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A masterpiece of Renaissance medallic art
by Costanzo da Ferrara (1450-1524)

This impressive bronze medal was crafted in 1481 to
commemorate, at his death, Mehmed II, one of the
most important Sultans of the Ottoman empire.
Born on 30th of March 1432 in Edirne, the then ca-
pital of the Ottoman Empire, Mehmed II beca-
me Sultan in the summer of 1444 at the very
young age of 12, after his father, Murad II, abdicated
the throne. His nickname Fatih, the Conqueror,
was well deserved as his military achievements
have profoundly shaped European and world
history.

His greatest triumph was without any doubt,
the conquest of Constantinople on 29th of May
1453, at the age of 21, marking the end of
the more than 1’000 years old Byzantine Empire.

Historical importance

Since the middle of the 15th century, Con- Sultan Mehmed II (1432-1481)
stantinople had been left isolated and exposed in
the middle of the Ottoman Empire, only surviving through the payment of a tribute to the Sultan and
the protection given by its massive fortifications and minor military assistance from the West.
As in 1451, Constantine XI Palaeologus, the last Byzantine emperor, threatened Mehmed II to
release and support Orhan, a Turkish pretender to the Ottoman throne, Mehmed II was clearly decided
to put an end to this situation and to take over the capital city of a thousand years.

The conquest Hadith

With the famous words of the Prophet in
mind: “They shall conquer Constantinople and
glory be to the prince and to the army that shall
achieve it”, Mehmed was determined to succeed
where so many of Constantinople’s enemies had
failed before, as not less than 23 sieges were
attempted without success since the founding of
the city by Constantine the Great in 330 AD.

In addition to the great courage and determination
of his almost 100’000 men strong army, Mehmed’s
great ingenuity and intelligence, illustrated by two
crucial decisions, made his victory possible.

Constantine XI Palaeologus (1405-1453)

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