The hysteria of some Turks, many of them distinguished historians, over Elon Musk's tweet about Constantinople continues.[/B]
On 17 June, Musk posted a tweet showing a Byzantine wondering half asleep: "'Did I lock the gate?'"[/B] sparking the anger of Turks.
Turkish historians have criticized the world's richest man for... how Constantinople was conquered by the Ottomans in 1453, insisting that the Tesla and Space X founder implied that the City was conquered, not by military victory, but because of an open gate forgotten by Byzantine soldiers.
What Turkish historians say
"The open gate theory was written by [20TH CENTURY AUSTRIAN WRITER AND JOURNALIST] Stefan Tschwaich. He knew European history well, but he didn't know much about Turkish history," argued historian İlber Ortaylı, according to Turkish daily Hurriyet.
"Many social media users noticed the timing of the tweet, i.e. the peak of tension between Turkey and Greece. Some believed that Musk underestimated the Fall of Istanbul, some that he warned Greece 'to keep the gates closed against the Turks'," the Turkish newspaper commented.
"Istanbul was conquered after huge military preparations."
"Istanbul was conquered after huge military preparations. It was not that easy," the same historian notes. As he says, "Musk may refer to [CHWAICH'S] theory, but [IT] seems that he does not know the details."
Erhan Afyoncu was another historian who was furious with the tycoon. "The rumors of an 'open gate' have nothing to do with reality. It was spread to recover from the shock of the conquest and to underestimate the fall of the city to the Turks."
Necmettin Alkan, who teaches Ottoman history, points out that the conquest "was not something as simple as 50 Yenitsars entering through an open gate." When asked what Mask's motivation was, he even stated: "With this tweet he tells the Greeks 'Watch out. The Turks may come back'. Or maybe he meant, 'Keep your gates closed [NOW] so as not to invoke an excuse [TOMORROW]'."
Byzantine historian Ebru Altan is yet another expert who believes that Musk is mocking along with the Greeks. "This 'open gate' is said to be the 'Circular Door', which is now located between the neighborhoods of Istanbul's old city, Eğrikapı and Edirnekapı. Some keep this myth alive to underestimate the conquest."
Source: in.gr
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