--- title: Mehmed II author: Zain Khokhar source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/ format: machine-readable-alternate license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) updated: 2025-02-04 --- # Mehmed II _Authored by [Zain Khokhar](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/khokhar.13/)_ Mehmed II (1432-1481 CE), also known as Mehmed the Conqueror, was the seventh and among the greatest sultans of the [Ottoman Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ottoman_Empire/). His conquests consolidated Ottoman rule in [Anatolia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Asia_Minor/) and the Balkans, and he most famously triumphed in conquering the prized [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of [Constantinople](https://www.worldhistory.org/Constantinople/), transforming it into the administrative center, cultural hub, and capital of his growing [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/). His victories would [mark](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Mark/) the end of the [Byzantine Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantine_Empire/) and usher a new era of Ottoman dominance in the Eastern [Mediterranean](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/mediterranean/). ### Early Life & Family Origins Born on 30 March 1432 CE, Mehmed was the third son of Sultan Murad II (r. 1421-1451 CE), and Hüma Hatun, a concubine of Balkan origins from Murad's harem. His paternal grandfather was Mehmed I (r. 1413-1421 CE) and traced his ancestry back to [Osman I](https://www.worldhistory.org/Osman_I/) (r. 1280-1323 CE), the founder of the Ottoman Dynasty. Mehmed's name was derived from the name of the Islamic [Prophet Muhammad](https://www.worldhistory.org/Prophet_Muhammad/) (570-632 CE), and unlike the naming customs of other Islamic cultures, in Turkish tradition, the name [Muhammad](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Muhammad/) was generally reserved for the Prophet himself. Mehmed spent his early childhood in Edirne, until he was moved to the Black Sea city of Amasya and replaced his brother Ahmed as the governor of the province in 1437 CE after his [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/), despite being five years old. Mehmed's status as a child of the sultan afforded him the opportunity to study under the best scholars of the region. He had many tutors throughout the years, teaching him theology, history, foreign languages, among many other topics. These personal tutors reserved specifically for Ottoman royalty were referred to as *lalas* and played an essential role in preparing Ottoman royals for the intricacies of administration. Mehmed's readings of various Islamic writings would have a significant impact on his ambitions as a sultan. His desire to [conquer](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) Constantinople was inspired by the writings of Arab writers Al-Kindi, Ibn Khaldun, and further cultivated by a *hadith* (or saying) attributed to the Prophet Muhammad, who prophesized a Muslim army would conquer the city. ### Ascension to the Throne Mehmed's father, Murad II's reign, was embroiled in conflict from its onset, both domestic and foreign. During the start of his reign, Murad fought in a [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) of succession against one of his brothers, who, with the support of the [Byzantine](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Byzantine/) Empire ([Eastern Roman Empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantine_Empire/)) and other Balkan Christian states, led a revolt in the European part of Ottoman territory. After crushing the uprising, he fought wars against Turkic states such as the Karamanids to the east, and the various European powers such as the Venetians, Hungarians, and crusaders in the west. These prolonged conflicts, along with the death of his favorite son Alaeddin (d. c. 1444 CE) took a toll on Murad, and he decided to retire in Bursa in 1444 CE and relinquished the throne to Mehmed, who was 12 years old at the time. The rivals of the Ottomans and various domestic factions saw the reign of the child sultan Mehmed as an opportunity to further their interests. In 1444 CE, Pope Eugene IV (r. 1431-1447 CE) began mustering forces for a new crusade after absolving a previous peace treaty with Murad. Meanwhile, the Despots of Morea, rulers of a small Byzantine territory in Southern [Greece](https://www.worldhistory.org/greece/), began incursions into Ottoman [Thessaly](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Thessaly/). These events led to a crisis within the inner circles of high-ranking Ottoman officials. Convinced by the influential grand vizier Halil Çandarlı (d. 1453 CE) and a letter from Mehmed himself, Murad returned to the throne to deal with the threat. [ ![Death of King Władysław Jagiellończyk](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/9385.jpg?v=1775261653) Death of King Władysław Jagiellończyk Stanisław Chlebowski (Copyright, fair use) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/9385/death-of-king-wladyslaw-jagiellonczyk/ "Death of King Władysław Jagiellończyk")The crusaders led by the Polish King Wladislaus III (r. 1434-1444 CE) and Murad's forces clashed at the [Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of Varna in 1444 CE, which ended in a decisive victory for the Ottomans. During this time, Mehmed