After the initial victory at Gallipoli, and the subsequent retreat of the Turks back the their capital, the allies moved quickly northward, not wishing to be held down by the trench warfare that caused thousands of casualties during the days at Gallipoli. This progression was furthered following the battle of Çorlu on Christmas day, and the capture of one of the more notable Ottoman commanders, Mustafa Kemal. This victory allowed allied troops to push toward the capital at an even faster rate, and when French troops arrived at the gates of the city on January 3, 1916, the siege of Constantinople had begun.