Draft:List of participants in the Fall of Constantinople

This article presents the various figures present at the time of the siege and capture of Constantinople by the Ottomans on May 29, 1453. These include those mentioned in the 16th-century chronicle by Pseudo-Sphrantzes. The latter is supposedly inspired by Byzantine historian Georges Sphrantzès' notes on the siege. However, Sphrantzès' chronicle contains only vague, laconic passages about the fall of Constantinople, which he actually witnessed.

Besieged

• Constantine XI Palaeologus (February 8, 1404 - May 29, 1453): the last Byzantine emperor, he led the 7,000 defenders of Constantinople and perished during the final assault and capture of the city by the Ottomans on May 29, 1453.
• Lucas Notaras (? - June 3, 1453): archduke and the empire's most important figure after Constantine XI, he led a reserve corps near the land walls. Initially spared by Mehmed II, he was executed a few days later along with two of his sons. The third, named Jacob, was incorporated into the sultan's harem, later taking refuge in Italy around 1471.
• Georges Sphrantzès: historian, friend and advisor to Constantine XI, he was present in Constantinople at the time of the siege. He carried out various missions, but does not appear to have taken part in the fighting. He was captured and released by Mehmed II after the city was taken.
• Démétrius Paléologue Métochitès (? - May 29, 1453): last governor of Constantinople, he perished with his sons on the last day of the fighting, along with many other Byzantine dignitaries.
• Theophilus Palaeologus: cousin of the emperor, he is best known for launching a desperate charge when the Byzantine defenses collapsed. He perished in the process.

Assiegers

• Mehmed II: Ottoman sultan at the time of the siege. He led the Turkish army.
• Suleïman Baltoglu: an Ottoman admiral of Bulgarian origin, he led the Ottoman fleet of 120 to 130 small ships known as Hadirika, in contrast to the much larger, faster and more robust Genoese galleons. However, his inability to prevent this fleet of four Christian ships from reaching the besieged led to his dismissal.
• Hamza Bey: replaces Baltoglu at the head of the Ottoman fleet after April 20.
• Zagan Pacha: an Ottoman general, he led the troops positioned opposite the Genoese colony of Péra and the ramparts of the Golden Horn.
• Halil Pasha: Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire, he opposed Mehmed II's policies and tried to persuade him to lift the siege. He was executed shortly after the fall of Constantinople for his attitude.
• Karadja Pacha: led the Ottoman troops in Europe.
• Ishak Pacha: led the Ottoman troops in Anatolia.
• Akh Shemseddin: religious leader on the Ottoman side. Following the battle of April 20, when four Christian ships succeeded in forcing the Ottoman blockade, Akh Shemseddin sent a letter to Mehmed II criticizing the Sultan's strategy and asking him to punish those responsible, including Suleiman Baltoglu.
• Constantin d'Ostrovica or Michel Constantinovitch d'Ostrovica: a member of the Serbian contingent in the Ottoman army sent by Georges Brankovic, he later joined the Janissary corps before becoming a Christian again. It was during this period that he wrote his biography Memoirs of a Janissary, part of which is dedicated to the capture of Constantinople.