Historical Figure
Mehmed the Conqueror
1432–1481
Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (r. 1444–1446, 1451–1481)
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Biography
Mehmed II, commonly known as Mehmed the Conqueror, was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire twice, from August 1444 to September 1446 and then later from February 1451 to May 1481.
Timeline
The story of Mehmed the Conqueror, told in moments.
Becomes sultan for the first time at 12 when his father abdicates. He can't control the court. The Crusaders invade. His father comes back. Mehmed is humiliated. He waits.
Breaches the walls of Constantinople after a 53-day siege. He's 21. Eighty thousand troops. A fleet dragged overland on greased logs to bypass the harbor chain. The largest cannon in the world fires stone balls weighing 600 pounds. The Byzantine Empire, 1,100 years old, dies in a single morning.
Conquers the Empire of Trebizond, the last fragment of Byzantium. He also takes Serbia, Bosnia, and most of Greece. He renames Constantinople to Istanbul and rebuilds it as the Ottoman capital. The Topkapi Palace rises on the old acropolis.
Crushes the Aq Qoyunlu Turkmen confederation at the Battle of Otlukbeli. Their leader Uzun Hasan had allied with Venice against him. The victory removes the last serious rival to Ottoman dominance in Anatolia.
Dies near Gebze, marching east for another campaign. He's 49. Some suspect poison. His two sons fight a civil war for the throne. He'd conquered two empires, fourteen kingdoms, and two hundred cities. His troops called him 'the Conqueror' while he was still alive.
In Their Own Words (20)
Just as there is one sun in the sky, ideally there should be only one state and religion in the world.https://www.takvim.com.tr/yazi_dizisi/2012/02/24/ornegi-yok
2012
If you are the sultan, be at the head of our army in this difficult day for our state. However, if I am the sultan, I order you to come and command my armies immediately!
We are not afraid of the owl, we are sometimes hawks.Aşıkpaşoğlu History (Prepared: Atsız), 79
Cover the Christian mosaics with plaster so that the believers will not be disturbed. But do not destroy this masterpiece.
We conquer hearts, not lands.Aşıkpaşoğlu History (Prepared: Atsız), 154
Artifacts (15)
Behind Turkish lattices, the story of a Turkish woman's life (IA behindturkishlat00jenkiala)
Jenkins, Hester Donaldson, 1869-1941
This is the first night, and it will get better
ty well-wishers. At the end of the show, Elliot returned to the stage to apologize to the audience; "This is the first night, and it will get better", she said. She then sang "Dream a Little Dream of...
Cass Elliot, making a strong point that she is no longer Mama Cass, has a good a...
Vegas once again and premiered at the Flamingo. This time, she received rave reviews. The Las Vegas Sun wrote, "Cass Elliot, making a strong point that she is no longer Mama Cass, has a good act...
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