On This Day
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Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, falls to the Ottoman Turks under Mehmed the Conqueror, ending the B

Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, falls to the Ottoman Turks under Mehmed the Conqueror, ending the Byzantine Empire after 1,100 years

The Ottoman Empire, historically also known as the Turkish Empire, controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th century to the early 20th century. It also controlled parts of southeastern Central Europe between the early 16th and early 18th centuries. The empire emerged from a beylik, or principality, founded in northwestern Anatolia in c. 1299 by the Turkoman tribal leader Osman I. His successors conquered much of Anatolia and expanded into the Balkans by the mid-14th century, transforming their petty kingdom into a transcontinental empire. The Ottomans ended the Byzantine Empire with the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by Mehmed II. Further conquests by Selim I lead the Sultans to adopt the Islamic title of "Caliph".

Historical Significance

The Ottoman Empire, historically also known as the Turkish Empire, controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th century to the early 20th century.

Key People

Mehmed the Conqueror

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Events Before

  1. Sultan Mehmed II, the Conqueror inherits the throne of the Ottoman Empire

    The sultans of the Ottoman Empire (Turkish: Osmanlı padişahları), who were all members of the Ottoman dynasty (House of Osman), ruled over the transcontinental empire from its perceived inception in…

  2. Frederick III (37), crowned Holy Roman Emperor three days later, marries infanta Eleanor of Portugal (17) in Rome

    Frederick III (37), crowned Holy Roman Emperor three days later, marries infanta Eleanor of Portugal (17) in Rome

  3. Battle of Los Alporchones: forces of Kingdoms of Castile and Murcia defeat Emirate of Granada near Lorca, part of the Sp

    Battle of Los Alporchones: forces of Kingdoms of Castile and Murcia defeat Emirate of Granada near Lorca, part of the Spanish Reconquista

  4. Frederick III of Hapsburg crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Nicholas V at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome -last Holy Emper

    Frederick III of Hapsburg crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Nicholas V at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome -last Holy Emperor crowned in Rome

  5. Leonardo da Vinci is born

    Leonardo da Vinci, Italian renaissance polymath, known for italian renaissance polymath, was born on 1452-04-15.

Events After

  1. Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold weds second wife Isabella of Bourbon

    Duke of Burgundy Charles the Bold weds second wife Isabella of Bourbon

  2. In the Thirteen Years' War, the Secret Council of the Prussian Confederation sends a formal act of disobedience to the G

    In the Thirteen Years' War, the Secret Council of the Prussian Confederation sends a formal act of disobedience to the Grand Master

  3. Siege of Malbork, including its castle, seat of the Teutonic Order begun by Polish and Prussian forces - captured Septem

    Siege of Malbork, including its castle, seat of the Teutonic Order begun by Polish and Prussian forces - captured September 1454

  4. Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of the Prussian Confederation pledge allegiance to the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King o

    Thirteen Years' War: Delegates of the Prussian Confederation pledge allegiance to the Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, Casimir IV, who agrees to help in their struggle for independence from the Teutonic Knights

  5. Milan and Venice sign peace of Lodi

    The Treaty of Lodi, or Peace of Lodi, was a peace agreement which brought to an end the Wars in Lombardy between the Venetian Republic and the Duchy of Milan, signed in the city of Lodi on 9 April...

More from the 1450s

Sultan Mehmed II, the Conqueror inherits the throne of the Ottoman Empire

The sultans of the Ottoman Empire (Turkish: Osmanlı padişahları), who were all members of the Ottoman dynasty (House of Osman), ruled over the transcontinental empire from its perceived inception in…

Louis, dauphin of France (later Louis XI) (27) marries Charlotte of Savoy (9) without the consent of King Charles VII

Louis, dauphin of France (later Louis XI) (27) marries Charlotte of Savoy (9) without the consent of King Charles VII

Johannes Gutenberg prints his first Bible [estimated date] [1]

The Gutenberg Bible, also known as the 42-line Bible, the Mazarin Bible or the B42, was the earliest major book printed in Europe using mass-produced metal movable type.

First record of Johannes Gutenberg's Bible, a letter dated this day by Enea Silvio Piccolomini refers to the Bible print

First record of Johannes Gutenberg's Bible, a letter dated this day by Enea Silvio Piccolomini refers to the Bible printed a year earlier

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on May 29, 1453?
The Ottoman Empire, historically also known as the Turkish Empire, controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th century to the early 20th century. It also controlled parts of southeastern Central Europe between the early 16th and early 18th centuries. The empire emerged from a beylik, or principality, founded in northwestern Anatolia in c.
Why is Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, falls to the Ottoman Tur... significant?
The Ottoman Empire, historically also known as the Turkish Empire, controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th century to the early 20th century.
Who was involved in Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, falls to the Ottoman Tur...?
Key figures include Mehmed the Conqueror.

Explore More

May 29 in HistoryYear 1453