Constantinopolis (18 page)

Giovanni had already disappeared, heading down to the city level to rally his reserve force. Constantine shouted at the archers to keep a steady stream of fire at the Turks storming the breach, and he quickly climbed down with Notaras and Sphrantzes. He sent Sphrantzes into the city to rally additional reinforcements. Then, with Notaras and a few guards, Constantine went through one of the small doors in the inner wall that led into the gap between the walls. His body coursed with excitement but also with fear, and he realized that without quick action, the city could be only an hour away from falling.

As he arrived at the breaking point, he realized with some relief that the breach was small so far, only the width of a few men. The Turks were already pressing in but they had been met by several hundred heavily armed and armored Greeks and Italians commanded by Giovanni.

Giovanni had created this elite reserve force and trained it over the winter to quickly respond to a breach in the walls and to battle at that point as a last defense. Constantine was prepared to fight but there was already a press of men surrounding the breach so he watched, ready to assist. He was impressed with the tactics utilized by Giovanni. The archers above in the towers kept a steady rain of arrows flying down on the Turks below. This left many dead and also blocked other Turks from pressing forward and slowed down the momentum of the attack. The Turks who appeared within the actual breach were only able to enter the gap between the walls a few at a time and were immediately met by the reserve force. The fighters out front would engage their enemies for a few minutes, then at the Giovanni’s command, they would step back and a new line of fresh men would step in. His men were taking casualties, but only slowly, and thus far they held their ground.

The battle continued on for hours, or so it seemed to Constantine, although in the heat of battle he could not be sure of the actual passage of time. Turkish dead piled up on both sides and in front of the breach, further plugging the small hole. Miraculously, the cannon, despite ongoing volleys, failed to again breach the outer wall, although cracks appeared in many places. Slowly the wore on, with the smell of battle, blood and dust filling the city. Finally, when it seemed the fighting would go on forever, the pressure began to slowly ease, then finally ended. Light began to fail, and the Turks retreated from the walls and streamed slowly back into their camps outside the city. Constantinople had survived to fight another day.

Constantine found Giovanni in the failing light and clasped him on the back, congratulating him on his victory. Giovanni bowed and then went to work organizing aid to the wounded.

As darkness fell, Giovanni set his men to repairing the breach to the outer wall. The original concrete and limestone walls could not be rebuilt overnight but Giovanni plugged the breach with a heavy wood palisade. The wall was reinforced with long beams placed at perpendicular angles against the flat surface. The Genoan commander assured Constantine that the wooden structure was nearly as strong as the walls themselves and could be quickly replaced when additional damage occurred. Giovanni employed a huge force of several hundred Greek citizens whom he had trained and drilled these many winter months in rebuilding siege defenses. All the hard work paid off and Constantine congratulated himself again in having the foresight to put Giovanni in charge of the defenses, even over the objection of his friend Notaras.

When some time had passed and the work looked well organized, Constantine pulled Giovanni aside to discuss the day’s battle.

“How close did they come to breaking through?” he asked the Genoan.

“That is a matter of how you look at it my Lord,” said Giovanni, managing a wry smile. “They did not come very close to getting into the city at all, in terms of the one breach they did make. As you saw, we quickly brought our reserves into position and once they were there, the Turks had no chance of breaking in. But of course there are many variables. We were very fortunate that the breach was small, and also that it occurred so close to our command tower. I was able to quickly bring the forces to this point, so we were only fighting a few Turks at any given time. We had almost a perfect problem to solve here.”

“But it is true that other things could have gone wrong?”

“Many things my Lord. If a breach occurred somewhere further along the walls, we would take some time to arrive there. Let us say that a hundred or more Turks made it through the hole and spread out. Now our reserve force is fighting on a more widespread front, with more Turks pouring in behind them. In that situation, we could probably fight for some hours, and we might even plug the hole again, but there would be no guarantee.”

“And multiple breaches?”

