TRENDEAtlas of the Sultans · 7 / 38 · sultan
Mehmed II
Fatih (“the Conqueror”)
The sultan who turned a principality into a world empire. The conquest of Constantinople is counted as the event that closed the Middle Ages; he established the state's legal order, its capital and its multi-faith model of government.
Open the reign of Mehmed II on the mapFamily
| Father | Murad II |
|---|---|
| Mother | Hüma Hatun |
| Consorts | Gülbahar Hatun, Gülşah Hatun, Sitti Mükrime Hatun (Dulkadir), Çiçek Hatun, Helene Hatun (Morea) |
| Children | Bayezid II, Cem Sultan, Mustafa, Gevherhan Sultan |
Major achievements
- Fall of Constantinople (29 May 1453) — the end of the Eastern Roman Empire and the capital moved to Istanbul
- Order of the state set in writing with the law code of the House of Osman
- Topkapı Palace, the Fatih Mosque and complex, the Sahn-ı Seman madrasas, the Grand Bazaar
- Annexation of Trebizond, the Morea, Bosnia, Karaman, Candar and Crimea
- End of the Aq Qoyunlu threat with the victory at Otlukbeli (1473)
- Legal status granted to the Greek Patriarchate and non-Muslim communities
- Hagia Sophia converted into a mosque; Istanbul resettled
Treaties
- Treaty of Constantinople with Venice (1479)
- Trade arrangements with the Genoese
Grand viziers
| Name | From | To | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Çandarlı Halil Pasha Mehmed II's first reign (1444–1446) | August 1444 | September 1446 | 1-2 years |
| Çandarlı Halil Pasha | February 3, 1451 | 1453 | 1-2 years |
| Zağanos Pasha | 1453 | 1456 | 2-3 years |
| Veli Mahmud Pasha | 1456 | 1466 | 9-10 years |
| Rum Mehmed Pasha | 1466 | 1469 | 2-3 years |
| İshak Pasha | 1469 | 1472 | 2-3 years |
| Veli Mahmud Pasha | 1472 | 1474 | 1-2 years |
| Gedik Ahmed Pasha | 1474 | 1476 | 1-2 years |
| Hoca Sinan Pasha | 1476 | 1477 | 0-1 years |
| Karamanî Mehmed Pasha | 1477 | May 4, 1481 | 3-4 years |
Battles and treaties
| Year | Event | Result / parties |
|---|---|---|
| Treaty: Trade arrangements with the Genoese | ||
| 1453 | Siege: Fall of Constantinople | Ottoman victory |
| 1460 | Campaign: Morea campaigns | Despotate of the Morea (Palaiologos dynasty) |
| 1461 | Siege: Conquest of Trebizond | Ottoman victory |
| 1463 | Campaign: Bosnian campaign | Kingdom of Bosnia (Stephen Tomašević) |
| 1473 | Battle: Otlukbeli | Ottoman victory |
| 1475 | Campaign: Caffa campaign | Ottoman victory |
| 1479 | Treaty: Treaty of Constantinople with Venice |
Full infoboxes are in the site’s “Battles and Treaties” tab; source: English Wikipedia.
Death
He fell ill and died near Gebze in 1481 while setting out on a new campaign. The tradition that his physician poisoned him is strong.
Territorial change
The lands that changed hands in this period, and the battles or treaties that brought the changes, can be seen on the map: map of the reign of Mehmed II.