Mehmet II, also known as Mehmet 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. Mehmet II was a skilled military leader and strategist, implementing innovative tactics and technologies in warfare. His reign is often credited with significant cultural and architectural advancements, including the construction of Topkapi Palace and the Fatih Mosque in Istanbul, reflecting the empire's growing power and influence.