The Roman Empire Fell on a TUESDAY in 1453, Not 476 #Shorts
Pack: 28 - The Roman Empire Fell on a TUESDAY in 1453, Not 476
The Roman Empire fell on Tuesday, May 29, 1453, when Sultan Mehmed II took Constantinople. The year 476 ended only the line of western emperors in Italy. The story in coins, a medal, a 15th-century manuscript and our own reconstructions.
- In August 476 the officer Odoacer deposed the boy emperor Romulus Augustulus in Italy, the date traditionally given for the end of the Western Roman Empire (Britannica, Odoacer; Romulus Augustulus).
- Julius Nepos, the emperor Romulus Augustulus had replaced, was driven out of Italy in 475 but was recognized in the East as emperor until his death in 480 (Britannica, Julius Nepos).
- The empire ruled from Constantinople carried on. Its people called themselves "Rhomaioi," Romans (The Met, Byzantium ca. 330–1453), and a medal of Emperor John VIII calls him "King and Emperor of the Romans" (Cleveland Museum of Art).
- After a 55-day siege and weeks of cannon fire, Constantinople fell on May 29, 1453; the last emperor, Constantine XI, died as the city fell, and how is uncertain (Britannica, Fall of Constantinople).
So when did Rome really fall: 476 or 1453? Tell us in the comments. Full story in our documentary, The Full History of Rome.
Sources
- Britannica, Fall of Constantinople
- Britannica, Constantine XI Palaeologus
- Britannica, Romulus Augustulus
- Britannica, Odoacer
- Britannica, Julius Nepos
- The Met, Byzantium (ca. 330–1453)
- Cleveland Museum of Art, Pisanello, medal of John VIII Palaeologus (1974.109.a)
- World History Encyclopedia, 1453: The Fall of Constantinople (weekday)
Images
- The Theodosian Walls in 1453, reconstruction (Unreal Engine) — Shadowfetch Studio — own work
- Gold solidus of Romulus Augustulus, 475–476 — American Numismatic Society — CC0 —
- Solidus of Julius Nepos, 474–475 (cropped) — Portable Antiquities Scheme, Frank Basford — CC BY 2.0 —
- Medal of John VIII Palaeologus, c. 1438–1439 — Pisanello, Cleveland Museum of Art — CC0 —
- The siege of Constantinople, BnF Fr. 9087, f. 207v, c. 1455 — attributed to Jean Le Tavernier — Public domain —
- Hagia Sophia, reconstruction (Unreal Engine) — Shadowfetch Studio — own work
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