THE ADRIANOPLE GATE, THROUGH WHICH MOHAMMED II ENTERED THE CONQUERED CITY OF CONSTANTINE: Each succeeding sultan has entered Constantinople through this gate in the Valley of the Lycus, on his way to the palace after the ceremony of being girded with the sword of Osman at Eyoub Mosque.
Click here to enlarge (1922).
The Adrianople Gate was one of the main gates in the walls of Constantinople, located on the western side of the city. It played a significant role during the Ottoman siege of 1453. Also known as the Edirne Gate (Edirne being the Ottoman capital at the time), it was named for the road leading from the city to Adrianople. This gate held both strategic and symbolic importance, as it was a major entry point through the city's formidable Theodosian Walls.
During the final stages of the siege, the Adrianople Gate became a focal point of Ottoman attacks. Sultan Mehmed II directed much of his army's efforts toward this area, using cannons and constant pressure to weaken the defenses. After the Ottomans breached the city, Mehmed reportedly entered through this gate, marking the beginning of Ottoman rule over Constantinople. Today, the Adrianople Gate remains a historical landmark and a powerful symbol of the city's transition from Byzantine to Ottoman control.
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