Editing Mehmed II (section)

===Centralization of government===
[[File:Costanzo da ferrara, medaglia con mehmed II, sultano ottomano, conquistatore di costantinopoli, 1478.jpg|thumb|Medal of Mehmed II, with mention "Emperor of Byzantium" ("Byzantii Imperatoris 1481"), made by [[Costanzo da Ferrara]] (1450-1524).]]
Mehmed the Conqueror consolidated power by building his imperial court, the divan, with officials who would be solely loyal to him and allow him greater autonomy and authority. Under previous sultans the divan had been filled with members of aristocratic families that sometimes had other interests and loyalties than that of the sultan. Mehmed the Conqueror transitioned the empire away from the [[Ghazi (warrior)|Ghazi]] mentality that emphasizes ancient traditions and ceremonies in governance<ref name="Architectural History Foundation">{{cite book|last1=Necipoğlu|first1=Gülru|title=Architecture, Ceremonial, and Power: The Topkapi Palace in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries|date=1991|publisher=Architectural History Foundation|page=21}}</ref> and moved it towards a centralized bureaucracy largely made of officials of [[devşirme]] background.<ref name="Architectural History Foundation"/> Additionally, Mehmed the Conqueror took the step of converting the religious scholars who were part of the Ottoman [[madrasa]]s into salaried employees of the Ottoman bureaucracy who were loyal to him.<ref name="Architectural History Foundation"/> This centralization was possible and formalized through a [[Ottoman law|kanunname]], issued during 1477–1481, which for the first time listed the chief officials in the Ottoman government, their roles and responsibilities, salaries, protocol and punishments, as well as how they related to each other and the sultan.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Necipoğlu|first1=Gülru|title=Architecture, Ceremonial, and Power: The Topkapi Palace in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries|date=1991|publisher=Architectural History Foundation|page=16}}</ref>

Once Mehmed had created an Ottoman bureaucracy and transformed the empire from a frontier society to a centralized government, he took care to appoint officials who would help him implement his agenda. His first grand vizier was [[Zaganos Pasha]], who was of devşirme background as opposed to an aristocrat,<ref name="Meḥemmed Ii">{{EI2|last1=İnalcık|first1=Halil|title=Meḥemmed II|volume=6|url=http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/mehemmed-ii-SIM_5111}}</ref> and Zaganos Pasha's successor, [[Mahmud Pasha Angelović]], was also of devşirme background.{{sfn|Babinger|1992|p=114}} Mehmed was the first sultan who was able to codify and implement kanunname solely based on his own independent authority.<ref name="Meḥemmed Ii"/> Additionally, Mehmed was able to later implement kanunname that went against previous tradition or precedent.<ref name="Architectural History Foundation"/> This was monumental in an empire that was so steeped in tradition and could be slow to change or adapt. Having viziers and other officials who were loyal to Mehmed was an essential part of this government because he transferred more power to the viziers than previous sultans had. He delegated significant powers and functions of government to his viziers as part of his new policy of imperial seclusions.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Necipoğlu|first1=Gülru|title=Architecture, Ceremonial, and Power: The Topkapi Palace in the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries|date=1991|publisher=Architectural History Foundation|page=15}}</ref> A wall was built around the palace as an element of the more closed era, and unlike previous sultans Mehmed was no longer accessible to the public or even lower officials. His viziers directed the military and met foreign ambassadors, two essential parts of governing especially with his numerous military campaigns.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Necipoğlu|first1=Gülru|title=Architecture, Ceremonial, and Power: The Topkapi Palace in the fifteenth and sixteenth Centuries|date=1991|publisher=Architectural History Foundation|page=18}}</ref> One such notable ambassador was Kinsman Karabœcu Pasha (Turkish: "Karaböcü Kuzen Paşa"), who came from a rooted family of spies, which enabled him to play a notable role in Mehmed's campaign of conquering Constantinople.<ref name="historytoday.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.historytoday.com/bernard-lewis/europe-and-turks-civilization-ottoman-empire|title=Europe and the Turks: The Civilization of the Ottoman Empire {{!}} History Today|website=www.historytoday.com|access-date=9 April 2017|archive-date=12 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512171213/http://www.historytoday.com/bernard-lewis/europe-and-turks-civilization-ottoman-empire|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=March 2022}}