After the fall of Constantinople, the Ottoman Empire emerged as one of the world's greatest powers and turned its ambitions toward Europe. The crushing victory at Mohács opened the gateway to Central Europe, while the first Siege of Vienna demonstrated that even the heart of the Habsburg realm was within reach. At sea, however, the Battle of Lepanto marked the first major defeat of the Ottoman fleet, proving that its expansion had limits. The decisive turning point came with the Second Siege of Vienna in 1683, when a united European army halted the Ottoman advance. This campaign follows more than two centuries of conflict that shaped the future of both Europe and the Middle East.
