Anthony Kaldellis – 1453
The Conquest and Tragedy of Constantinople
Interview with Anthony Kaldellis about his book 1453: The Conquest and Tragedy of Constantinople. Challenges prevailing misconceptions, asserting that the ‘Byzantines’ were Romans – a genuine political nation, not a ‘universal sacred empire’. Debunks romanticised narratives, demonstrating the Eastern Roman state was a sophisticated, bounded entity. Highlights the pragmatic defence of Constantinople, not a tragic last stand, and analyses the Ottoman victory as a strategic consolidation for their expanding empire. The city’s fall – a devastating event involving enslavement – also marked a pivotal step in the Ottoman Empire’s ascent. Critiques the tendency to view medieval societies as solely religious, advocating for a nuanced historical understanding.