Mehmet II "the Conqueror"(1432–1481) the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire(1444-1446 and 1451-1481) 4

The Fall of Constantinople is seen by many scholars as being a key event in leading to the end of the Middle Ages, and some mark the end of the Middle Ages by this event. This battle marked the end of the Byzantine Empire, an empire which had lasted for over 1,100 years. Mehmed made Constantinople his capital and proceeded to conquer the last two Byzantine states, the Despotate of Morea and the Empire of Trebizond. Many Greeks fled the city and migrated to other parts of Europe, in particular Italy. This move is thought to have helped fuel the Renaissance.