The article deals with the problem of proliferation of pro-Ottoman sentiments in the Byzantine society in the 15th century after the capture of the Byzantine Empire in 1453 by the Ottoman Turks. On the basis of comparative analysis of the works of the so-called Byzantine pro-Ottoman writers (Michael Kritoboulos, George Amiroutzes, George of Trebizond) the author identifies the main accents which can most clearly demonstrate a pro-Ottoman position of the authors and discusses the reasons which motivated the Byzantine intellectuals to praise the virtues of the conqueror of Byzantium Mehmed II in their works. The author comes to the conclusion that Byzantine Turkophilia was not so much an ideological and political trend among the selfish Byzantines, but rather a kind of philosophical concept, which allowed them to explain and accept the Turkish conquest of Byzantium as a given and to find a way to coexist with the invaders.
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