So no empire in history suffered more of a prolonged, embarrassing, slow death by a thousand cuts,

quite like that of Byzantium.

I should say so far, due to current events.

Considered the successor of the Roman Empire with its capital in Constantinople,

that stood as the imperial capital for centuries.

Founded by Constantine the Great,

it stood as a shining beacon on the hill until it suddenly didn't. Through politics, mismanagement,

corruption, and just plain old being out maneuvered, over time the power and prestige of

Byzantium Wayne, which tends to happen after you have an Armenian emperor or two. You can't let us be in charge.

It attempted to prop itself up as the bastion of Christianity directing its mostly temporary

allies to defend it against the encroaching power of the Islamic world, only for this to blow

up at its face in the Fourth Crusade, and the Byzantines found their own capital city being sacked by their own Christian allies, which was, hilariously, the only successful attack on the city up until that point, and mostly based around boat debt.

We did an episode on that. Go listen to it.

But today we're going to talk about a different successful attack on

Constantinople.

Arguably the successful attack on Constance and Opel.

We're talking about the fall of the city to the armies of the Ottoman Empire in 1453.

But first, the fall of context.

Tom, you hate it and I'm going to continue.

I fucking hate it. And like, I can't wait for my favorite thing because I do know a decent amount about the fall of Constantinople. And my favorite thing is that it happened on my birthday. Congratulations. Yes. Congratulations. Mashalaw, brother. You will someday we will defeat the Greeks for good.

That is my birthday wish this year.

Defeat the Greeks for good. Defeating the Greeks?

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