Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How did Mehmed II move Ottoman ships into the Golden Horn during the siege of Constantinople?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Ottoman Empire
Map showing the expansion of the Ottoman Empire from about 1300 to 1700. The empire reached its greatest extent between 1683 and 1699.
To bypass the defensive chain protecting the Golden Horn during the siege of Constantinople, Sultan Mehmed II ordered the construction of an oiled wooden ramp. Using this structure, his forces portaged their smaller vessels overland from the Bosporus into the Golden Horn. By April 22, 1453, the ships had successfully circumvented the chain, allowing the Ottoman fleet to seize control of the waters surrounding the city.12