retreated to his studies under his tutors Zaganos Pasha (d. 1462 CE) and Shahabuddin Shahin Pasha. In 1451 CE Murad II died, leaving the throne to Mehmed in his will. Shortly after this, Mehmed set his eyes on the biggest prize in the region, the city of Constantinople. ### Siege of Constantinople Constantinople itself was a husk of its former glory, the population reduced by plagues, constant sieges, and the loss of the surrounding territory made the city more of a symbolic target rather than a strategic one. Many of Mehmed II's predecessors attempted to conquer the city but to no avail. A short occupation after the [Fourth Crusade](https://www.worldhistory.org/Fourth_Crusade/) aside, it remained nearly impregnable over the centuries, mostly due to the [Theodosian Walls](https://www.worldhistory.org/Theodosian_Walls/), a series of fortifications built by the [Byzantine emperor](https://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantine_Emperor/) Theodosius II (r. 402-450 CE). Before the siege, Mehmed II renewed his peace treaties with many European states and the Karamanids. Then he began preparations to besiege the city in the winter of 1452 CE by building a navy in Gallipoli and then mustering forces in Thrace. In the spring of 1452 CE, he strengthened his stranglehold on the Byzantine capital by constructing a new major fortress across the Golden Horn near Pera, which is known today as Rumelihisari. It complemented the fortress Anadoluhisari, which was built by Mehmed's predecessor Sultan Bayezid I (r. 1389-1402 CE), across the Bosporus on the Asian side. [ ![Rumelihisarı](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/12214.jpg?v=1628637303) Rumelihisarı Dennis Jarvis (CC BY-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12214/rumelihisari/ "Rumelihisarı")The same year Mehmed gathered a group of elite engineers and inventors including renowned Hungarian gunsmith Urban (d. 1453 CE), and gave them the task of constructing the signature colossal cannons that would distinguish Mehmed's siege from those of his predecessors, and ultimately be one of the deciding factors in his eventual success in conquering the city. With the preparations nearing completion, Mehmed issued an ultimatum to the Byzantines to surrender peacefully. The Byzantine emperor [Constantine](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Constantine/) XI Palaiologos (r. 1449-1453 CE) refused, and on 6 February 1453 CE, the siege of Constantinople began. Emperor Constantine sent out pleas for aid. In early 1453 CE, the Genoese and Venetians pledged to bolster the Byzantine naval garrison with some warships. Pope Nicholas V (r. 1447-1455 CE) also offered his assistance but with the stipulation that the Eastern Orthodox Byzantines had to recognize the authority of the [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) Catholic Church and eventually unite. This deal did not come to fruition; however, various independent Christian volunteers joined the defense. The Constantinople garrison of c. 5000-7000 soldiers was rather overstretched over the long perimeter of the Theodosian Walls, with Genoese General Giovanni Giustiniani (d. 1453 CE) at their helm. Emperor Constantine commanded a contingent of his forces near his [palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/) complex. A detachment of Turkish rebel forces headed by Mehmed's cousin Prince Orhan vying for the Ottoman throne also joined the city's defense. In preparation for the Ottoman's imminent assault, the Byzantines stretched a long chain across the Golden Horn, which served to block enemy warships from attacking vulnerable parts of the wall from the sea. Mehmed II arrived with the remainder of his forces on 5 April 1453 CE. His army numbered around 80,000 men, including specialized infantry, cavalry, siege equipment, and naval forces. Making up the vanguard of the Ottoman assault was the formidable Janissary Corps. The Janissaries were made up of Balkan Christian children who were plucked away from their families and trained to eventually become career soldiers under the *devşirme* system. Much like the [Varangian Guard](https://www.worldhistory.org/Varangian_Guard/), who served Byzantine emperors, the Janissaries were chosen for their steadfast loyalty to the sultan above all. Other forces included irregular soldiers such as the infamous *Başıbozuk* and *Azap* infantries, and *Akıncı* horse raiders, while the rest of the army consisted of regular infantry, *Sipahi* cavalry, and allied Serbian forces. Several weeks after the siege began on 6 April, the defenders of the city rallied by Giustiniani successfully fended off many Ottoman attacks despite the overwhelming odds against them. The Ottomans used their cannons to blast sections of the wall to great effect; however, the long cooldown period of the cannons generally allowed the Byzantines to repair breached parts quickly. A new strategy was necessary for the Ottomans, and Mehmed crafted an ingenious solution to the Byzantine naval blockade in the Golden Horn. On 22 April, he ordered his naval forces to circumvent the Byzantine chain by using oxen to drag his warships across the land in Pera and pushing them back into the sea inside the Golden Horn. [ ![Theodosian Walls](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/7742.jpg?v=1771416845) Theodosian Walls Bigdaddy1204 (CC BY-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/7742/theodosian-walls/ "Theodosian Walls")This