“Exactly. If there are multiple breaches we might end up spread too thin. I think we could handle two at the same time, but three or four? That was my main worry today. After the first hole was blown through so quickly, I was sure that there would be multiple breaches during the day.”

“And then the city would fall?”

“I do not like to think that way my Lord. I have not lost a city or a castle yet, and there have been times when I was sure that I would. I think we have to focus on what
did
happen. Whether it was the will of God, or whatever the reason for our miracle, the walls did not fall today. The Turks did not achieve multiple breaches. The city still stands. I have to think this is a blow to the Sultan. Siege warfare is as much mental battle as physical. The attacking force can only sit outside for so long, and can only suffer so many failed attacks, before it gives up and leaves. Granted, there have been sieges that last for years, but mostly they are a matter of a season or two. And usually there are not constant attacks, usually it is only a few here and there. We have fought off the first attack, and the second, if you consider Notaras’s victory at the sea boom. I feel confident we can hold the city my Lord, given a little luck and of course Divine assistance.”

Constantine was encouraged. He had been so sure the city was going to fall today after the shock of the breach. During the battle itself he had felt a strange calm, almost an internal peace. He simply watched the events unfold. But once the Turks had retreated, he felt an overwhelming exhaustion, and noticed his hands trembled so badly he had to hide them behind his back.

“I know one thing my friend, the city would have already fallen if it was not for you. Without your help, we would never have had the walls repaired and we certainly would not have been prepared for what happened today. When you suggested keeping back a force away from the walls I was skeptical, because we are so short handed. Now I understand.”

Giovanni bowed and smiled. “My Lord I am happy I can be of service. I have been a soldier all my life. Truth be told, I have never been in a siege like this, with so much at stake. I know we can defend the city and drive back the Turks. Again, if it is God’s will.”

“It must be God’s will. Is this not God’s city? The first great Christian city. We have lost Jerusalem but it was never truly our city, it is the city of the Jews and now of the Arabs. Alexandria was the city of the Egyptians and our pagan Greek ancestors. Even Rome was built and dedicated to false gods. This city was built by Constantine the Great as a city dedicated to Christ and to the Virgin. There have been so many times when it seemed the city would fall to infidels, but it never has, unless you count my Latin cousins, whom we have forgiven, if not forgotten. Thank you again Giovanni, you will be richly rewarded when we have driven the Turks back. You will be Lord of Lemnos, and will be a hero of the Greeks. In fact, you already are.”

Giovanni bowed again and Constantine left the walls, wearily mounting his horse and making his way slowly through the quiet streets of the city. The city was unusually deserted, as if the struggle of the day had exhausted the entire population. He wandered through the city for a time, enjoying the relief of their salvation. He eventually made his way to Zophia’s. He knocked on the door and waited for an answer. He heard her voice within asking who was there and he answered. There was a hesitation and then she opened the door, although she did not invite him in. She was dressed in a silk sleeping robe. She was so beautiful and he missed her so much. He felt his heart nearly bursting.

“So we survived another day,” she commented. “I’m glad you’re still alive.”

“May I come in?”

“I’m sorry. I cannot let you in.”

“Won’t you please, I beg of you, I have so many things I want to tell you. Please Zophia, I am so sorry. Please let me explain.”

“What do you want to explain to me that we have not already discussed? I understand why you felt forced to do this. You made your choice and I understand why you made it. I have also made my choice. I never hid my feelings about this. You understood them. What are you asking now, that I pretend you are not going to marry someone else? Should I become your whore? Should I sit here at night, waiting for you to sneak out of your bed and come to me? I cannot do it Constantine. I will not.”

“I know Zophia, I know. But can I not at least come in and talk to you? Cannot you at least be my friend? You know there is no one else I can talk to. This marriage proposal will not even happen. It is Sphrantze’s dream.”

