Over the Ramparts |
The Sultan, on his favorite mount and with an iron mace in his hand, placed himself at the head of his proud Janissaries. These 12,000 men were the finest infantry in Europe, perhaps in the world. The trumpets blared and the Janissaries advanced at the double. This time there was no wild rushing attack. As they advanced these superbly disciplined troops maintained perfect ranks.
Mohammed led them right to the edge of the most. As his men passed by he shouted encouragement and promises of rich rewards. He told them that the first man to reach the top of the wall would be given a province and made rich beyond his highest dreams.
The first rank of Janissaries halted just short of the walls and launched against the defenders a deadly hail of arrows and bullets. The second rank jogged through these men to the base of the walls. While some hacked at the planks with axes, others fixed ladders, and still others strained to pull the defenses down. The third rank charged up and began to scale the walls. Each ladder was placed with care and precision so it could not be easily toppled. The Christians fought back grimly while behind them church bells commenced a clamorous pealing to Heaven for a miracle to save Constantinople.
Meanwhile at the Blachernal one of those events occurred that can only be listed under Fortunes of War. At the point where the single wall of the suburb joined the triple land wall there was a small sally-port called the Kerkoporta. This had been left open and unguarded by a company of Christians who had sortied against the Turks' left flank. A Turkish soldier saw this and he and some fifty comrades rushed through the gate into a small courtyard. The only exit was up a narrow stairway to the battlements. The Christians outside soon realized what had happened and raced back through the gate, barred it behind them and began to fight the trapped Turks. This was a situation that could have been contained if another disaster had not occurred.
Just as the first faint glow of dawn began to lighten the furious scene at the Mesoteichion, Giustiniani was wounded. Historians differ about the details - a shot pierced his breastplate, or an arrow transfixed his gauntlet, or he suffered two heavy blows from a Turkish soldier. Whatever happened there is no doubt this brave, able and utterly exhausted soldier was wounded. It was the final blow that broke his spirit.
Bleeding profusely and in great pain, Giustiniani ordered his bodyguards to help him from the battle. Constantine rushed over and urged his commander not to desert his post. But Giustiniani pleaded he needed medical attention and finally the emperor gave him a key to a nearby gate of the inner Wall. Giustiniani's men opened the gate and carried him into the city. When the Genoese troops realized their commander was leaving, they panicked. Before the gate could be closed and locked behind Giustiniani the Genoese began to crowd through it. Only the Emperor and his Greeks remained at the ramparts.