Mehmed II

Lore & Background

Mehmed II was born in Edirne, then the Ottoman capital, to Sultan Murad II and Hüma Hatun, a slave of uncertain origin. At age eleven he was sent to Amasya with advisors to gain governing experience, and his Islamic education, influenced by mentors such as Molla Gürâni and Akshamsaddin, reinforced his belief in the duty to conquer Constantinople. After his father abdicated in 1444, Mehmed became sultan at twelve; during his first reign he defeated a crusade led by John Hunyadi after Hungarian incursions violated the Treaties of Edirne and Szeged. When Murad II returned to the throne in 1446, Mehmed acted as governor of Manisa until his father's death in 1451.

Reader's Guide

Mehmed II's significance lies in his conquest of Constantinople in 1453, which ended the Byzantine Empire and transformed the city into the Ottoman capital. He strengthened the Ottoman navy, built the fortress Rumelihisarı, and used a massive army and artillery to breach the city's walls after a fifty-seven-day siege. After the conquest, he claimed the title caesar of Rome, a recognition granted by the Eastern Orthodox Church but rejected by most European monarchs. He reunified Anatolia, campaigned into Bosnia, and implemented political and social reforms. His patronage of arts and sciences made Constantinople a thriving imperial capital. In modern Turkey and parts of the Muslim world, he is considered a hero, with Istanbul's Fatih district, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, and Fatih Mosque named after him.

Did You Know?

• Mehmed II was only 21 years old when he conquered Constantinople in 1453.
• He claimed the title caesar of Rome after the conquest, which was recognized by the Patriarchate of Constantinople but rejected by most European monarchs.
• During his first reign, he defeated a crusade led by John Hunyadi after Hungarian incursions violated the Treaties of Edirne and Szeged.
• He transported lighter warships overland into the Golden Horn during the siege of Constantinople.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"True art is to create a magnificent city and fill the hearts of its people with happiness." — Mehmed II "Tell to your emperor that where my power has reached, not even his dreams can!" — Mehmed II "We are not afraid of the owl, we are sometimes hawks." — Mehmed II "O, Constantinople! It's either I who'll take you, or you!" — Mehmed II