Ulubatli Hasan is the stouthearted soldier who fell martyr while he was planting the first flag on Istanbul ramparts. He was born in Ulubat village of Bursa in 1428. He took part in Istanbul siege as a soldier in Royal Army under Fatih Sultan Mehmet's command. He fell martyr while he was planting the first Turkish flag onto Istanbul ramparts during the big assault in 1453. His name has been still living in hearts for five hundred years as the symbolic hero of the conquest. There is a monument erected in his name.
Istanbul was under siege for exactly 53 days. The young 23-year-old sultan and genius commander Mehmet the 2nd, had surprised Byzantium with his unbelievable military miracles within this period. The old Byzantium Empire was showing signs of collapsing. It lived its last days. That was certain. Toward the morning of the night between 28 May and 29 May, the Janissary Band of Musicians was playing "gülbanklar" and a rapid activity began in the headquarters across Byzantium ramparts.
Great Khan gave the order of assault. His historical address to all of the soldiers was still in minds: O my pashas, agas, beys! My friends in this war of Constantinople! I gathered you here to demand more self-sacrifice and courage you showed during general assault until now. You will occupy this city which is well-known in the universe. You will be remembered with grandeur and respect in quarters of this city, as heroes who took Constantinople...
The soldiers were ready for the victory for which our Prophet told the good news of heaven for the martyrs, and for martyrdom for this victory. The young commander on his white horse, drew his sword and shouted with his strong voice:
- My Sons, my brave soldiers, march... You are the victorious side....
The soldiers were attacking in rows. There were many people pressurizing the ramparts which was weakened by the miracle artilleries fired for 53 days. The voices of "Allah Allah" elevated to the sky in a hum. The sun did not rise yet over tens of thousands of torches. The soldiers were attacking the castles and ramparts with their unsheathed swords. It rained stones, arrows, red-hot oil and burning bitumen from the castles and ramparts.
Sultan Mehmet Khan was pressurizing Byzantium ramparts with his hero army and all of his power... The soldiers were followed by bouncers, and then irregular soldiers... When the air was about to turn white third stage begun. The third attack branch was consisting of the most distinguished soldiers of the army. Hasan from Ulubat village of Bursa was among this row. He was the standard-bearer of his army. He had his sword in one hand and the standard in his other hand... He was like he heard every minute every word of the great speech delivered by Sultan Mehmet Khan one night before: The ramparts turned into ruins, but our soldiers to attack on the ramparts shall face a great danger. Your skills and bravery is over all. The wind of victory shall be on our side.Constantinople will be ours...
Standard-bearer Hasan also approached Ulubat village of Bursa. He had in his mind to plant the glorious flag he held tight between his thick fingers on the ramparts. He believed that everything would be over at the moment that the standard bearing the crescent waved on the ramparts.
Ulubatli Hasan found the opportunity. He attacked toward the ruins of the rampart swinging his sword. A few heroes were also following him. Hasan was in front of all. He was both swinging his sword and trying to reach the bastion he stared at. In the middle of this hell fire, bravest of the brave, Hasan, succeeded in climbing on the bastion on Eğrikapi side. He planted the flag on the bastion. At the same moment, he fell on his knees under the weight of a giant stone thrown with a catapult. He tried to stand. But thirty or forty arrows rained on him at the same time. He fell down there.
The flag, the giant stouthearted soldier Ulubatli Hasan, whom Peçevi qualifies as the "dragon of men" in his famous history, planted made Byzantium go despair. The flag and clothes of the Janissary were on the ramparts now. The moment that the resistance of fifty three days was exhausted came. On the other hand, Turkish soldiers seeing that the flag waved on Byzantium ramparts went enthusiastic and attacked like an arrow.
At last, the historical and sacred moment foreseen by our Prophet arrived. 23-year-old Sultan Mehmet Khan prostrated himself and thanked Sublime God. At that moment, the young ruler and commander got the title of "Fatih (Conqueror)".