Mehmed II, 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 successful 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. Mehmed II was a skilled military leader and strategist, implementing various reforms that strengthened the empire. He expanded Ottoman territory significantly, promoting trade and culture, and is often credited with laying the foundations for the empire's future prosperity.