Constantine XI Paleologus - The Last Emperor

THE report that the Turks had entered the city spread like wildfire. 


The soldiers and people were panic-stricken at the sudden appearance of the enemies in their midst. Many Italians at once left their posts, and ran towards the harbour, where numbers of them succeeded in reaching the ships. 


Crowds of people hastened to the church of St Sophia, filled it quickly almost to suffocation, and then fastened all the doors. Other crowds ran to and fro through the streets, not knowing in their despair where to go or what to do. 


In some of the more distant streets women were seen walking with burning tapers in their hands; they were hurrying to the matin mass in the church of St Theodosia, whose festival was on this day. Soon they became alarmed by the distant uproar, and stopped and listened, until terrified men and women rushed breathlessly by, crying in horror the Turks were in the city. Thousands of half-dressed women and children fled in wild terror through the streets, as though, an earthquake had suddenly left them homeless and maddened with fright. The shrieks of terror and wails of despair of the unfortunate Christians were rising to the skies, mingled with the exulting cries of the victorious Turks. 


At the news of what had happened the Emperor stood for a few moments as if thunderstruck. The flight of the Italians towards the harbour caused some one in the imperial suite to suggest that there was, perhaps, still time for the Emperor to reach the harbour safely. 


Constantine answered simply: “God forbid that I should live an Emperor without an Empire! As my city falls, I will fall with it!”