Mehmet the Conqueror and Constantinople: A Portrait of Youth and Ambition

The fall of Constantinople in 1453 marked the beginning of the early modern period and brought universal recognition to Mehmet the Conqueror, also known as Sultan Mehmet II. At the age of twenty-one, he brought the Byzantine empire to an end, and his quest for territorial acquisition established the Ottoman empire. Mehmet had an enduring interest in portraits, and the appearance of a circular portrait relief of him was of great interest due to his youthful appearance and the titles encircling his portrait. This event represents a fusion between east and west that is without parallel in the mid-fifteenth century.

Format: Hardback
Length: 64 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2022
Publisher: Spink & Son Ltd

The fall of Constantinople on May 29, 1453, marked a significant turning point in history, with far-reaching implications for Islam, Christianity, and the wider world. This event is widely celebrated as the dawn of the early modern period and brought universal recognition to the man known as Mehmet the Conqueror, or Sultan Mehmet II (1432-1481). At the age of twenty-one, Mehmet achieved an extraordinary feat by bringing the millennium-old Byzantine empire to an end, a goal that had eluded many previous conquerors.

The improbability of this accomplishment further enhanced Mehmet's growing status, as it showcased his exceptional leadership and determination. His subsequent twenty-five-year quest for territorial acquisition, culminating in the establishment of the Ottoman empire, placed this dynastic family on the international stage, where they would remain a significant political force for over five centuries.

While little material evidence has survived from Mehmet's formative years, his enduring interest in portraiture is evident. Given the lengthy absence of more than five centuries, it was widely assumed that any portrait of the young sultan had been lost or destroyed. However, the appearance of a circular portrait relief of Mehmet was indeed of great interest, particularly due to the youthfulness of the turbaned Muslim sitter, who was instantly identifiable as Mehmet the Conqueror from both his modeled bronze relief profile and the titles encircling his portrait.

The relief, which was crafted by a Western artist, addressed its subject in Latin as the "Great Prince and Great Emir, Sultan Master Mehmet - Magnus Princeps et Magnus Amiras Sultanus DNS [= Dominus] Mehomet." This inscription highlights Mehmet's willingness to entrust his imperial vision to a Western artist at such an early period of his reign. It demonstrates his openness to new ideas and his desire to embrace the cultural and artistic advancements of the West while still maintaining his Islamic identity.

The fall of Constantinople not only marked the end of the Byzantine empire but also had profound consequences for the Islamic world. It facilitated the spread of Islam to new regions, particularly in Southeastern Europe and the Balkans, and paved the way for the establishment of the Ottoman empire, which would go on to rule a vast territory spanning multiple continents for centuries. Mehmet the Conqueror's legacy as a conqueror and a builder continues to be celebrated and studied to this day, and his impact on world history is widely acknowledged.

Dimension: 240 x 216 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912667666