Ottoman Crossing into Europe: What Happened
In 1354, a powerful earthquake struck the Gallipoli peninsula on the European side of the Dardanelles, destroying the walls of the Byzantine town of Gallipoli and forcing its inhabitants to flee. Ottoman forces led by Süleyman Pasha, son of the Ottoman ruler Orhan, quickly occupied the damaged town and resettled it with Turkish families. It became the first permanent Ottoman base in Europe. The Ottomans had already crossed into Europe as allies of John Kantakouzenos during the Byzantine civil war, when they fought in Thrace. Kantakouzenos, now emperor, tried to persuade them to leave in exchange for payment, but they refused. From Gallipoli, the Ottomans rapidly expanded into Thrace. They captured Adrianople, modern Edirne, around 1369, and it became their new capital. Their victories over the Serbs at the Maritsa River in 1371 and at Kosovo in 1389 opened the Balkans to Ottoman conquest. Within a century of crossing the Dardanelles, they surrounded Constantinople completely. The loss of Gallipoli is often seen as the beginning of the end for Byzantium.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Ottomans cross into Europe?
The Ottomans established their first permanent base in Europe in 1354, when they occupied Gallipoli after an earthquake destroyed its walls.
How did the Ottomans take Gallipoli?
A powerful earthquake in 1354 damaged the town's walls and forced its inhabitants to flee. Ottoman forces under Süleyman Pasha occupied it and resettled it.
Where is Gallipoli?
Gallipoli, modern Gelibolu, is on the European side of the Dardanelles in Turkey, the strait linking the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara.
What happened after the Ottomans took Gallipoli?
The Ottomans expanded rapidly into Thrace, capturing Adrianople around 1369, which became their capital, and defeated the Serbs at the Maritsa and Kosovo.
Why was the loss of Gallipoli important?
It gave the Ottomans a foothold in Europe from which they conquered the Balkans. Within a century, they had surrounded and captured Constantinople.
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