Mehmed II was born on 30 March 1432 in Edirne. The seventh sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Mehmed II first came to the throne in 1444 when his father abdicated, and ruled again from 1451. On 29 May 1453 his forces captured Constantinople after a siege of almost two months, ending the Byzantine Empire, and he made the city, later Istanbul, his capital. He earned the name Fatih, the Conqueror. He extended Ottoman rule over Serbia, Bosnia, Greece and the northern coast of the Black Sea, and had the Topkapı Palace built. A patron of scholars and artists, including the Venetian painter Gentile Bellini, he also codified laws. He died in 1481 while on campaign.
Before and after
- 1431Construction of Šibenik Cathedral
- 1431Construction of Bratislava Castle
- 30 May 1431Death of Joan of Arc
- 1432Ghent Altarpiece
- 30 March 1432Birth of Mehmed II
- 1434Construction of Malmö Castle
- c. 1435Death of Zheng He
- c. 1436Origins of Chișinău
- from 1438 to 1552Khanate of Qazan
More in Wars, politics & history
- from 1095 to 1291Crusades
- 1206Temujin is proclaimed Genghis Khan
- 1212Children's Crusade
- from 1213 to 1221Fifth Crusade
- from 18 July 1270 to 30 October 1270Eighth Crusade
- 30 March 1282Sicilian Vespers
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 15th century.