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Mehmed II

«the Conqueror»

Ottoman sultan known as “the Conqueror”. The capture of Constantinople in 1453 transformed the political balance of the eastern Mediterranean and made the city the capital of a rapidly expanding empire.

1432 – 1481Ottoman sultanOttoman · ES
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Biography

Life of Mehmed II

A precocious sultan

The son of Murad II, Mehmed was born at Edirne in 1432. His father ceded the throne to him in 1444, at the age of twelve, but the threat of the Crusade of Varna and tensions at court obliged Murad to take back power. Mehmed reigned again from 1451.

References: Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

The conquest of Constantinople

He built the fortress of Rumeli Hisarı on the Bosphorus and in April 1453 besieged Constantinople with powerful artillery. The city fell on 29 May; the last emperor, Constantine XI, died in its defence. Mehmed made it his capital, repopulated it and converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque.

References: Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

An empire between two continents

He conquered the Despotate of the Morea (1460), the Empire of Trebizond (1461), Serbia and Bosnia, and subjugated Wallachia after confronting Vlad III. He failed before Belgrade (1456) and Rhodes (1480). In 1480 his army landed at Otranto, in southern Italy.

References: Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Conqueror

He issued law codes, built the Topkapı Palace and the mosque that bears his name, and took an interest in Greek and Italian culture: Gentile Bellini painted his portrait in 1480. He died in 1481 during a new campaign. The dispute between his sons Bayezid and Cem was resolved in favour of the former.

References: Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 1432 Documented

Death: 1481 Documented

Role: Ottoman sultan

Other recorded names: Mehmed the Conqueror · Mehmet II · Fatih Sultan Mehmed

Dynasty: Ottoman · ES

Territories: Ottoman Empire (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns
Sultan · Ottoman Empire · Sultanate Pending review1444–1446Effective rule
Sultan · Ottoman Empire · Sultanate Pending review1451–1481Effective rule
Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents
Murad II · ESDocumented
Children
Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

5 recorded claims · 2 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)
Family and relationships (1/1 with a precise source)
Governments (0/2 with a precise source)
  • GovernmentPending review

    Sultan · Ottoman Empire · 1444–1446

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
  • GovernmentPending review

    Sultan · Ottoman Empire · 1451–1481

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
Biographical and contextual references (2)
Editorial history
  • 2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
  • 2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

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