The earliest mention of the name Orban goes back to the year 1453, when a cannon maker from Hungary named Orban helped the Ottomans overthrow the Byzantine empire in Constantinople. The book says: "My report notes sections on a summary, dynasties, Constantine, Mehmed, and the cannon maker; which really details the battle with the 96 inch diameter cannon made by Orban. Constantine employed a Wallachian cum Hungarian gunnery specialist named Orban or Urban. Orban apparently defected to Mehmed for more money; and Orban was given all resources to make the large cannon: people, material, a foundry. The cannon was called "Basilica". The story continues with the cannon being moved to Constantinople in February 1453. On April 15th during the siege, the cannon blew up, killing Orban... (Source: The Crescent and the Cross, by David Dereksen; and: The World on the Last Day, by the same author. Both books are advertised as "An exciting narrative of the fall of Byzantium: May 1453". The books have the whole story, with more detail about the cannon: making, testing, size, power, etc. ). Another book confirms this story: in Imperatores Ottomanici a Capta Constantinopoli, cum Epitome Principum Turcarum, Tomus I, Tyrnaviae, Typus Academicis Societatis Jesu, MDCCLX, the Jesuit A.P. Nicolao Smith writes: (in the index) "Orban, gente Dacus, machinas bellicas fundit" (translation: Orban, from Dacia, made war machines); (at page 12) "Frumentum undique convehi jubet: Adrianopoli mavhinae murales mirandae magnitudinis fiunt, usus solerti opera cujusdam Daci Orbani nomine. Hic stipendia fecerat olim apud Graecos."