#OnThisDay Suleiman was 72-year-old when he led his last campaign against the Habsburgs. After two days of his death, the fort of Szigetvár was conquered by the Ottomans. Grand Vizier Mehmed Pasha concealed his death until Sultan Selim II was enthroned in Istanbul. During his forty-six year reign, Süleyman had added to the Empire territory in eastern Anatolia, Iraq, the Gulf and the Red Sea, the Aegean, Moldavia and Hungary. Some of these territories cost more in defence than they provided in revenue, but all served to emphasise Süleyman's status as the ruler of one of the world's greatest Empires. The Ottoman territory was to expand further during the reigns of his two successors, but the Empire was never again to play the international role that it had done at the height of Süleyman's power, writes Colin Imber. Sultan Suleiman sponsored an army of artists, religious thinkers, and philosophers that outshone the most educated courts of Europe. He commissioned the great building projects in Istanbul and other provinces of his empire. The great architect Mimar Sinan served during his reign. He restored many religious buildings like the tomb of Jurist Abu Hanifa, mosques in Jerusalem, Mecca, and Medina. He also ordered to build the tomb of the famous Sufi master Sheikh Abdul Qadri Jilani after his conquest of Baghdad. During his last days, he devoted most of his attention to just governing, law-making, and pious life. He has been known to Europeans as 'the Magnificent' for the grandeur of his court. His subjects and the Muslims have called him 'Kanuni' (the Lawgiver) because it was under his rule that Sultanic laws (kanun) were compiled, systematized, and harmonized with Islamic law (sharia). #ottomanempire #ottoman