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Who was Suleiman the Magnificent?

Suleiman the Magnificent (1494–1566) — known to his own people as Kanuni, “the Lawgiver” — was the tenth Ottoman sultan, reigning from 1520 to 1566, who brought the Ottoman Empire to its greatest territorial extent and its golden age of law, art and architecture.

Last updated: October 2026

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At his death the empire stretched across three continents: the Balkans, Hungary, the Middle East, North Africa and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. His reign’s monuments — above all the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul — still define the city’s skyline.

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Suleiman the Magnificent (1494–1566) — known to his own people as Kanuni, “the Lawgiver” — was the tenth Ottoman sultan, reigning from 1520 to 1566, who brought…

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