Today is the anniversary of the world changing death of the Conqueror of the New Rome, the fulfiller of an Islamic Prophecy and the ender of the Middle ages...
Al Fatiha for the soul of Muhammad Fatih. A 🧵
He grew up the 3rd son of Sultan Murad II. He was never supposed to rule, but after his older 2 brothers died - he found himself heir to the Ottoman throne.
He was an unruly lad & needed the beating of a lifetime to set him straight. (2/n)
But he learned quickly and in a short space of time not only memorised the Quran, but also became adept at 5 languages by age of 12.
Arabic, Ottoman, Greek, Latin & Persian... (3/n)
He became a Sultan when his father abdicated the throne to focus on a more spiritual life... one of only a handful of Muslim rulers to do so in #IslamicHistory
But after his father returned he became a Sultan again a few years later, this time for good. (4/n)
Soon, he completed the task that would change his name... the world and history as we know it.
He conquered Constantinople.
#IslamicHistory is filled with conquerors and generals, but only 1 is known as Fatih (5/n)
He wasn't just a Conqueror, but a builder, poet and statesman too. Here he is in a Byzantine Fresco with Archbishop Gennadios giving the Orthodox Church protection and control over the religious affairs of the Empires Christians. (6/n)
The conquering continued too... Bosnia, Wallachia, Serbia & Greece - he converted the Parthenon in Athens into a Mosque.
Venice paid him tribute, Vlad the Impaler (aka Dracula) was his vassal. When he invaded southern Italy, Europe feared that the old Rome was next. (7/n)
They needn't have worried. Although there is much debate as to whether it was through ill health or poisoning - the Conqueror surrendered to the fate of all who live.
Muslims across the world mourned, church bells rang out in celebration across Europe. (8/n)
To this day he lies in the district named after him, in the Mosque named after him, in the city he conquered ... under a banner with a Hadith by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that praises him.
(End)
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