Final days and final assault thumb|The Last Siege, French miniature by Jean Le Tavernier painted sometime after 1455 The Byzantines observed strange and ominous signs in the days leading up to the final Ottoman assault on the city. On 22 May, there was a lunar eclipse for three hours, harkening to a prophecy that Constantinople would fall when the moon was on wane. In order to encourage the defenders, Constantine commanded that the icon of Mary, the city's protector, was to be carried in a procession through the streets. The procession was abandoned when the icon slipped from its frame and the weather turned to rain and hail. Carrying out the procession on the next day was impossible as the city became engulfed in a thick fog.
Final days and final assault thumb|The Last Siege French miniature by Jean Le Tavernier painted sometime after 1455 The Byzantines observed strange and ominous signs in the days leading up to the final Ottoman assault on the city On 22 May there was a lunar eclipse for three hours harkening to a prophecy that Constantinople would fall when the moon was on wane In order to encourage the defenders Constantine commanded that the icon of Mary the city's protector was to be carried in a procession through the streets The procession was abandoned when the icon slipped from its frame and the weather turned to rain and hail Carrying out the procession on the next day was impossible as the city became engulfed in a thick fog