Giovanni Giustiniani

Giovanni Giustiniani Longo (Latin: Ioannes Iustinianus Longus, died 1453) was a Genoese captain during the Middle Ages and protostrator [ [http://books.google.ru/books?id=BDtiMmArKaAC&pg=PA231&lpg=PA231&dq=Giovanni+Giustiniani+protostrator&source=web&ots=VZYeARzP-u&sig=tG7OhYf89daS4ipt8cjpYmPCtKo&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=9&ct=result David Nicolle, John Haldon. The fall of Constantinople: the Ottoman conquest of Byzantium.] ] of the Byzantine Empire. He led 700 men to the defense of Constantinople against the Ottoman army of Sultan Mehmed II in 1453. (See also Fall of Constantinople.) He personally financed, organized and led this expedition on his own initiative, and upon arriving was placed in command of the land defenses by Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos of the Byzantine Empire. Giustiniani was key in controlling the land forces and keeping the Venetians, Genoese and Greeks from arguing with each other, and instead kept focused on repairing the land walls after the Ottoman cannon had shot holes in them. It was at least partly because of Giustiniani's charisma that the Byzantine forces were able to hold out so long against overwhelming odds.

On May 29, 1453, during the final attack by Mehmet II, Giustiniani was wounded by an Ottoman cannon while defending the walls of Constantinople. Some sources say the wound was caused by a crossbow bolt. Sources disagree about whether the wound was to his arm, leg, or chest, but it forced him to withdraw from his station at the land wall. He exited through the locked gate into the city, which opened up the opportunity for the fearful Genoese to flee, and panic spread throughout the lines.

Seeing the demoralization caused among the defenders by Giustiniani's retreat, Sultan Mehmed II ordered a renewed assault that eventually defeated the Byzantines and Constantinople was taken by the Turks. Although Giustiniani's men managed to escape with their general on board vessels fleeing Constantinople after its fall, the Italian general died of the effects of his wound in the early days of June 1453.

Popular Culture

* Giovanni appears in the game Legendary Warriors. He is portrayed as a heroic leader who is known as the saviour of the opressed. Many other characters look up to him, particularly Andreas and Kyriake. He wields a longsword.

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