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Quiz about Constantine XI and the Fall of the Constantinople

Constantine XI and the Fall of the Constantinople Quiz

Constantine XI was the last Emperor of the Byzantine Empire, the successor state to the Roman Empire. Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Empire and the seat of the Eastern Church for over 1,000 years before the events of this quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by cjd411. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
cjd411

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
233,311

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
2099

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The inhabitants of Constantinople during the 15th century referred to themselves as "Byzantine".

True

False

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Question 2 of 10

2. Before ascending to the Imperial throne, Constantine XI Palaeologos went by his mother's last name. How was he referred to before he was crowned on January 6, 1449? Hint

Constantine Dragas

Constantine Prezan

Constantine Petrovich

Constantine Ducas

3. The Byzantine Empire had very little territory left by the early 15th century. The entire empire, which at its height had stretched from Greece to Egypt to Persia, now consisted of little more than Constantinople and a few scattered holdings in Greece. Before honing the Imperial Purple, Constantine XI regained several of the Empire's former holdings, albeit for a short period of time. Which two significant territories did Constantine regain? Hint

Athens and Thebes

Anatolia and Cyprus

Crete and Rhodes

None of these

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of the Empire's enemies took back the territories gained by Constantine XI after a brief period of time? Hint

Venice

Genoa

Aegean Pirates

The Ottoman Empire

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Question 5 of 10

5. Mehmet II became impatient with the remnant of the Byzantine Empire and finally launched his attack on Constantinople in an attempt to consolidate his superiority over the former Byzantine Empire. In what year did he launch is attack on the Western side of Constantinople? Hint

1442

1449

1453

1460

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Question 6 of 10

6. On 22 May, 1453 Byzantine reconnaissance reported to the Emperor that there was no sign of the Venetian fleet or any Western help on the way. At this news, the Emperor broke down and wept knowing that the whole of Christendom had abandoned the Empire in the East. He committed himself to the mercy of Christ and prepared his 5,000 troops and 2,000 mercenaries. Why did Venice, France, Genoa and the rest of Western Europe abandon the Byzantine Empire in its most desperate time? Hint

They had a secret alliance with Mehmet II

They were annoyed that the Eastern Orthodox Church had not reconciled its differences with the Papacy

Their fleets had been lost at sea en route to Constantinople

They had lost interest in the affairs of South East Europe

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Question 7 of 10

7. A slight disadvantage in numbers is one thing, but Constantine XI's problems were more than slight. How badly were the Byzantine forces outnumbered at the last battle of Constantinople? Hint

14 to 1

10 to 1

12 to 1

3 to 1

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Question 8 of 10

8. Although the Ottomans had a large supply of heavy artillery, the defenses of Constantinople still proved difficult to overcome and the Byzantines were repairing the walls as quickly as Mehmet could destroy them. After weeks of pounding the walls with heavy cannon, what ultimately led to the incursion of Ottoman troops into Constantinople? Hint

The Byzantines forgot to lock one of the gates leading into the city

The extensive network of secret tunnels built under the walls leading into the city

An Ottoman fleet had penetrated the Bosphorus

The twenty-seven foot long cannon named the "Basilic" knocked down the walls

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Question 9 of 10

9. What did Constantine XI Palaeologos do upon seeing the Ottoman troops swarm into his city by the thousand? Hint

He went to the top of the walls and made a desperate attempt to take out the incoming troops with his remaining archers

Shocked, he did nothing

He threw the Imperial Purple aside, mounted his horse and, with his loyal entourage, charged into the storm, never to be seen again

He ran to the Hagia Sofia and prayed, until discovered and executed by an Ottoman captain

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Question 10 of 10

10. What name did Ottoman Emperor Mehmet II give himself after the conquest of Constantinople? Hint

Mehmet II Palaeologos

Tsar of the Balkans

Kayzer-i-Rum

Mehmet the Great

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The inhabitants of Constantinople during the 15th century referred to themselves as "Byzantine".

Answer: False

The Byzantine Empire is a modern term. The inhabitants of the former Eastern Roman Capital still considered and referred to themselves as "Roman", although their culture was more Hellenic than Latin.

2. Before ascending to the Imperial throne, Constantine XI Palaeologos went by his mother's last name. How was he referred to before he was crowned on January 6, 1449?

Answer: Constantine Dragas

Dragas was Constantine's Serbian mother's family name. Constantine Petrovich was the first Governer General of Russian Turkestan, Constantine Prezan was a Romanian General in World War I, and Constantine Ducas was a Byzantine co-emperor during the 11th century.

Answer: Athens and Thebes

As 'Despotes' of Morea (the Peloponnese), Constantine launched attacks on the Florentine cities of Athens and Thebes, forcing their Italian duke to pay him tribute. These victories were short lived.

4. Which of the Empire's enemies took back the territories gained by Constantine XI after a brief period of time?

Answer: The Ottoman Empire

Already surrounding Constantinople on all sides, the Ottoman Empire refused to allow Byzantine power to return to all of Greece, and the Empire was again reduced to Constantinople and its surrounding area plus the Peloponnese.

Answer: 1453

By 1453 Sultan Mehmet II had large fortresses on both sides of Constantinople. He had conquered most of Greece and now felt the need to consolidate his power and conquer Constantinople, so in this year he marched 100,000 troops including 20,000 Janissaries to the Western gates of Constantinople.

Answer: They were annoyed that the Eastern Orthodox Church had not reconciled its differences with the Papacy

Ever since the schism or split the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches in 1054, the Roman Catholic west had been trying to re-integrate the east. A temporary reunion came about in the 13th century, but ethnic tensions between Greeks and Italians stemming from the stranglehold the Italians had over the Byzantine economy and the sack of Constantinople in 1204 also played a significant role, and finally the Union failed, greatly annoying Pope Nicholas V and the Roman Catholic church.

7. A slight disadvantage in numbers is one thing, but Constantine XI's problems were more than slight. How badly were the Byzantine forces outnumbered at the last battle of Constantinople?

Answer: 14 to 1

The Ottoman Empire attacked Constantinople with over fourteen times the number of troops under Constantine's command, the numbers being about 100,000 to 7,000 - not to mention the fact that the Ottomans had gunpowder and plenty of it.

Answer: The Byzantines forgot to lock one of the gates leading into the city

Unfortunately, one of the access doors in the great walls was left unlocked. Upon discovering this, the Ottoman army poured into the city through this door and captured it. The monster cannon, the "Basilic", could fire a huge ball nearly one mile. However, it took three hours to load and even a target as large as Constantnople proved difficult to hit.

The Ottomans DID have secret tunnels, but Byzantine forces learned of these before the attack and destroyed them. Whether guarding that one gate would have made much difference in the longer term is another matter.

9. What did Constantine XI Palaeologos do upon seeing the Ottoman troops swarm into his city by the thousand?

Answer: He threw the Imperial Purple aside, mounted his horse and, with his loyal entourage, charged into the storm, never to be seen again

It was this act that immortalized the name of Constantine XI Palaeologos, leading some Greeks today to think of him as a saint. With no other options, Constantine threw the Imperial Purple aside and rode into the mass of Ottoman invaders and perished. With him died the Roman Empire, too.

10. What name did Ottoman Emperor Mehmet II give himself after the conquest of Constantinople?

Answer: Kayzer-i-Rum

Constantinople was all that remained of the once mighty Roman Empire. Upon its conquest, Mehmet gave himself the title of Kayzer-I-Rum, or "Emperor of Rome". That is all, I hope you have enjoyed my quiz about this often overlooked event which defined the rest of the millennium in Europe and beyond.

Source: Author cjd411

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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