Ottoman Empire By painkiller Jan 1, 1078 Ottoman turks capture Nicaea Period: Jan 1, 1299 to Jan 1, 1324 Reign of Osman I Jan 1, 1324 Osman Dies Jan 1, 1354 Gallopoli is taken by the Ottoman Turks Jan 1, 1362 Murad I begins reign Jan 1, 1444 Mehmet II begins his reign May 29, 1453 Constantinople named Istanbul May 29, 1453 Constantine XI dies Jan 1, 1459 Cyprus occupied by Britain Jan 1, 1459 Topkapi Palace construction begins Jan 1, 1461 Ottomans capture Constantinople Jan 1, 1481 Bayezid II takes the throne May 3, 1481 Mehmed II dies Jan 1, 1517 Selim I captures Cairo Period: Jan 1, 1520 to Sep 6, 1566 Suleiman I begins his reign Aug 1, 1521 Suleiman I captures Belgrade Jan 1, 1603 Ahmed I begins his reign Period: Jan 1, 1609 to Jan 1, 1616 Construction of the Blue Mosque Jan 1, 1648 Mehmed IV begins his reign Jan 26, 1699 Treaty of Karlowitz signed Jan 1, 1826 Massacre of the Janissaires by Mahmud II Jan 1, 1828 Greece wins independence Jan 1, 1839 Tanzimat Period begins Oct 1, 1853 Crimean War begins Feb 1, 1856 Crimean war ends Jan 1, 1877 Russo-Turkish War begins Jan 1, 1878 Russo-Turkish War ends Oct 18, 1912 Ottomans defeated by Italy