Suleyman I

Suleyman I, 'the magnificent' (1494-1566) was sultan of the Ottoman Empire, 1520-66.

His fleets dominated the Mediterranean Sea until they were defeated (after his death) at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. He conquered large areas of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, including Algiers, Baghdad and Budapest. However, he failed to conquer Malta.

He was known as Kanuni (the law-giver) for his reforms of the Ottoman legal system, especially of land ownership. He was also noted as a patron of the arts.