Mehmed II: biography of the Ottoman Sultan

In May 1453, on the shores of the Bosphorus, an event took place that left an imprint on the entire course of world history. Unable to withstand the onslaught of the Turkish hordes, Constantinople fell, for many centuries it was the stronghold of Orthodoxy and was called the Second Rome. Leaded by the troops of the Ottoman Empire is still a young sultan Mehmed II, whose biography formed the basis of this article.

Heir to the throne

March 30, 1432 Greek concubine gave birth to the sultan of the Ottoman Empire Murad II, the fourth son, who became his heir and entered the world history as Mehmed II Fatih (the Conqueror). It should be noted that initially his father did not prepare him for such a high position, since his birth from a slave was considered to be lower than the older brothers, whose mothers were noble Turkish women. However, all of them died in the early years, releasing the son of a slave to the path to supreme power.

During the life of the brothers Mehmed II, whose parents (especially the father) did not see him as the future ruler, he grew up just like all the children in rich families, that is, indulging in games and pleasures. But after the death of his eldest sons, Murad II was forced to radically change his attitude towards the child, whom fate itself chose to be heir to the throne, and to make every effort to prepare it for the fulfillment of the highest mission in the future.

The first experience of government

The Sultan placed all concern for the upbringing and education of his successor with the supreme vizier Khalil. Under his tutelage, Mehmed for a short time received the necessary basic knowledge, which later allowed him to improve both in military science and in the art of diplomacy.

The biographies of the Ottoman conqueror that survived testify to the fact that for the first time Mehmed II started administrative activities at the age of six, becoming Governor of the Manisa province. True, there is immediately a reservation that he was assisted in this by the same educator and mentor, the supreme vizier Khalil. Hardly this should be surprised. Obviously, it was in his hands was the real power, and the youngest son Murad II appointed only a nominal ruler, giving him, therefore, the opportunity from early years to join the art of government.

It is well known that, being a successful commander and a skillful diplomat, Murad II nevertheless was burdened by power and expressed a desire to quickly put the reign of the empire on his heir, indulge in idleness and enjoyment in his magnificent palace in Magnesia. This dream, he realized in 1444, making his son a sultan, but leaving him under the tutelage of the same vizier. This is understandable, because Mehmed was barely twelve years old at that time.

Unfortunate failure

However, the first pancake in the young ruler was clearly a lump. The fact is that, with his usual desire to try something that is impossible, the young man secretly established relations with members of the religious Sufi movement banned in the empire. Learning of this, the instructor ordered the execution of their preacher-dervish, who dared to knock the true young ruler out of the way.

The execution took place and had the most unexpected consequences. Outraged by sacrilege, the Janissaries rose up sympathizing with this movement. After this, taking advantage of the moment, the inhabitants of Anatolia came out of obedience, and behind them the Christian population of Varna. Thus, the blood of a vagabond preacher caused very serious unrest.

In general, the wise vizier scoffed - he wanted, as best, but it turned out ... Murad II had to leave his harem for a while and, cursing the unlucky Khalil, again begin the duties of the sultan. After such a fiasco, Mehmed II, who was removed from power, spent two years in the palace, showing himself nothing and trying not to fall into his father's eyes.

Marriage Chores

But, according to biographers, since 1148 the heir who has already reached the age of sixteen sultan again attracts to participate in all state affairs. And that henceforth any dope would not enter his head, he decided to resort to the old and proven method - to marry a guy. Will get a family - settle down.

But even here the ungrateful son managed to upset his father - he fell in love without a memory to a Christian captive, whom he saw in one of the slave markets. He did not sing serenades to her, but, simply paying, as required, brought the beautiful woman to the palace and married her (still a decent man was). She gave birth to his son, who received the Muslim name of Bayazid, and after many years played a fatal role in his father's life.

At first, the Sufi heretics, now - a Christian wife, no, it was too much. Managing a huge empire and everywhere meeting obedience, Murad II could not cope with his own son. The frenzied father personally chose him a worthy bride from the most distinguished Turkish family. I had to submit. According to custom, he saw his wife's face only after the wedding. About what appeared to his gaze, one can only guess, but it is for certain that this "gift" he was ashamed to even enter into the harem.

The lord of the empire

In February 1451, an important event occurred in the life of the Ottoman Empire: its ruler Sultan Murad II, the father of Mehmed, unexpectedly died. Since that time the full power has finally passed to him, and, taking up his duties, he first got rid of a possible rival and an aspirant for power - a young son of his father, that is, his own brother.

Mehmed II ordered him to be executed, and this did not arouse any negative reaction. The practice of eliminating half-blooded pretenders to the throne has taken place before the court, but only now it has been legislated. Deprived of his brother, the young sultan sent on the block and very annoyed his mentor - Vizier Khalil.

According to the memoirs of contemporaries, the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II was a man of clever and energetic, but at the same time very secretive, unpredictable and capable of leading a contradictory policy. On its external appearance, we can quite fully judge on the basis of lifetime portraits created by European brush masters, the most famous of which is Gentile Bellini. In his paintings, the artist captured this low, but full inner strength of man, curved hooked nose which gave the person an ominous expression.

