Part 48

Explore the Ottoman Empire's expansion in Civilization V, including the Battle of Ankara and the Siege of Constantinople.

The Ottoman Empire's expansion in Civilization V is a critical element of its gameplay. Following the defeat of the Crusaders at Nicopolis, the Ottomans secured their Balkan holdings, leaving only Constantinople of the Byzantine Empire. In 1399, Tamerlane declared war on the Ottoman Empire, leading to the Battle of Ankara in 1402. While exact troop numbers are debated, Tamerlane's army significantly outnumbered Bayezid I's, resulting in an Ottoman defeat and Bayezid's capture and subsequent death. This led to an 11-year civil war known as the Ottoman Interregnum, ending in 1413 when Mehmed Celebi became sultan.

Sultan Mehmed I and his son Murad II spent years restoring the empire. In 1423, Murad II besieged Constantinople, extorting a large sum from the Byzantines. He then warred with Venice, securing an Ottoman victory but allowing Venice to remain a major mercantile power. Murad also engaged in a prolonged war with Hungary over Walachia. To counter the growing Turkish nobility, Murad II created the Janissaries, a military force composed of Christian slaves granted lands from conquests, providing a balance to the established nobility. Murad continued European expansion until 1444, when he made peace and retired, passing the throne to his son Mehmed II.

Sultan Mehmed II reigned from 1451 to 1481. Despite opposition from his vizier and nobles, he besieged Constantinople. With a force of 100,000 against approximately 7,000 defenders, the Ottomans eventually breached the city after less than two months of siege, overcoming the defenders through superior numbers despite heavy cannon fire and stubborn resistance. Mehmed II treated the citizens with mercy, sparing their lives and possessions, and showed respect to non-Muslims, leading to Jewish emigration to the Ottoman Empire. Constantinople became the capital, providing a strategic foothold in Europe.

Over the next century, the Ottoman Empire expanded into Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, developing a powerful navy that dominated the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea, and competed with European powers like Portugal in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566) continued European expansion, primarily targeting Hungary and rivaling the Habsburg family. He captured Belgrade in 1521 and conquered much of Hungary by 1526. In 1529, he advanced to Vienna, forcing the Europeans onto the defensive and securing Hungary for over a decade. At sea, Suleiman built a powerful navy under Barbarossa, who captured Algiers in 1529 and was granted the province to support his fleet. Barbarossa achieved several naval victories against European forces in the 1530s.