reign of Mehmed II

Mehmed II, also known as Mehmed the Conqueror, ruled the Ottoman Empire from 1444 to 1446 and then from 1451 to 1481. He is famous for conquering Constantinople in 1453, which marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and transformed the city into a crucial cultural and political center of the Ottoman Empire. Mehmed II expanded the empire's territory and strengthened its administration, promoting trade and the arts. His reign is often seen as a pivotal moment in history, bridging the medieval and modern worlds and establishing the Ottomans as a dominant force in southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean.