Sultan Mehmed II, also known as Mehmed the Conqueror (1432–1481), was one of the most notable sultans of the Ottoman Empire. His reign, which lasted from 1444 to 1446 and then from 1451 to 1481, was marked by significant achievements and pivotal moments in Ottoman history.
Here are some key aspects of his reign:
Conquest of Constantinople (1453):
Sultan Mehmed II is perhaps best known for his successful siege of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. This event, which culminated in the city’s fall on May 29, 1453, was a turning point that marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and established the Ottoman Empire as a major power. Constantinople was renamed Istanbul and became the new capital of the Ottoman Empire.
Administrative Reforms:
Sultan Mehmed II implemented a range of administrative reforms to strengthen the empire’s central authority. He reorganized the government and legal systems, established a more efficient tax system, and sought to centralize control over the diverse and expansive territories of the empire.
Military Campaigns:
Besides the conquest of Constantinople, Mehmed II expanded the Ottoman Empire’s territory through a series of military campaigns. He made significant advances in the Balkans, including the capture of key cities like Athens and Serbia, and exerted influence over various parts of the Mediterranean.
Cultural and Architectural Legacy:
Sultan Mehmed II was a patron of the arts and architecture. His reign saw the construction of several significant buildings, including the Topkapi Palace and the Fatih Mosque in Istanbul. These projects reflected the empire’s growing power and cultural achievements.
Legal and Educational Reforms:
Sultan Mehmed II also worked to codify and systematize Ottoman laws, and he supported the development of educational institutions. His efforts helped lay the foundation for the empire’s legal and bureaucratic systems.
Overall, Sultan Mehmed II’s reign was instrumental in shaping the Ottoman Empire into a formidable and enduring power, and his legacy continued to influence the empire long after his death.
Sultan Mehmed II, also known as Mehmed the Conqueror, played a crucial role in the history of the Byzantine Empire, marking a significant turning point in both Byzantine and Ottoman histories. His reign is most renowned for the conquest of Constantinople, which ended the Byzantine Empire and established the Ottoman Empire as a dominant power in the region.
Background and Early Life
Birth and Education:
Sultan Mehmed II was born on March 30, 1432, to Sultan Murad II and Hüma Hatun. He was educated in the Ottoman court, receiving training in administration, military strategy, and Islamic studies. His upbringing prepared him for leadership and governance.
Initial Reign (1444–1446):
Sultan Mehmed II first ascended to the throne in 1444 when his father abdicated. His early reign was brief; his father returned to power in 1446, and Mehmed II was deposed. Murad II’s return to the throne was partly due to the challenges posed by the Crusader threat and internal dissent.
Second Reign and Rise to Power
Restoration to the Throne (1451):
Sultan Mehmed II’s death in 1451, Mehmed II, now an experienced and mature leader, reclaimed the throne. His second reign would define his legacy and the future of the Ottoman Empire.
The Conquest of Constantinople
Strategic Preparation:
Sultan Mehmed II’s primary goal was the capture of Constantinople, a city that had been the capital of the Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years. He recognized that control of Constantinople was crucial for establishing Ottoman dominance and controlling key trade routes between Europe and Asia.
Siege of Constantinople (1453):
On April 2, 1453, Sultan Mehmed II began the siege of Constantinople. He gathered a large army, including elite troops known as Janissaries, and assembled a fleet to blockade the city from the sea. Mehmed’s forces built a massive fortress, Rumeli Hisarı, on the European side of the Bosporus to prevent any aid from reaching the city.
Siege Tactics:
The siege lasted for 53 days. Sultan Mehmed II employed advanced military technology, including large cannons designed by the Hungarian engineer Urban, which played a critical role in breaching the city walls. The Byzantines, led by Emperor Constantine XI Palaiologos, mounted a valiant defense but were outnumbered and outgunned.
Fall of the City:
On May 29, 1453, the Ottomans successfully breached the walls of Constantinople. The city was looted, and the Byzantine Empire came to an end. Sultan Mehmed II took control of the city, which he renamed Istanbul, and made it the new capital of the Ottoman Empire.
Aftermath and Reign
Reorganization and Consolidation:
After the conquest, Mehmed II worked to consolidate his control over the newly acquired territory. He rebuilt and repopulated Istanbul, restoring and constructing significant buildings, including the Fatih Mosque. He also enacted administrative reforms to integrate the city into the Ottoman administrative structure.
Military Campaigns:
Mehmed II continued to expand the empire’s territory, securing Ottoman control over the Balkans and parts of the Mediterranean. His campaigns extended Ottoman influence and solidified the empire’s power in southeastern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean.
Legal and Cultural Legacy:
Mehmed II is remembered for his efforts to codify Ottoman law, balancing Islamic principles with administrative needs. His reign also saw a flourishing of culture and arts, blending Byzantine, Persian, and Islamic influences.
Legacy
End of the Byzantine Empire:
Mehmed II’s conquest of Constantinople marked the definitive end of the Byzantine Empire, closing a chapter in medieval history and paving the way for the rise of the Ottoman Empire as a major power.
Impact on the Ottoman Empire:
His successful rule and conquests laid the groundwork for the empire’s future expansion and prosperity. Mehmed II’s strategic and administrative reforms were instrumental in shaping the Ottoman Empire’s structure and its role in global history.
Sultan Mehmed II’s reign is a defining moment in both Ottoman and Byzantine histories, symbolizing the transition from medieval to early modern power dynamics in the region.
Death
In 1481 Mehmed marched with the Ottoman army to a new campaign but when reaching Maltepe, Istanbul, and the place was later called Hünkar Çayırı (Field of the Sultan) he became sick and after some days he died on May 3, 1481, at the age of forty-nine(49), and was buried in his Türbe in the cemetery within the Fatih Mosque
Gout, from which he had suffered for some time, in his last days tortured him grievously, but there are indications that he was poisoned. During the autocrat’s last years, his relations with his eldest son Bayezid became very strained, as Bayezid did not always obey his orders.
