Ottoman Empire- OSMANLI DEVLETi

The Ottoman Empire, the empire of Turks, Greeks, Arabs, Kurds, Armenians, Hungarians and many more. Governed by a Turkish Sultan under the core ruling of Islam.

Known as the 'Osmanlı Devleti' in Turkish since it was named after the first Ottoman Sultan, Osman Gazi son of Ertuğrul Han. It was founded in 1299 AD and lasted for 624 years.

It is quite apparent that the early rulers of the Ottoman's established the growth of the empire. This was due to a high level of education in Islamic, academic and military knowledge.

The empire amazed the whole known world upon capturing the capital of the Byzantine Empire as well as the capital of Christian Orthodoxy, İstanbul (Constantinople) in 1453. Under one of the empire's best leaders Mehmed the Conqueror. Fulfilling the prophecy of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Muslim Turks were well known for being just rulers, infact the Byzantines preferd the Muslims than the Catholic Christians, as is proved by the following statement:

 "I would rather see a Muslim turban in the midst of the City (ie, Constantinople) than the Latin miter"

Loukas Notaras, last Megas Doux of the Byzantine Empire

In 1517 Sultan Selim ended the Mamluk dynasty and claimed the Caliphate. Thus making the Ottomans the head authority of the whole Muslim world.

The Ottoman Empire was in its zentih under the ruler Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. Even including the holy lands of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem.

The death of Sultan Süleyman saw the beginning of the decline of the Ottomans. It is clear from the attitude of the leaders from the period of decline that they had left their Islamic practices behind, a period of westernisation started which to this day is effecting modern day Turkey. Under this period of decline the west (who the Ottomans tried to imitate) called them the 'sick man of Europe'.