maneuver arguably became the turning point in the siege. The Byzantines needed to relocate much-needed defenders from the land wall to the portion facing the sea. Attempts made by the Venetians to impede the Ottoman navy were repelled, and with the new development, Mehmed renewed his infantry assault on the Theodosian walls. The siege raged on for several more weeks until, on 26 May 1453 CE, he assembled his generals for preparations for a final assault. Mehmed launched his attack in three waves. The first was led by his *Başıbozuk* and *Azap* infantry, who were handily repelled, but fatigued the defenders. During the second wave of assault led by regular infantry, the Ottoman cannons managed to blast through a section of the outer wall. The second wave, too, was repelled, however, quickly taking advantage of the opening in the wall, Mehmed sent his Janissaries to spearhead the final push into the city. Byzantine morale was shattered when Giustiniani was mortally wounded during the clashes, allowing the Janissaries to establish a foothold and plant their flag on the wall. Emperor Constantine tried to lead his men on a last-ditch effort, but he fell in battle and the defenders began to rout. Thus, 29 May 1453 CE marked the fall of Constantinople. ### Consolidation of Power Following the *ghazi* traditions, the Ottoman troops were allowed to sack the city for three days. After the third day, Mehmed made his triumphant entry into the city through the Gate of Charisius; his procession went directly to the [Hagia Sophia](https://www.worldhistory.org/Hagia_Sophia/), which would be converted into a mosque. [ ![Hagia Sophia](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/750x750/12212.jpg?v=1628637302) Hagia Sophia Zain Khokhar (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12212/hagia-sophia/ "Hagia Sophia")To restore the population of the city, the sultan issued an edict relocating people from Anatolia and the Balkans into his new capital, regardless of ethnicity or religious origin, and he ordered many of the same soldiers that fought in the siege to restore damaged infrastructure. He also oversaw the building of a new royal palace, which would be known as Yeni Saray, and later on as Topkapi Palace. Caroline Finkel describes Mehmed's new headquarters: > His palace provided Sultan Mehmed with seclusion. Here he cultivated an aura of mystery and power, which regulations issued towards the end of his reign were designed to enhance. (89) Mehmed now began the task of purging dissenting factions and those who could challenge his authority. Among the first to be charged was Grand Vezir Halil Çandarlı. The power of the grand vizier was also weakened, with many of its responsibilities delegated to other high-ranking ministers. Mehmed then reallocated much of the land and property of the nobles to his slave class to counterbalance the influence of the former, and to cement the loyalty of his slaves. ### Later Conquests & Death Soon after Constantinople fell, the Genoese colony city of Pera (now known as Galata) surrendered peacefully. With his dream of conquering Constantinople realized, Mehmed set his sights on new targets. In the spring of 1454 CE, he began a campaign in Serbia to annex territories under the Hungarian sphere of influence. Mehmed's made limited progress, the city of Novo Brdo, famous for its rare ore deposits, was captured, but the campaign was called off after Hungarian forces began mobilizing near the border. Mehmed would make several more incursions into Serbia, during which his first major defeat was dealt in the Siege of Belgrade in July of 1456 CE. However, Mehmed's final attempt in subjugating Serbia was successful when in 1459 CE, the Ottomans took control of the fortress of Smederevo. The rulers of the now-dissolved Despotate Serbia were exiled, and the frontier territory near the Hungarians was stabilized. In the years following his success in Serbia, Mehmed began absorbing Byzantine remnant states in Greece, and the Black Sea coast. He conquered Attica in early 1459 CE, and in May of 1460 CE, he dispatched a force to intervene in a civil war in Morea. With these conquests, only a small strip of land on the Black Sea coast controlled by the [Empire of Trebizond](https://www.worldhistory.org/Empire_of_Trebizond/) remained as the last vestige of Byzantine rule in the region. [ ![Map of Eastern Mediterranean in 1450 CE](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/12215.png?v=1746055093) Map of Eastern Mediterranean in 1450 CE MapMaster (CC BY-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12215/map-of-eastern-mediterranean-in-1450-ce/ "Map of Eastern Mediterranean in 1450 CE")[Trebizond](https://www.worldhistory.org/Trapezus/) and its surrounding region were conquered in 1461 CE, and this expansion eastward brought the Ottomans bumping heads with the remaining Anatolian Beyliks. Much like the situation in Morea that prompted Mehmed's intervention, the Karamanids, too, were plunged in a civil war. Mehmed's [conquest](https://www.worldhistory.org/warfare/) of Karamanid territory brought another powerful eastern neighbor, the Akkoyunlu Confederation, into conflict with the Ottomans. The clashes would continue for decades until, in 1501 CE, Mehmed's son and successor Sultan Bayezid II (r. 1481-1512 CE) would defeat them. Perhaps the most noteworthy of Mehmed's conflicts after the conquest of Constantinople was in Wallachia, where his struggles reining in the