Nicolò Barbaro

Niccolò Barbaro was a Venetian physician, and author of an eyewitness account of the Fall of Constantinople in 1453.[1]

The historian Steven Runciman called him 'the most useful of the Western sources'[2] on the fall of the city in 1453, primarily because of the compelling narrative that follows the events of the siege on a daily basis. However, as a Venetian, Barbaro held strong anti-Genoese beliefs - especially against the Genoese of Pera (modern day Galata), whom he suggests were colluding with the Ottomans during the siege.[3] He also suggests that Giovanni Giustiniani, the Genoese commander stationed at the Mesoteichion (Μεσοτείχιον, "Middle Wall"), the weakest part of the Theodosian Walls, whom Barbaro calls 'Zuan Zustignan', abandoned his post, and that this led to the fall of the city:

"Zuan Zustignan, that Genoese of Genoa, decided to abandon his post, and fled to his ship, which was lying at the boom. The Emperor [Constantine XI] had made this Zuan Zustignan captain of his forces, and as he fled, he went through the city crying 'The Turks have got into the city!' But he lied through his teeth, because the Turks were not yet inside."[4]

However, Leonard of Chios, another eyewitness, says that Giustiniani was injured by an arrow, and attempted to seek out a physician in secret.[5] The Greek historians Doukas and Laonikos Chalkokondyles both also say that Giustiniani was injured too – only Barbaro claims that the Genoese commander fled in such a way.[6][7]

Serious as these criticisms are, Barbaro's account has presented a solid chronological narrative that presents the events of the Siege of Constantinople day-by-day.

References
  1. Benjamin G. Kohl (2010). "Barbaro, Niccolò". In Graeme Dunphy (ed.). Encyclopedia of the Medieval Chronicle. Leiden: Brill. p. 141. ISBN 90 04 18464 3.
  2. Runciman, Steven (1965). The Fall of Constantinople 1453. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 195.
  3. Barbaro, Niccoló (1970). Diary of the Siege of Constantinople. Translated by Jones, J.R. New York: Exposition. pp. 68–9.
  4. Barbaro, Niccoló (1970). Diary of the Siege of Constantinople. Translated by Jones, J.R. New York: Exposition. p. 65.
  5. Leonard of Chios (1972). 'Account of the Fall of Constantinople', in The Siege of Constantinople: Seven Contemporary Accounts. Translated by Melville-Jones, J.R., Amsterdam, p. 36
  6. Doukas (1975). Decline and Fall of Byzantium to the Ottoman Turks. Translated by Magoulias, H.J., Detroit, pp. 222–223
  7. Chalkokondyles, Laonikos (2014). The Histories. Translated by Kaldellis, Anthony. Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press. p.193
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