Table of Contents

Ottoman Empire

Constantinople

Mehmed II the Conqueror was a ruler of the Ottoman Empire who captured Constantinople in 1453. He made conquered Constantinople the capital of the Ottoman state. 1)

Mehter

The Ottoman Mehter military marching band is considered to be the oldest in the world. Its origins date back to the 14th century. 2)

Empire of Trebizond

The Empire of Trebizond was established in 1204 on the ruins of the Byzantine Empire in the lands around the city of Trebizond. After the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453, the Empire of Trebizond resisted the Ottomans for only a few more years. In 1461, Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror occupied Trebizond, incorporating the lands of the empire into his own empire. 3)

Skanderbeg

Skanderbeg is one of the symbols of Albania. His greatest successes were the defense of the castle of Krujë against the attack of 150,000 armies of Sultan Murad II and the smashing of 70,000 armies of Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror by a force of only 15,000 Albanians. There are many monuments and museums erected in honor of this great hero. 4)

Selim II the Drunkard

Suleiman the Magnificent's son, Selim II was nicknamed the Drunkard. Sultan of the Ottoman dynasty, reigned 1566-1574. He drank addictively. He began an era of weak, militarily, and politically incapable sultans. 5)