Muhammad II

Muhammad II

Muhammad II (1432-1481), also known as Mehmed II or Mehmet II, wasthe seventh sultan (ruler) of the Ottoman Empire. He is sometimes called The Conqueror because he conquered Constantinople (now Istanbul), capital of the Byzantine Empire, in 1453. His victory ended that empire, which once ruled much of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Muhammad became sultan in 1444 but was deposed in 1446. He regained power in 1451, at the age of 19. He resolved to mark his reign by capturing Constantinople. In order to do so, he had to overcome defenses that that had protected Constantinople from Muslim armies for many centuries. He first built a fleet, so that he could blockade the city from the sea. Then he built massive cannons that could fire balls large enough to destroy the mighty walls that surrounded the city.

After his conquest of Constantinople, Muhammad ruled until 1481 as one of the greatest Ottoman sultans. Muhammad extended Ottoman rule in the Balkans, Asia Minor, and the Crimea. He also reorganized the empire's administrative system and rebuilt Istanbul, which had badly deteriorated in the last days of the Byzantine Empire. Muhammad was well educated. He knew several languages and used ideas from other cultures to his empire's advantage.

Excerpt adapted from the "Muhammad II" article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999