La chanson de la chute de Constantinople dans le folklore bulgare

Abstract

The theme of thè fall of a kingdom, prophesied by a bírd or a dream, is
widespread in Bulgárián folklore. One of these plots in particular is devoted
to thè story of thè fall of Constantinople and thè death of its last Christian
ruler Constantine XI Palaeologus (Tsar Kostadin). In thè mind of thè people
this is identified with thè end of thè Bulgárián state (which actually came half
a Century earlier) and is seen as a punishment fór Bulgárián pride.
This song has an older mythological basis and is connected with thè
Christmas ritual. Some more recent legendary componente hâve been inserted
into its historical stratum, probably originating from the martyrdom of the
popular saint Nikola Mirtikiyski—sovereign of the seas and patron of sailors
and studente—as well as from other legends.
The theme of thè fall of a town (or state), and especially thè fall of Constantinople,
is popular in Greek folklore too. Parallel motifs of our song may
be traced in the thèmes of several Greek songs. Compared to the Bulgárián
song, they seem to be more fragmentary. At the same time, they reflect a later
stage in the development of the people’s consciousness—they are more realistk,
the historical reality in them being given more specifically, more closely.
However, a thorough analysis shows that some of them bear the traces of an
earlier stage, which may be explained through the typologically more ancient
Bulgárián song.