Bayezid II

Bayezid II faced a civil war against his brother Cem Sultan, who claimed the throne. Cem was defeated and fled to Rhodes, then to Europe, where he was held captive. This conflict ended the immediate succession crisis but left a rival claimant alive.

Bayezid II issued a decree welcoming Jewish refugees expelled from Spain by the Alhambra Decree. He sent the Ottoman fleet to transport them to safety, settling them in Salonica, Istanbul, and other cities, strengthening the empire's economy and intellectual life.

The Ottoman navy under Bayezid II defeated the Venetian fleet off the coast of Greece. This victory secured Ottoman control over the Ionian Sea and marked the first major naval battle where cannons were used on ships.

Bayezid II signed a peace treaty with the Republic of Venice, ending the Ottoman-Venetian War (1499-1503). The treaty confirmed Ottoman gains in the Morea and established a border in the Adriatic, bringing a period of peace.

Bayezid II was forced to abdicate by his son Selim I, who led a Janissary revolt. Bayezid agreed to step down but died shortly after under suspicious circumstances. This transfer of power marked the end of his reign and the beginning of Selim's expansionist policies.