Mehmed II

Mehmed II (1432-1481), nicknamed the conqueror, wassultan ofOttoman Empireshort time14441446,from 14511481.

Mehmed II brought an end toByzantine Empire by capturing Constantinople1453 (duringwell-known SiegeConstantinople),other Byzantine cities leftAnatolia andBalkans. The invasionConstantinoplesuccessful campaigns against small kingdoms inBalkansTurkic territoriesAnatolia bestowed immense gloryprestige oncountry andOttoman State startedbe recognized as an empire forfirst time.

As can be guessed from his successful campaign against Otrantosouthern Italyhis adoptingtitle Roman Caesar, he was presumably tryingvitalizeEastern Roman Empire. Forprobably similar reason, he gathered Italian humanistsGreek scholars at his court, keptByzantine Church functioning, orderedpatriarchtranslateChristian faith into Turkishcalled Gentile Bellini from Venicepaint his portrait.

Healso recognized asfirst sultancodify criminalconstitutional lawbefore SuleymanMagnificent (also "the Lawmaker")he thus establishedclassical image ofautocratic Ottoman sultan (padishah). AfterfallConstantinople, he founded many universitiescolleges incity, somewhichstill active.