Duplicity and perfidy

Fulfilled by true eastern treachery, the future conqueror began his activity by trying to create the image of a kind of peacemaker. To this end, he never ceased to assure the diplomats of Western states in his desire to establish peace and stability in the region, and before the ambassador of the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX, he even swore on the Koran that he would never encroach on his possessions. The oath sounded exactly two years before the day when he threw all the might of his army on the walls of Constantinople, having conquered this stronghold of Christianity forever.

However, soon revealed the true essence of his policies. During the entire 1452 Sultan Mehmed II, contrary to his assurances, was preparing to seize the Byzantine capital. Near Constantinople, they built military fortifications, and on the coast of the straits, through which the vessels of Venetian merchants came from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, guns were installed. Under the threat of immediate execution from all travelers by his officials, a tax is levied, which, in essence, is the most undisguised robbery.

The fall of Byzantium

In April 1453, the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, who was only twenty-one at that time, approached the walls of the Second Rome with a 100,000-strong army, the fifth of which consisted of elite janissary regiments. Against such an impressive army defenders of the city managed to expose only seven thousand soldiers. The forces were too unequal, and on May 29, Constantinople was taken. After the fall of the Great Roman Empire, it was the second largest tragedy in the history of the Christian world, which became the reason that since then the center of world Orthodoxy has moved to Moscow, which received the status of the Third Rome.

After the capture of the city, the Turks massacred most of its inhabitants, and those who could be sold into slavery were sent to slave markets. Killed that day and the emperor himself - shortly before it ascended to the throne of Constantine XI. A tragic but largely instructive fate befell the Byzantine military commander Luka Notar.

Counting on the magnanimity of the enemy, he was a supporter of the voluntary surrender of the city, for which he soon paid. When the capital was in the hands of the Turks, Mehmed II himself paid attention to his young and very pretty son. The harem of the boys was his weakness, and the sultan decided to make a replenishment. Having received the same refusal of an outraged father, he did not argue, but ordered the entire family to be executed immediately.

In the new capital of the empire

Immediately after the capture of Constantinople, Mehmed II transferred to him from Adrianople the capital of his empire, which contributed to the intensive influx of the Turkish population. The suburb of the city - Galata, which until then was a Genoese colony, - completely became subordinate to the Sultan administration and was soon settled by the Turks. In addition, Mehmed II, whose wives and concubines were previously in the former capital, moved to Constantinople and his numerous harem.

Since the first days of Ottoman rule, the main Christian shrine of the city - the temple of Hagia Sophia - has been turned into a mosque. However, in view of the fact that there were still a significant number of former Christian residents on the occupied territory, a serious problem was the settlement of their religious life.

The attitude of the Sultan to the Gentiles

It should be noted that Mehmed II in his domestic policy was guided by the principles of religious tolerance, and under his rule, the Gentiles sometimes felt much more at ease than in most European countries, where at that time there was a persecution for religious dissent. This was especially felt by the Jews - refugees from countries of Western Europe, fleeing from the Inquisition and many arriving in the Ottoman Empire.

To manage the numerous Christian communities of the empire, the Sultan appointed by his authority a leader who went down in history as patriarch Gennady II Sholarii. An outstanding religious figure of his time, he became the author of a large number of theological and philosophical works, and the agreement he reached on the settlement of the relationship between the Muslim authorities and the Orthodox communities remained valid until 1923. Thus, the patriarch Gennady Scholari and Mehmed II managed to prevent the bloodshed on religious grounds that are unavoidable in such cases.

New trips

After internal affairs were settled, Mehmed II the Conqueror continued his treacherous policy. Over the next ten years Trebizond Empire, formerly a Byzantine colony, Serbia, Bosnia, the Duchy of Athens, the principality of Marei and many other previously independent states fell to his feet.

In 1475, under the jurisdiction of the Ottoman Empire, the Crimean Khanate falls with its capital - the city of Kafa, the present Feodosiya. It had previously caused considerable damage to the Eastern European countries by its raids, and having become part of the Ottoman Empire and significantly strengthened its military power, created the prerequisites for new aggressive campaigns by Mehmed II.

Death, not added glory

One of the few states that managed to resist the Sultan was the Venetian Republic. Failing to overcome it militarily, Mehmed concluded in 1479 an agreement on the basis of which the Venetians received the right of free trade within the Ottoman Empire. This largely untied his hands for further action, and in 1480 his troops undertook the seizure of Southern Italy. But fate wished that this campaign would be the last in the life of the conqueror. In the midst of the battles, he suddenly dies, but not on the battlefield, but in his own tent.

There is an opinion that Mehmed II, whose son was a legitimate heir from his Christian wife, was the victim of a conspiracy. It is believed that Bayazid, led by the thirst for power (he was already mentioned in the article), managed to get his father's personal doctor to give him a lethal dose of opium, as a result of which he died. Even before the burial of Mehmed II, his son took his place on the throne as the next ruler of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Bayazid II.

Summing up the reign of Mehmet II, historians agree that in many ways he managed to change the attitude of the heads of European states to his empire, making him recognize it as equal among the world's leading powers of that era. He himself took a place in the world history along with the most outstanding commanders and statesmen.

Over the next centuries the rulers of the state created by him changed, but the principles laid down by the sultan Mehmed II were the basis of their foreign and domestic policies. The main among them was expansion, combined with relative religious tolerance with respect to the conquered peoples.