ruthless prince Vlad III would serve as a possible inspiration for the settings of the novel *Dracula* (1897 CE) written by Bram Stoker. Vlad led Wallachian resistance against Mehmed's forces and was known for his cruel methods of execution, massacring entire populations of settlements standing in his way, earning him the name Vlad the Impaler. His notoriety would spread across [Europe](https://www.worldhistory.org/europe/), and he would eventually be captured and imprisoned by the Hungarians. He would be released sometime later, only to perish in battle in 1476 CE. The final years of Mehmed's reign would be marked by continuous conflict. Invigorated by their past successes, the Ottomans would wage a long war against the Venetians (1463-1479 CE), over their holdings in Southern Greece and the surrounding islands. The war would also spill over into Albania when legendary Albanian resistance leader Skanderbeg (r. 1444-1478 CE) seeking to keep Albanian independence from the ever-expanding Ottomans secured an alliance with the Venetians. However, these wars would conclude in a strategic victory for the Ottomans. After seizing Venetian possessions in the [Aegean](https://www.worldhistory.org/aegean/) and their defeat at the key fortress of Negroponte, their presence in the region was greatly diminished. Skanderbeg died in 1478 CE, after resisting the Ottomans for decades. His death would leave a power vacuum in Albania, and contributed to the cascade of events that would eventually lead to the eventual conquest of Albania by the Ottomans. In the spring of 1481 CE, Mehmed led a new expedition with his army. During the march, he fell ill, and on 3 May 1481 CE, he passed away. Mehmed's eldest son Bayezid II would succeed him as sultan. ### Government Administration & Religious Affairs Mehmed II made huge strides towards centralizing Ottoman rule and expanding the role of the sultan. He consolidated his power through weakening and redelegating the roles and responsibilities of high-ranking officials who would also be bound to the sultan through political marriages. Wealth and land from the aristocrats was redistributed to Mehmed's slave class, giving him a reliable and loyal base and having the additional benefit of a check on the power of any conspiring nobles. Mehmed and his imperial council convened in regular meetings known as the *Divan*, named after the floor-level couches adorning the room. One development during Mehmed's reign, which is more famously attributed to future Sultan [Suleiman the Magnificent](https://www.worldhistory.org/Suleiman_the_Magnificent/) (r. 1520-1566 CE), is the compilation of [law](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/law/) codes, replacing vague progenitors. These secular law codes, known as *kanun*, dealt with topics such as the power structure of the government and taxation of subjects and were carefully formulated not to clash with religious law (*şeriat*). Mehmed's administration had a moderately hands-off approach regarding religious affairs. Non-Muslim populations living in the Ottoman Empire were allowed to practice their faith freely but were required to pay a special tax called *cizye*. Furthermore, seeking to legitimize his rule over the largely Eastern Orthodox minority, Mehmed appointed religious leaders aligned with his self-interests such as the Patriarch of Constantinople Gennadious Scolarious (r. 1454-1464 CE) and gave them wide-reaching authority over their religious adherents. [ ![Gennadious Scholarios and Mehmed II](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/12216.jpg?v=1628637304) Gennadious Scholarios and Mehmed II 18th-century CE Greek iconographer (Public Domain) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12216/gennadious-scholarios-and-mehmed-ii/ "Gennadious Scholarios and Mehmed II")### Legacy Throughout his reign, Mehmed II enacted sweeping administrative changes, reorganization of military forces, ambitious construction projects, and broad conquests, leaving his successors an empire to be reckoned with, but he was also known as a benefactor of artists and authors. He read classical [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) and [Roman literature](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Literature/) as a child and continued to collect and read relevant manuscripts throughout his reign as sultan. He supported dozens of poets, writers, and scholars, and invited philosophers, astronomers, and painters from across Europe and the Middle East to his court. John Freely describes his court's opulence as: > Both the sultan and the greatest of his grand vezirs were men of [culture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/culture/) and patrons of the arts, and the Conqueror's court in Istanbul rivalled in its brilliance that of Western princes of the European Renaissance. (119) During his reign, he also undertook many bold architectural undertakings, which included repairing his new capital's broken infrastructure, building the lavish Topkapı Palace, the Grand Bazar, and overseeing the construction of several mosques built in his honor, the most famous of those being *Fatih Camii* (Mosque of the Conquerer). It is said that when he entered the city of [Athens](https://www.worldhistory.org/Athens/) after its conquest, he ordered the renovation of all ancient buildings that were deteriorated by the elements. [ ![Topkapı Tile Panel Depicting Mount Arafat](https://www.worldhistory.org/img/r/p/500x600/12213.jpg?v=1628637303) Topkapı