التحول الكبير

Hagia Sophia: The Great transition

Cathedral Mosque

482 years approx

4.1 Introduction

The Ottoman Empire was founded in 1299 CE by Osman I, a frontier leader in northwestern Anatolia. By the mid 15th century, the Ottomans had surrounded Constantinople, establishing their capital at nearby Edirne.

Constantinople had endured previous sieges, most notably under Sultan Murad II in 1422 CE. However, Sultan Mehmed II brought new technology and strategy. He constructed the fortress of Rumeli Hisarı to block aid from the Black Sea and commissioned massive cannons to break the city’s defenses. In April 1453 CE, he launched a full siege for 53 days.