Orban
Encyclopedia
Urban, also known as Orban, was a Hungarian gunfounder who cast superguns for the Ottoman
siege of Constantinople
in 1453.
In 1452 he originally offered his services to the Byzantines
, but emperor Constantine XI
could not afford his high salary nor did he possess the materials necessary for constructing such a large siege cannon. Orban then left Constantinople
and approached the Ottoman
sultan Mehmed II
who was in preparations to siege the city, claiming that his weapon could blast 'the walls of Babylon
itself'. Given abundant funds and materials, the engineer built the gun within three months at Adrianople, from which it was dragged by sixty oxen to Constantinople
. In the meantime, Orban also produced other cannon instrumental for the Turkish siege forces.
The bombard
technology which mostly German technicians drew at first for the Hungarian Army had been established between 1400 and 1450 all over the Western Europe, transforming the siege warfare, with some pieces like the Dulle Griet
, Mons Meg
and the Pumhart von Steyr
still extant from the period. Urban, along with an entire crew, had been most possibly killed during the siege when one of his superguns exploded, then not an unusual occurrence. Orban is described by a contemporary writer as a person of "Hungarian nationality and a very competent technician" A modern author speculated that "he could have been German too" based on other gun founders serving in the Royal Hungarian Court.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
siege of Constantinople
Fall of Constantinople
The Fall of Constantinople was the capture of the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which occurred after a siege by the Ottoman Empire, under the command of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, against the defending army commanded by Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI...
in 1453.
In 1452 he originally offered his services to the Byzantines
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, but emperor Constantine XI
Constantine XI
Constantine XI Palaiologos, latinized as Palaeologus , Kōnstantinos XI Dragasēs Palaiologos; February 8, 1404 – May 29, 1453) was the last reigning Byzantine Emperor from 1449 to his death as member of the Palaiologos dynasty...
could not afford his high salary nor did he possess the materials necessary for constructing such a large siege cannon. Orban then left Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
and approached the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
sultan Mehmed II
Mehmed II
Mehmed II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446, and later from...
who was in preparations to siege the city, claiming that his weapon could blast 'the walls of Babylon
Babylon
Babylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad...
itself'. Given abundant funds and materials, the engineer built the gun within three months at Adrianople, from which it was dragged by sixty oxen to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. In the meantime, Orban also produced other cannon instrumental for the Turkish siege forces.
The bombard
Bombard (weapon)
A bombard is a large-caliber, muzzle-loading medieval cannon or mortar, used chiefly in sieges for throwing heavy stone balls. The name bombarde was first noted and sketched in a French historical text around 1380. The modern term bombardment derives from this.Bombards were usually used during...
technology which mostly German technicians drew at first for the Hungarian Army had been established between 1400 and 1450 all over the Western Europe, transforming the siege warfare, with some pieces like the Dulle Griet
Dulle Griet
The Dulle Griet is a medieval supergun from Ghent, Belgium. The wrought-iron bombard was constructed in the first half of the 15th century from 32 longitudinal bars enclosed by 61 rings...
, Mons Meg
Mons Meg
Mons Meg is a medieval bombard which can be classed as a supergun, now located at Edinburgh Castle, Scotland. There are conflicting theories about its origins, but it appears from the accounts of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy that it was made to his order around 1449 and sent as a gift 8 years...
and the Pumhart von Steyr
Pumhart von Steyr
The Pumhart von Steyr is a medieval supergun from Styria, Austria, and the largest known wrought-iron bombard by caliber. The cannon was produced in the early 15th century and could fire, according to modern calculations, a 690 kg stone ball around 600 m, loaded with 15 kg of powder and set up at...
still extant from the period. Urban, along with an entire crew, had been most possibly killed during the siege when one of his superguns exploded, then not an unusual occurrence. Orban is described by a contemporary writer as a person of "Hungarian nationality and a very competent technician" A modern author speculated that "he could have been German too" based on other gun founders serving in the Royal Hungarian Court.