Mehmed II

Mehmed the Conqueror was born at Edirne on 29 March 1432. His father was Sultan Murad II, his mother Hümâ Hatun. He was tall, with full cheeks and a curved nose, muscular and strongly built. He had been very well educated by the greatest scholars of the age; he is said to have known seven foreign languages. He often gathered scholars, poets and artists about him and took great pleasure in their conversation. He had articles written on curious and little-known subjects and studied them. Akşemseddin, who had also been his tutor, was among the scholars he valued most. Mehmed was exceedingly cool-headed and brave, a commander and administrator without equal. He would say nothing of his intentions even to those closest to him.

He loved to read, and read philosophical works translated into Persian and Arabic. In 1466 he had Ptolemy's map translated anew and the names on it written in Arabic letters. In matters of learning he protected scholars whatever their religion or school, and had works written for him. Setting great store by science, he brought leading scholars from abroad to Istanbul; the astronomer Ali Kuşçu came to the city in his time. He also invited the famous painter Bellini to Istanbul and had his own portrait made.

Mehmed reigned until 1481 and took part in person in twenty-five campaigns. He was a man of determination and will, cautious, and one who carried out his decisions without fail. He was rather severe in the government of the state. In battle he was very brave, and to prevent a rout would ride forward himself to urge the soldiers on.

Becoming Ottoman sultan at twenty, Mehmed II conquered Istanbul, brought an end to the eleven-hundred-year Eastern Roman Empire and took the title "Fatih", the Conqueror. Having achieved the conquest of Istanbul foretold in a hadith of the Prophet, he was a Turkish ruler who compelled friend and foe alike to acknowledge his power through his high ability and genius. The world-ruler who closed the Middle Ages and opened the Modern, Mehmed the Conqueror died of gout at Maltepe on 3 May 1481 and was buried in the Fatih Tomb beside the Fatih Mosque. Some sources also record that he was poisoned because it was thought he would conquer Rome.

Source: Osmanlı Tarihi Interaktif CD-ROM (Türk Tarih Kurumu Yayınları XXXI. Dizi-Sa.2)