,534 --> 00:41:39,747
the one indispensable man
in the defense of Constantinople.
512
00:41:39,830 --> 00:41:42,416
Yah!
513
00:41:42,500 --> 00:41:44,126
Yah!
514
00:41:45,044 --> 00:41:46,378
Yah!
515
00:41:58,349 --> 00:42:01,685
Sultan. A message
from the Aegean Islands.
516
00:42:03,812 --> 00:42:04,813
Read it.
517
00:42:10,986 --> 00:42:13,781
A Genoese fleet was seen
in the Dardanelles
518
00:42:13,864 --> 00:42:17,034
heading north towards Constantinople
with soldiers and supplies.
519
00:42:28,420 --> 00:42:29,547
Leave me.
39531
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