The emperor of Constantinople died there. Some say that he was beheaded,—others, that he was squeezed to death by the crowd as he was attempting to escape by one of the gates: both may perchance be true,—as he may have been pressed to death, and the Turks may have cut off his head afterwards.
This was a melancholy event for the Christians; for after the Turks had gained peaceable possession of the city, they entered the churches, more especially the cathedral of St Sophia, which is a very large and magnificent building,—and finding it full of ladies, damsels, and others of high rank, they ravished them all without any distinction, and in contempt of God our Creator and of the catholic faith. The Turk even violated the empress in this church, made her his concubine, and carried her with him when he departed from the city. His troops indulged themselves with impunity in every luxury and detestable vice.
The large galleys of the Venetians, and from Trebisonde, waited until the middle of the ensuing day to save some of the Christians, and about four hundred embarked on board. In the number was Jacques Totaldi[173], who had been on guard at a part of the wall distant from where the Turks had entered: perceiving that all was lost, he made for the shore, and by swimming saved himself on board one of these galleys.
Had the venetian fleet, under the command of John la Rendour[174], arrived the preceding day with his troops, most assuredly the city would have been relieved,—for it consisted of nine galleys and twenty other vessels. It arrived the day after the conquest at Negropont.
It has been estimated, that the plunder the Turks made in Constantinople amounted to four thousand millions of ducats: the loss of the Venetians alone was said to be fifty thousand ducats. The Genoese saved on board their galleys twenty thousand: the Florentines lost twenty thousand,—the merchants of Ancona fifteen thousand. From conversations with different Turks, we have heard that the grand Turk, when only twenty-three or twenty-four years old, was more cruel than Nero, and delighted in shedding blood: he was bold and ambitious, and more ardent to conquer the world than Alexander or Cæsar. It is alleged that he possesses larger territories, and greater power, than any other monarch whatever. He has different histories read out to him,—and demands the reason why such and such things have been done. He holds it an easy matter to throw a bridge from Megara[175] to Venice, for a passage to march his army thither. He inquires where Rome is situated,—and after the duke of Milan, of his valiant deeds, and other affairs. He can talk of nothing but war; and declares that he will make Constantinople his seat of empire, for that he is able and desirous to establish a large navy. He imagines that there is not a prince on earth but will bring him the keys of his towns before he calls for them, considering that he has taken by storm Constantinople, the strongest city in Europe, and so powerful that it was thought no army, however great, could accomplish it, and that he and his troops are bold in arms, holding their lives of no value to gain an object. It is supposed that the Turk will not this summer attempt any other warlike enterprise, but attend to his new settlement in Constantinople, unless some places he may wish for should surrender quietly. His soldiers want to return to their homes to enjoy and repose themselves, but he keeps them strictly to good discipline, that he may be prepared to resist any attacks that shall be made upon him. However, if the Christians would firmly unite, and act promptly, they would drive him out of Europe, never to return again.
This would be the plan I would offer for so desirable an object: First, an universal peace must be established in Christendom; then the Venetians, the duke of Milan, the Florentines, and the other princes of Italy, should raise an army of twenty thousand horse, well appointed, and under able captains, who should lead them to Pera, through Albania, as far as the possessions of the Christians, where they should halt in a country well supplied with all kinds of provision. They will be there secure, and instantly joined by the Albanians, Sciavonians, and other Christian nations, who will unite in the defence of the catholic faith.
In addition to this army, another should be formed at sea by the king of Arragon, the Venetians, the Genoese, the Florentines, and other maritime nations, whose fleets will be fully sufficient to conquer that of the Turk if it be not greatly increased to what it is at present. This fleet should sail for the port of Negropont, and take Sagripoch[176], and other places, from the Turk: it should likewise blockade the passage of the Dardanelles, and prevent any intercourse between Turkey and Greece.
The emperor of Hungary, the Bohemians, the Poles, the Walachians, and other nations in that quarter, should raise an army under the command of John Waiwoda[177], who is much feared by the Turks, and enter Turkey by Adrianople; and all these armies should so manage that their invasions take place at the same time, and that good intelligence reign among them that the success may not be doubtful.
The Turk, with all his efforts, cannot raise a greater army than two hundred thousand men, including bad and good; and it must be added, that among the number are many Christians, and others of his subjects, that follow him unwillingly, who on the approach of a sufficient army of Christians will desert and join them.
The Turks, by nature and custom, will not wait to be besieged, but continually keep the field, which will the more easily encourage desertions. The Christians from Russia must join this division of the united forces.