Ulubatlı Hasan
Standard-bearer who first planted the Ottoman flag on Constantinople's walls.
Ulubatlı Hasan—also called Baba Hasan Ağa the Standard Bearer or Baba Hasan-ı ‘Alemî—was the sekbanbaşı who planted the first Ottoman flag on the Byzantine walls during the conquest of Constantinople. Born around 1428 in the small village of Ulubat, near Karacabey in Bursa province, he was 25 years old when he took part in the siege under Sultan Mehmed II.
In the early morning of 29 May 1453, after the prayer, the Ottoman military band struck up a song before the assault. Hasan was among the first to scale the walls, followed by about thirty companions. He carried only a kilij, a small shield, and the Ottoman flag. Climbing under a hail of arrows, stones, spears, and bullets, he reached the top and planted the banner, defending it until just twelve of his friends joined him. He then collapsed, his body pierced by 27 arrows. The sight of the Ottoman flag lifted the spirits of the Ottoman troops and demoralized the Greek defenders, until the city fell.
In popular culture, Turan Seyfioğlu played him in the 1951 Turkish film *İstanbul'un Fethi*; İbrahim Çelikkol portrayed him in *Fetih 1453* (2012), where a romance with a fictional character named Era was added; and Sidar Tublek played Ulubatlı Hasan Alp in the 2024 Turkish series *Mehmed: Sultan of Conquests*.
Quick Facts
- Native Name
- ota · الوباطلى حسن
- Birth Date
- c. 1428
- Birth Place
- Ulubat, Ottoman Empire
- Death Date
- 29 May 1453 (aged 25)
- Death Place
- Constantinople
- Burial Place
- Fatih İskenderpaşa Neighborhood, Fatih, Istanbul
- Citizenship
- Ottoman
- Occupation
- Sekbanbaşı
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
On the early morning of May 29, the last day of the siege, after the morning prayer, the Ottoman military band began to play one of their songs before the city was stormed. Ulubatlı Hasan was among the first to climb the walls of Constantinople, followed closely by thirty of his friends. He carried only an Ottoman kilij, a small shield, and the Ottoman flag. He climbed the wall under showers of arrows, stones, spears, and bullets, reached the top, and placed the flag, which he defended until his twelve remaining friends arrived. After that he collapsed with 27 arrows still in his body. Seeing the Ottoman flag inspired the other Ottoman troops and kept their spirits up – and conversely, disheartened the Greek defenders – until the Ottomans finally conquered Constantinople.
Reader's Guide
Ulubatlı Hasan's act of planting the first standard on the Byzantine walls became a defining moment of the Conquest of Constantinople. His courage under heavy fire, carrying only a kilij, a small shield, and the flag, and his defense of the standard until only twelve of his thirty companions remained, exemplified the determination of the Ottoman forces. The sight of the flag raised Ottoman morale while disheartening the Greek defenders, contributing directly to the eventual Ottoman victory. His story has been preserved in Turkish popular culture, with portrayals in films such as İstanbul'un Fethi (1951) and Fetih 1453 (2012), as well as the television series Mehmed: Sultan of Conquests (2024). A mosque in Istanbul once bore his name, though it was demolished in 1956. His legacy endures as a symbol of the conquest and of personal sacrifice in battle.
Did You Know?
- Ulubatlı Hasan was 25 years old during the Siege of Constantinople.
- He collapsed after 27 arrows were still in his body.
- A mosque in Istanbul named after him was demolished in 1956.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ulubatlı Hasan?
Ulubatlı Hasan was the Ottoman standard-bearer who first raised the sultan's flag atop the walls of Constantinople during the 1453 siege. He is also remembered by the titles Baba Hasan Ağa and Baba Hasan-ı 'Alemî.
What was Ulubatlı Hasan's role in the siege?
As sekbanbaşı, he led the first wave of roughly thirty soldiers over the Byzantine fortifications in the early morning of 29 May 1453. He carried nothing but a kilij and a small shield as he scaled the walls.
Why is Ulubatlı Hasan important in Ottoman history?
His act of planting the first flag on the city walls became the defining symbolic moment of Constantinople's fall. The tale of his bravery went on to become a lasting legend in Ottoman military culture.
Where and when was Ulubatlı Hasan born?
He was born around 1428 in the small village of Ulubat, near Karacabey in Bursa province. By the time he joined the siege under Sultan Mehmed II, he had reached his twenty-fifth year.
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