The event most associated with the rise of the Ottoman Empire was the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. Led by Sultan Mehmed II, the capture of this pivotal city marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and symbolized the Ottomans' transformation into a formidable empire. Renowned for its strategic location between Europe and Asia, Constantinople became the new capital, renamed Istanbul, and allowed the Ottomans to exert significant control over trade routes. This conquest facilitated the expansion of Ottoman territory across Southeast Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, shaping the political and cultural landscape of the region for centuries.