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Most at the time thought Constantinople had a good chance of resisting, and to a point it did quite well, until the walls near the Blachernae fell, and became an opening.

So, assuming that the Byzantines are able to reinforce that wall enough that it withstands the bombardment (Or dig enough of a trench behind it that it is dangerous to attempt to use the gap), and the Kerkoporta is kept shut. How long could the Byzantines have continued to resist the assaults?

More importantly, what the political consequences of Mehmed II essentially failing? Not only has he had to get his father to fight the Battle of Varna - now he's failed to take Constantinople with a significantly larger force. If the casualties are low, he may be branded a coward, if they are high, he may be branded a butcher. My understanding was that Constantinople was how Mehmed was going to consolidate his rule - failing to do that sounds like it could lead to disaster.

Are there any other consequences? Are the Christians under Ottoman rule going to be impressed enough to consider changing loyalties? Could there be rebellions/civil war? Another crusade? An assassination attempt? (A successful one?)
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