Tile Panel Depicting Mount Arafat Zain Khokhar (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/12213/topkapi-tile-panel-depicting-mount-arafat/ "Topkapı Tile Panel Depicting Mount Arafat")Mehmed II's conquest of Constantinople earned him the title Fatih (conquerer) by his subjects. Contrary to popular belief, Constantinople's name was not changed to Istanbul by Mehmed; it was referred to by the Ottomans as Konstantiniyye, derived from the Arabic name of the city. Istanbul was the Turkish colloquial pronunciation that was officially adopted by the Republic of [Turkey](https://www.worldhistory.org/Asia_Minor/) after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. #### Editorial Review This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## Bibliography - [Finkel, Caroline. *Osman's Dream.* Basic Books, 2007.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0465023975/) - [Freely, John. *The Grand Turk.* I B Tauris & Co Ltd, 2009.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/B01K95H3IM/) - [Mehmed II | Biography, Accomplishments, & History](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mehmed-II-Ottoman-sultan "Mehmed II | Biography, Accomplishments, & History"), accessed 12 May 2020. - [Shaw, Stanford J. *History of the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey. Volume I.* Cambridge University Press, 1976.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0521212804/) ## About the Author Zain is a history buff interested in medieval Islamic civilizations, with a special passion for the military history and art of the Ottoman Empire, Central Asian cultures, and learning how events from the past influence the present. ## Timeline - **30 Mar 1432 CE**: [Mehmed II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/) is born. - **1437 CE**: [Mehmed II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/) is appointed governor of Amasya. - **1444 CE**: [Mehmed II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/) inherits the throne after Sultan Murad II abdicates. - **10 Nov 1444 CE**: Murad II resumes defeats Crusader forces at the [Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of Varna. - **1451 CE - 1481 CE**: [Mehmed II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/) rules as the Sultan. - **5 Feb 1451 CE**: [Mehmed II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/) succeeds Murad as sultan following his [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/). - **31 Aug 1452 CE**: Construction of fortress Rumelihisari is complete. - **6 Apr 1453 CE**: Siege of [Constantinople](https://www.worldhistory.org/Constantinople/) begins. - **29 May 1453 CE**: Ottoman Sultan [Mehmed II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/) sacks [Constantinople](https://www.worldhistory.org/Constantinople/). - **1454 CE - 1459 CE**: Ottoman campaigns in Serbia. - **1456 CE**: Ottoman forces besiege [Trebizond](https://www.worldhistory.org/Trapezus/). - **22 Jul 1456 CE**: [Mehmed II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/) is dealt his first major defeat at the Siege of Belgrade. - **1461 CE**: Ottoman forces under Sultan [Mehmed II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/) capture [Trebizond](https://www.worldhistory.org/Trapezus/), ending the [Empire of Trebizond](https://www.worldhistory.org/Empire_of_Trebizond/). - **1461 CE**: David Megas Komnenos, the last Emperor of [Trebizond](https://www.worldhistory.org/Trapezus/), is deposed by the Ottomans. - **17 Jun 1462 CE**: [Mehmed II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/) defeats Vlad III in the [Battle](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/battle/) of Târgoviște. - **c. 1463 CE - 1470 CE**: The Mosque of the Conqueror is constructed in [Constantinople](https://www.worldhistory.org/Constantinople/). - **1463 CE - 1479 CE**: The Ottomans fight a long [war](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/War/) against the Venetians over their possessions in the [Aegean](https://www.worldhistory.org/aegean/). - **1465 CE**: [Mehmed II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/) oversees construction of Topkapi [Palace](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/palace/), the new seat of his [empire](https://www.worldhistory.org/empire/). - **3 May 1481 CE**: [Mehmed II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/) falls ill during a military expedition and subsequently dies, leading to the succession of his eldest son Bayezid II to the throne. ## Cite This Work ### APA Khokhar, Z. (2020, May 13). Mehmed II. *World History Encyclopedia*. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed\_II/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/) ### Chicago Khokhar, Zain. "Mehmed II." *World History Encyclopedia*, May 13, 2020. [https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed\_II/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/). ### MLA Khokhar, Zain. "Mehmed II." *World History Encyclopedia*, 13 May 2020, [https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed\_II/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Mehmed_II/). ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Zain Khokhar](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/khokhar.13/ "User Page: Zain Khokhar"), published on 13 May 2020. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. 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