Mehmed II was born in 1432 in Edirne as the son of Sultan Murad II. He ascended the throne in 1453 at age 20 and took the name "the Conqueror" after capturing Constantinople for the Ottoman Empire that year, bringing an end to the Byzantine Empire. As sultan, Mehmed expanded Ottoman territory significantly through military campaigns, growing the empire from 900,000 to over 2 million square kilometers during his 30-year rule. He was a skilled leader and patron of the arts and sciences.