The Ottoman Empire approached Venice, Italy with a proposal for an alliance back in 1479, but Venice turned it down. Following this rejection, Mehmed II, who held power as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire during that period, set in motion an invasion of Italy — something he had been contemplating for some time. On August 12th, 1480, orders were issued to Ottoman troops to make their crossing of the Strait of Otranto and seize the city.
Fun Facts
- Often called the Turkish Empire, the Ottoman Empire held dominion over vast territories spanning Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa.
- Spanning from the 14th to the 20th centuries, this Empire's reach at one point encompassed southeastern central Europe as well.
- A sultan sat at the very top of the Empire's power structure. Among them, Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent — who reigned from 1520 to 1566 — is celebrated for presiding over the Empire during its golden age.
- The Ottoman fleet made its appearance at Otranto on July 28th, 1480. Terrified residents scrambled to take shelter within the city's castle. What followed was a grueling 15-day siege, culminating in a final assault on 11th August that broke the city's resistance once and for all.
- When the 12th of August arrived, Ottoman soldiers swept through the city house by house, pillaging everything in sight and leaving buildings ablaze.
- The human toll was staggering: 12,000 people perished in total, and another 5,000 were enslaved by the Ottoman Empire.
- Among the most lasting cultural shifts brought about under Ottoman control was the transformation of the city's cathedral into a mosque.