When the Golden Horn fell, news spread that the Norman fleet had entered the port area. The whole of Constantinople was in panic. After all, that direction was one of Constantinople's few loopholes. After this, the Normans no longer had to attack the well-defended Theodosius wall head-on. Go to the north dock area to launch an attack. And once the city wall there falls. Then Constantinople fell.
Such a strategy. This is equivalent to reducing the difficulty of capturing Constantinople by three-quarters! Constantinople has a high city, thick fortifications, and numerous towers. But it can¡¯t be used anymore! .
August 1, 1014 AD. It's destined to be a sleepless night. After hearing the news, no matter how tolerant a person is, he couldn't sleep anymore. From Her Majesty Queen Liliannu. Imperial Marshal Aetius and other imperial generals got dressed immediately after receiving the news. They summoned all the troops they could muster and ran towards the northern wall of Constantinople as fast as possible.
As they hurried on, Lilianu secretly sighed: It¡¯s a shame that Constantinople didn¡¯t cut corners when designing. Unlike some cities, there is no city wall at all on the coastal side. Otherwise, there is no need to fight now. Just surrender.
Just like that, watching the Queen Marshal and General running towards the north of the city, many panicked citizens of Constantine also followed the crowd and ran towards the north of the city. They want to see it with their own eyes and hear from some authority. Want some comfort. Let yourself know that Constantinople is still under the control of the empire and is still the best fortress that will not fall.
However, they are destined to be disappointed. When I saw countless battleships the size of castles. Show off your power in the Golden Horn. Countless large-caliber artillery pieces as thick as a bowl were fired continuously, making the city wall on the north side tremble. When they saw tens of thousands of Norman soldiers, they sneered. Set up barracks in the ruined dock area. Assemble those ferocious siege towers
When the soldiers and civilians of Constantinople saw this scene. Everyone. From Liliannu to an ordinary citizen of Constantinople. They were all shocked and frightened and speechless.
"Don't panic! Get ready quickly, the enemy is about to attack the city! Romans, I order you to cheer up. Fight these barbarians bravely! Don't panic! We haven't lost yet!"
quickly. Liliannu stabilized. Then she shouted to the soldiers and civilians of Constantinople behind her. Encourage them: "Although it is not as strong as Theodosius's city wall, this is still Constantinople! It is still the strongest fortress in the world! As long as we work together and work hard to defend, then the opponent will not be able to capture this place! We There are enough supplies and manpower. There is no need to be afraid at all!!!¡±
When the Queen finished speaking. The soldiers and civilians of Constantinople responded with loud roars and cheers. quickly. These soldiers and people climbed onto the city wall with weapons in hand. Huddled behind the battlements, nervously looking at the Norman army in the dock area. Waiting for their attack.
But before that, they had to withstand the terrifying and powerful broadside salvos of the Norman artillery. Just three volleys. The firepower reduced the entire port to rubble. This moment it poured on the walls of Constantinople. Violent explosion, bombardment. Many towers collapsed and became unusable. It also leveled part of the battlements. The Greeks hiding behind the battlements were also blown into mincemeat.
This scene is extremely shocking. Ordinary soldiers, even those who have killed people on the battlefield. After seeing such a scene - a person who was standing next to him just now. The good people were blown into pieces in the blink of an eye. This is unacceptable in any case. Not to mention ordinary citizens who have never been to a battlefield.
Some people lost their limbs by artillery fire. Yelling in pain. Some people had their faces covered in burnt minced meat. Scared to the point of going crazy and incontinent. Some people simply dropped their weapons and ran away rolling and crawling. He even panicked and fell off the city wall, shattering into pieces
Immediately afterwards, a cannonball hit the city gate. The hardwood city gate could not completely defend against this kind of bombardment like the masonry wall. Suddenly a hole was punched out. The Norman soldiers who saw this scene from the front cheered loudly!
"Bombard their city gates! Concentrate bombardment of their city gates!! This is more valuable than randomly bombarding their city walls!!" At that time, he was holding a telescope. General Ushakov, who struggled to see this scene in the firelight, shouted excitedly: "Notify the fleet. Focus on bombarding their city gates! Blast those gates open and we will win!! "
So, following General Ushakov¡¯s order. The fleet began to focus on bombarding the weak city gate. Although the artillery of this era was accurateThe degree is not very high. And it's two or three o'clock in the morning. The darkest time of the day. But hundreds of artillery bombardments hit like luck. A few cannonballs actually hit the city gate. At that time, sawdust was flying everywhere at the city gate, and several boards were torn off in single pieces. A big hole has been exposed!
