Page:Destruction of the Greek Empire.djvu/395

 MANNEE OF CONSTANTINE'S DEATH 353 probable that Mahomet believed that if any of these forces should arrive before Constantinople either by land or by sea, he would have to abandon the siege. With these possible dangers threatening him, it is not unreasonable to conclude that if the besieged could have succeeded in repulsing the Turks in their greatest attack, and have held the city for even one day longer, Mahomet himself would have considered it necessary to withdraw his army, and Constantinople might possibly have been saved for Europe. Hence the withdrawal of Justiniani was an event of supreme importance. It led to the capture and decided the fate of the city, and gave the death-blow to the Eastern Empire. The ships bringing help, which were on their way, were too late. One is almost driven to the belief of Pusculus, ' Auxilium Deus ipse negavit.' 1 In the struggle which took place, the emperor bore a part Death o£ hi- — pi* • j • -r-r • i -, Constan- worthy ot his name and ot his position. He perished among tine, his own subjects and the remnant of the Latins who were aiding him. Whether the story related by Ducas and Leonard, that the emperor asked if there was no Christian willing to kill him, be true or not, there can be no doubt that he met his death like a brave man. All accounts attest his courage. Critobulus states that when he saw that the enemy had succeeded and were pouring through the breaches in the walls, he shouted, ' The city is taken and I am still alive,' and thereupon dashed into the midst of the enemy and was killed. 2 The manner of his death is, however, doubtful. No con- Manner of temporary writer was present. Phrantzes, who had attended 1 him at and after midnight, expressly tells us that he had been sent on duty elsewhere. Critobulus states that the emperor fell near the postern which Justiniani had opened from the city to the stockade ; 3 Leonard, that he was struck down by a Janissary, recovered himself, was again struck down and killed. 4 Ducas declares that two Turks claimed to 1 Pusc. iv. 1025. 2 Crit. lxxii. 3 Crit. lx. 4 Leonard, p. 99 ; Polish Janissary, 332 ; Montaldo notes one report, that he was trampled down in the throng, and another, that his head was cut off. Philelphus (book ii. v. 990) says, ' Enseque perstricto nunc hos, nunc enecat illos, Donee vita suo dispersa est alma cruore.' A A