On This Day
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Turkish forces under Sultan Mehmed II begin the siege of the Byzantine Empire's capital, Constantinople (now Istanbul),

Turkish forces under Sultan Mehmed II begin the siege of the Byzantine Empire's capital, Constantinople (now Istanbul), which falls on May 29

Neolithic artifacts, uncovered by archeologists at the beginning of the 21st century, indicate that Istanbul's historic peninsula was settled as far back as the 6th millennium BCE. That early settlement, important in the spread of the Neolithic Revolution from the Near East to Europe, lasted for almost a millennium before being inundated by rising water levels. The first human settlement on the Asian side, the Fikirtepe mound, is from the Copper Age period, with artifacts dating from 5500 to 3500 BCE. In the European side, near the point of the peninsula (Sarayburnu) there was a settlement during the early 1st millennium BCE.

Historical Significance

Neolithic artifacts, uncovered by archeologists at the beginning of the 21st century, indicate that Istanbul's historic peninsula was settled as far back as the 6th millennium BCE.

Key People

Mehmed the Conqueror

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Events Before

  1. Sultan Mehmed II, the Conqueror inherits the throne of the Ottoman Empire

    The sultans of the Ottoman Empire (Turkish: Osmanlı padişahları), who were all members of the Ottoman dynasty (House of Osman), ruled over the transcontinental empire from its perceived inception in…

  2. Frederick III (37), crowned Holy Roman Emperor three days later, marries infanta Eleanor of Portugal (17) in Rome

    Frederick III (37), crowned Holy Roman Emperor three days later, marries infanta Eleanor of Portugal (17) in Rome

  3. Battle of Los Alporchones: forces of Kingdoms of Castile and Murcia defeat Emirate of Granada near Lorca, part of the Sp

    Battle of Los Alporchones: forces of Kingdoms of Castile and Murcia defeat Emirate of Granada near Lorca, part of the Spanish Reconquista

  4. Frederick III of Hapsburg crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Nicholas V at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome -last Holy Emper

    Frederick III of Hapsburg crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Nicholas V at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome -last Holy Emperor crowned in Rome

  5. Leonardo da Vinci is born

    Leonardo da Vinci, Italian renaissance polymath, known for italian renaissance polymath, was born on 1452-04-15.

Events After

  1. Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold weds second wife Isabella of Bourbon

    Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold weds second wife Isabella of Bourbon

  2. In the Thirteen Years' War, the Secret Council of the Prussian Confederation sends a formal act of disobedience to the G

    In the Thirteen Years' War, the Secret Council of the Prussian Confederation sends a formal act of disobedience to the Grand Master

  3. Siege of Malbork, including its castle, seat of the Teutonic Order begun by Polish and Prussian forces - captured Septem

    Siege of Malbork, including its castle, seat of the Teutonic Order begun by Polish and Prussian forces - captured September 1454

  4. Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of the Prussian Confederation pledge allegiance to the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King o

    Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of the Prussian Confederation pledge allegiance to the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, Casimir IV, who agrees to help in their struggle for independence from the Teutonic Knights

  5. Milan and Venice sign peace of Lodi

    The Treaty of Lodi, or Peace of Lodi, was a peace agreement which brought to an end the Wars in Lombardy between the Venetian Republic and the Duchy of Milan, signed in the city of Lodi on 9 April...

More from the 1450s

Sultan Mehmed II, the Conqueror inherits the throne of the Ottoman Empire

The sultans of the Ottoman Empire (Turkish: Osmanlı padişahları), who were all members of the Ottoman dynasty (House of Osman), ruled over the transcontinental empire from its perceived inception in…

Louis, dauphin of France (later Louis XI) (27) marries Charlotte of Savoy (9) without the consent of King Charles VII

Louis, dauphin of France (later Louis XI) (27) marries Charlotte of Savoy (9) without the consent of King Charles VII

Johannes Gutenberg prints his first Bible [estimated date] [1]

The Gutenberg Bible, also known as the 42-line Bible, the Mazarin Bible or the B42, was the earliest major book printed in Europe using mass-produced metal movable type.

First record of Johannes Gutenberg's Bible, a letter dated this day by Enea Silvio Piccolomini refers to the Bible print

First record of Johannes Gutenberg's Bible, a letter dated this day by Enea Silvio Piccolomini refers to the Bible printed a year earlier

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on April 6, 1453?
Neolithic artifacts, uncovered by archeologists at the beginning of the 21st century, indicate that Istanbul's historic peninsula was settled as far back as the 6th millennium BCE. That early settlement, important in the spread of the Neolithic Revolution from the Near East to Europe, lasted for almost a millennium before being inundated by rising water levels. The first human settlement on the Asian side, the Fikirtepe mound, is from the Copper Age period, with artifacts dating from 5500 to 3500 BCE.
Why is Turkish forces under Sultan Mehmed II begin the siege of the Byzantine Empire... significant?
Neolithic artifacts, uncovered by archeologists at the beginning of the 21st century, indicate that Istanbul's historic peninsula was settled as far back as the 6th millennium BCE.
Who was involved in Turkish forces under Sultan Mehmed II begin the siege of the Byzantine Empire...?
Key figures include Mehmed the Conqueror.

Explore More

April 6 in HistoryYear 1453