On 6 April 1453, Ottoman forces under Sultan Mehmed II began their historic siege of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
The attack marked the final chapter in the centuries-old Eastern Roman Empire.
Despite formidable defensive walls, the Ottomans brought overwhelming numbers and powerful artillery to bear.
After nearly two months of siege warfare, the city would fall on 29 May, signalling the end of the Byzantine Empire and ushering in a new era of Ottoman dominance in the region.