"Quick. Go carry the rocks. Seal the city gate!" Seeing that a loophole is about to appear in the defense line. The Greek officers immediately ordered angrily. The soldiers and civilians of Constantine withstood this artillery bombardment. The stones and wood will be bombarded immediately. And the stones originally used to throw at the city were transported. They were barricaded at the city gate. At least the city gate was sealed. The defenders were relieved.
that's all. Like a weak reed in a storm. The defenders of Constantinople were bombarded by Norman artillery. It lasted about three hours. After three hours. When it was already dark, the Norman fleet stopped bombarding.
Three hours of bombardment. In total, the Norman fleet fired thousands of rounds. Although the final result was not satisfactory. No more than a thousand Greeks were killed or injured. But in terms of destroying the opponent's morale. This round of bombing was extremely effective. After such a bombardment, almost all the tens of thousands of Greek soldiers and civilians on the city wall fell into chaos. At this time, the sun also rose. Light becomes abundant. Norman's army also rested. Taking advantage of the fact that the Greeks were in chaos, they began to attack!
"Charge!!" Centurions and centurions roared one by one, pushing the huge, newly assembled siege tower and advancing towards the opponent. Holding a layer of iron, the siege tower, which is more than ten meters high, weighs several tons. Although there are three rows of wheels installed underneath, the wheels are also lubricated with oil. But the marching speed is still not very fast - but it is enough.
Because there are not many defensive machines on this side of the city wall. There were only a few slings and ballistae. It is impossible to destroy these solid siege machines with individual weapons alone. It is also very difficult to use fire.
Although after the incident, Queen Liliannu ordered that large machinery that was temporarily unused on the front, the Theodosian inner wall on the west side, and the Constantine wall should be transported to the north side. But in a hurry. There is absolutely no way to do this. Those precious mechanical weapons are still on the way to be transported. Unable to transport it.
"Concentrate the existing catapults and ballistae firepower to attack those siege towers!"
After the bombardment of the Norman battleship ended. The queen and some professional soldiers climbed out of the hidden soldier cave on the side of the city wall. Then he rushed to the city wall. Seeing those ferocious siege towers slowly but unswervingly moving towards their side. Queen Liliannu ordered like this.
but. Just relying on more than a dozen catapults and crossbows. It is completely impossible to break through these iron-clad siege towers. They may have missed the target. Or maybe after hitting it, it would bounce off those iron sheets. There was absolutely no stopping the Normans.
"Damn it. It looks like we have to prepare for battle." Seeing these siege towers getting closer and closer. The Greeks gave up their plans to destroy these things. When the objects came a little closer, some Greek soldiers tried to throw jars of Greek fire at them. to destroy these things. But the Normans had already prepared a response strategy. Immediately, the fastest soldiers ran up to the siege tower carrying barrels filled with sand. Then a bucket was poured over, extinguishing the flames.
In this way, the soldiers pushed a dozen such siege towers forward, and finally approached the city wall. Immediately afterwards, the Norman soldiers rushed towards the city wall. Norman longbowmen and heavily armored crossbowmen armed with longbows and heavy crossbows also rushed under the city wall and fired arrows and crossbows towards the top of the city.
On the city wall, the Greek soldiers also roared and used their projectile weapons to fight back at the Normans. At the same time, they concentrated all their slingers and ballistae for the final round of bombardment. And the only Greek firethrower was activated. Under such circumstances, they finally destroyed a siege tower. But this is completely useless. Under the city tower, more gates for a total of sixteen siege towers have been opened. The Normans rushed to the city impatiently. A fierce fight began with the Greeks.
"Attack! As long as this wall is captured, Constantinople will be ours!!" The Normans roared loudly. Most of the enemies are still in chaos. Unable to organize an effective defense, the Greeks launched a violent attack. Long-handled axes and tomahawks slashed through. Cut into pieces any Greek who came near. After accumulating physical strength for a night, the fighting passion completely broke out at this moment. Formed a fighting force that was enough to destroy an empire!
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