Fatih Sultan Mehmed, also known as Mehmed the Conqueror, was an Ottoman sultan who reigned from 1444 to 1446 and again from 1451 to 1481. He is best known for his conquest of Constantinople in 1453, which marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and established the city as the new capital of the Ottoman Empire. His military strategies and use of advanced artillery were pivotal in this successful siege. Mehmed was also a patron of the arts and education, promoting cultural and architectural developments throughout his empire. He commissioned the construction of significant structures, including the Topkapi Palace and the Fatih Mosque. His reign is often seen as a turning point in history, as it laid the foundation for the expansion of the Ottoman Empire into Europe and Asia.