Historians estimate that about 50,000 people lived in Constantinople at the time of Mehmet's siege. Layers of strong walls and towers protected the city by land. Sea walls and a small navy defended the city by water. A heavy chain, or boom , on wooden floats blocked the Golden Horn, the slim waterway north of Constantinople. The Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI led the city's garrison and some foreign volunteers, together numbering about 8,000 soldiers. The Ottoman army probably numbered about 80,000, but some estimates suggest the number was much larger. The Ottoman forces included cavalry (fighters on horseback) and several thousand highly trained soldiers called Janissaries. They also had heavy bronze and iron cannons and other siege weapons. In addition, the Ottomans brought more than 100 warships to attack Constantinople by sea. summarize this into 3 sentences.

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At the time of Mehmet's siege, Constantinople had approximately 50,000 inhabitants and was heavily fortified with strong walls and towers. The city was defended by both sea walls and a small navy, as well as a heavy chain blocking the Golden Horn. The Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI led a garrison of around 8,000 soldiers, while the Ottoman army, estimated to be around 80,000, had cavalry, highly trained Janissaries, cannons, siege weapons, and over 100 warships.