“I am sorry my love. I love you, you know I do, but I cannot do it. If you come in I will kiss you. If I kiss you I will be with you. I cannot stop myself. You are everything to me. But I cannot. I cannot see you, and I cannot spend time with you, you have made your choice and I must be true to mine.”

Constantine looked at her, in her eyes, her face. Why could they not just leave together, sail away from this city and the stupid “empire” that hardly extended beyond the walls of Constantinople? He voiced his thoughts out loud.

“We could just leave together. Just you and me. I have some secret personal funds left. We could climb aboard a ship and go into exile. We would be welcome in Rome or anywhere in Italy for that matter. We could live together, marry, have children together.”

She laughed. “Who is dreaming now? I know you my love. You may give everything
for
your city but you will not sacrifice Constantinople for anything or anyone.”

He smiled back. “I suppose you’re right. You always have known me better than anyone else. But that is why I need you now. I need your support. I can get through all of this with you, but not without you.”

“I am easily yours Constantine. Send a second messenger cancelling your betrothal negotiation and I am yours the second they depart. Even simply announce to the city that you will marry me. Do so and I am yours in an instant. But I won’t be your second woman. It would destroy me, and I would have nothing to give you, no way to support you.”

Why didn’t he do just what she suggested? The ship he had sent into the Black Sea probably had been sunk by the Turks in any event. If it was not, there was no guarantee that the Georgians would offer enough to make it worthwhile, or that any aid could come in time. But what if the aid could come in time? What if it was the final aid that tipped the advantage to the Greeks? If only the Pope’s aid was here. If only the Turks simply abandoned the siege.

“You do not have to answer dearest. I already know you will not give up even a small chance for your city. Know that I love you for it. But please, please, let me be. We both must suffer alone.”

She pulled him to her and kissed him. He could taste her sweet lips, smell her hair. He held her closely, not wanting to let go. They stood together for long minutes before she finally pulled away. “Go my Prince. Go save the city. I will be here, praying for our city. Praying for you. Praying for us.”

She shut the door slowly and Constantine stood outside for a long while, regaining his composure. Thank God she still loved him, still understood him. He wanted her so desperately to give in, but he loved her for the person she was, and Zophia would never compromise her values. He mounted, turned his horse slowly and road onward.

Soon he could make out the towering dome of St. Sophia against the skyline. He smiled. He had come to his other woman, the heart of his city. His great cathedral. He dismounted and walked silently through the darkness, moving among the shadows to avoid the occasional passerby. He wanted to be alone.

He entered the church quietly through a door and crept up the stairs in the near darkness. He had to feel along the wall to make sure he was heading in the right direction. Soon he had felt his way to the second floor and he made his way to the Imperial platform. He had gone undetected as he had hoped and he dropped down softly, kneeling in the darkness lit only by the candles below. He closed his eyes and prayed. He thanked God for saving his city again, for the miracles of the day. He prayed that God would continue to protect Constantinople, and would lead the Turks to lift the siege and leave the city. He thanked God for Zophia, for her courage and strength. He prayed they would be together again. He thanked God for Giovanni, and for the brave men who had died or were wounded today. Finally he prayed for his people, and asked God and the Virgin to deliver them in safety.

Constantine arrived back at the palace shortly before midnight. He bathed hurriedly, changed clothes, and joined Notaras, Giovanni and Sphrantzes for a late dinner and council. They discussed in detail the attack on the city and Constantine again praised Giovanni in front of the others. Notaras updated them on the naval situation, which had remained static since the victory at the sea boom. Sphrantzes however, had the most important news.

“I have learned from the highest possible source inside the Turkish camp that the decision to attack Constantinople was on its surface unanimous, but there are many ministers and advisors who felt it was a mistake. This faction, which includes the Grand Vizier Halil, is looking for a way out. Apparently, the failure at the sea chain was already seen by this group of dissenters as a possible reason to put pressure on Mehmet to lift the siege. The failure today at the land wall must surely be another significant disappointment.”