Mehmed: Fetihler Sultanı

Synopsis

Season 1

Following Sehzade Aladdin's death, Sultan Murad II stepped down from the throne, allowing the eldest heir, Mehmed II, to ascend the throne. Mehmed's biggest dream was to conquer Constantinople; however, the Grand Vizier, Candarli Halil Pasha, thought them to be unrealistic ambitions, eventually resulting in Mehmed's deposition.

Arranged by Sultan Murad II, Shehzade Mehmed is forced to marry Gülşah Hatun (historical character), the daughter of Ibrahim Beg of Karamanid Beylik, in a political union that begins with cold diplomatic duty.

Immediately after the wedding, Mehmed departs for a military campaign near Constantinople to handle the threat of Prince Orhan and the Byzantine Empire, leaving his new bride behind .Upon his return, however, he makes up for it and following his eventual return to the capital after these state disruptions, Mehmed intentionally sits down with Gülşah to converse and address their strained situation directly.This pivotal personal discussion clears the distance between them, successfully transitioning their forced marriage into a mutual, trusted political partnership prior to his ascension to the throne.Following the forced political alliance, Gülşah Hatun's introduction to the palace causes tension and jealousy for Bahar Hatun(fictional character inspired from Historical Gulbahar Hatun), Mehmed's initial partner and the mother of his eldest son, Beyazed.The narrative subsequently focuses on the domestic friction between the two consorts as they both hold significant, competing positions within Mehmed's household leading up to his ascension.

Following his father's death a few years later, Mehmed once again sat on the throne, this time determined to fulfill his dream. He gained many allies and ended enemies. While Mehmed dealt with the politics, Mara Hatun, Bahar Hatun, and Gulsah Hatun worked hard to ensure the inside enemies, Halime Hatun and Hala Sultan, were cleansed out. By the time the season ended, Mehmed II had no obstacles between him and his goal.

On the other hand, in Constantinople, Konstantinos (known as Constantine historically) and Demetrios constantly clashed over who would take the throne after John VIII's death. The feud ended with Konstantinos taking the throne with help from his mother, Helena Dragas, and the megas doux, Loukas Notaras. However, Konstantinos soon came to realize that his mother and Notaras had placed him on the throne to use him as a puppet ruler. When he learned that they were willing to kill him if they didn't get the power they wanted, Konstantinos killed his mother and exiled Notaras.

Season 2

Six months have passed, and Mehmed II continued his preparations to attack Constantinople while Konstantinos XI continued to work hard on the defense, which included ending Notaras' exile and putting aside disputes with his other adversaries so that they could help. Mehmed earned many more allies like Baltoglu Suleyman and Bahadır Paşa, while Konstantinos gained allies like Giovanni Giustiniani and Don Francesco. The siege was intimidating as both sides were prepared: one to get the city, the other to save his people.

The long siege ended with Mehmed's victory and Konstantinos' death. However, Mehmed's goals did not stop there.

Then a few months later Mehmed the Great Conqueror, Conquered Bosnia and the Wallachia and then went on to fight uzun hasan and kill him the Battle of Utlukbeli.

Season 3

The season opens around 1461, establishing that Constantinople is now a functioning Ottoman capital.Mehmed focuses on his "Kanunname" (Code of Laws).Gülbahar Hatun and Gülşah Hatun are now established rivals as their sons, Bayezid and Mustafa, have grown into young men ready for their own provinces (Sanjaks).Mahmut Pasha is solidified as Grand Vizier, creating immediate friction with the older statesmen like İshak Pasha.

Before Mehmed can deal with Vlad in the West, he must close the "Black Sea" gap.Mahmut Pasha leads the arduous mountain trek. The Ottoman fleet and army converge on the Empire of Trebizond.Trebizond falls, marking the end of the last true Roman/Byzantine holdout.

Introduced mid-season as Princess Rose of the Bosnian Kingdom, she enters the Ottoman world amidst the Balkan campaigns. Following political alignments, she is integrated into the harem as Çiçek Hatun. Her arrival completely alters harem dynamics.Bosnia becomes integrated into Ottoman Empire.

After the Bosnian campaign, Sultan Mehmed II joins Princess Rose to peacefully negotiate the transition of the Church of St. Mary with Priest Aron, only for the priest to launch a treacherous ambush that leaves the princess critically stabbed in the stomach before Mehmed kills the attacker. While surviving in the field hospital, Rose experiences a spiritual transformation, converts to Islam, and formally takes the name Çiçek Hatun. Meanwhile, a defeated Vlad the Impaler flees to the Hungarian court to beg for military aid, only to find himself trapped in a complex political captivity.

Vlad III stops paying tribute and begins his "Terror Campaign." Mehmed marches into Wallachia. This features the legendary "Night Attack of Târgoviște," where Vlad tries to assassinate Mehmed in his tent.Mehmed successfully replaces Vlad with his brother, Radu the Handsome. Vlad is forced to flee to Hungary.

In the latter half of the season, Şehzade Mustafa is sent to Konya.His proximity to the eastern borders brings him into conflict with the Aqqoyunlu (White Sheep Turcomans), setting up a terrifying divide where the state's politicians favor Bayezid, but the state's soldiers favor Mustafa.

Post-production

The series incorporates extensive post-production work, including visual effects (VFX), CGI environment extensions, digital compositing, color grading, and other finishing processes to recreate the historical setting of the Ottoman Empire. The production combines practical sets with computer-generated imagery for large-scale battle sequences, architectural reconstructions, and period environments

Visual effects work for the series has involved multiple studios and artists throughout its production. According to Orzan Studios, the company contributed post-production services including visual effects, digital compositing, CGI environment creation, cleanup, and shot finishing for the series.