List of sieges of Constantinople
For the final siege of Constantinople, see Fall of Constantinople.
The 1453 Siege of Constantinople (painted 1499)
There were several sieges of Constantinople during the history of the Byzantine Empire. Two of them resulted in the capture of Constantinople from Byzantine rule: in 1204 by Crusaders, and in 1453 by the Ottoman Empire under Mehmed II.
Persian and Arab Sieges of Constantinople
Main articles: Roman–Persian Wars and Arab–Byzantine wars
- Siege of Constantinople (626), by Avars, Slavs, and Sassanid Persians, unsuccessful
- Siege of Constantinople (674–678), by Arabs, unsuccessful
- Siege of Constantinople (717–718), by Arabs, unsuccessful
Sieges by Bulgaria and the Rus'
Main articles: Byzantine–Bulgarian wars and Rus'–Byzantine War
- Siege of Constantinople (813), by Krum of Bulgaria, unsuccessful
- Siege of Constantinople (860), by the Rus', unsuccessful
- Siege of Constantinople (907), by the Rus' in 904/907, unsuccessful
- Siege of Constantinople (941), by the Rus', unsuccessful
Sieges and attacks during Byzantine civil wars
- The siege by Thomas the Slav in 821–822
- The siege during the revolt of Leo Tornikios in 1047
- A 32-day siege by Andronikos IV Palaiologos with the support of the Ottoman Turks in 1376
Crusades
Main article: Fourth Crusade
- Siege of Constantinople (1203), first siege by the Fourth Crusade, in which Alexius IV was able to usurp the throne after Alexius III fled to Thrace, successful
- Siege of Constantinople (1204), second siege by the Fourth Crusade, in which the Byzantines were overwhelmed and the city thoroughly sacked, successful
Nicaean sieges
- Siege of Constantinople (1235), by Bulgarian and Nicaean forces, unsuccessful
- A Nicaean attack on Constantinople is implied by George Akropolites's account for 1248, but no details are known
- Siege of Constantinople (1260), by the Empire of Nicaea, unsuccessful
- In 1261, a small force of Nicaean troops under Alexios Strategopoulos gained entry into the poorly defended Latin capital, ending the Latin Empire and restoring Byzantine rule to the City. Most Latin troops defending the city were absent on campaign, and the Emperor fled without putting up any resistance; there was no siege.
Ottoman sieges
Main article: Rise of the Ottoman Empire
- An Ottoman blockade between 1390 and 1402, first interrupted by the Crusade of Nicopolis, then lifted due to the Battle of Ankara
- Siege of Constantinople (1411), a short Ottoman siege that occurred during the Ottoman Interregnum, unsuccessful
- Siege of Constantinople (1422), the first large-scale siege of the city by the Ottomans, unsuccessful
- Fall of Constantinople in 1453, after an Ottoman siege, successful