Sultan Mehmed II, known as Mehmed the Conqueror, inherited the throne of the Ottoman Empire following the death of his father, Sultan Murad II. Born in 1432, Mehmed was groomed for leadership from a young age, studying the arts of warfare, politics, and administration. After taking control of the empire at just 19, he quickly faced the realities of governance, with various factions within the nobility showing signs of dissent and questioning his authority due to his youth. His reign was marked by a transformative vision aimed at expanding Ottoman territories and reinforcing the power of the sultanate within the empire.

The young Sultan’s determination to solidify his position led him to adopt a series of reforms designed to strengthen the central government's authority and quell local power struggles. He was not just a ruler of military inclination; he was also an astute political strategist who focused on unifying the diverse cultures and regions under his rule. Soon after he came into power, Mehmed began to initiate military campaigns aimed at expanding the empire's reach, which would significantly alter the balance of power in the region.

One of his most ambitious plans was the siege of Constantinople, which he would famously execute later in his reign. This would result in a monumental turning point in history, leading to the fall of one of the most significant cities in the world and the establishment of Istanbul as the new capital of the Ottoman Empire. Mehmed's ascension to the throne not only heralded a new era of Ottoman expansion but also set the groundwork for making the empire one of the most formidable powers in the world during the late 15th century.