Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 20 (12): 2158-2163, 2014 ISSN 1990-9233 © IDOSI Publications, 2014 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2014.20.12.21114 Corresponding Author: Ezad Azraai Jamsari, Department of Arabic Studies and Islamic Civilization, Faculty of Islamic Studies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia. Tel: +60389215291, Fax: +60389213185. 2158 Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih: Ottoman’s Great Strategic Planner Ezad Azraai Jamsari, Ammalina Dalillah Mohd Isa 1 1 and Mohamad Zulfazdlee Abul Hassan Ashari 2 Department of Arabic Studies and Islamic Civilization, Faculty of Islamic Studies, 1 Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia Department of History and Islamic Civilization, Academy of Islamic Studies, 2 Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Abstract: This study discusses the war strategies of Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih throughout his rule from the year 1451 until 1481. Al-Fatih was an Ottoman leadership figure who was characterized as wise, of great fame and a leader to be reckoned with. His figure, leadership and wisdom can be seen in his successful war strategies against enemies in each and every military expedition. The objective of this article is to analyze war strategic planning undertaken by Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih in a series of wars and the opening of territories which led to Ottoman’s victories and success. This study employed a qualitative method via historical research and content analyzes of primary and secondary sources in the studies of the Ottomans. This study argues that Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih’s war strategies were formulated at two stages, namely war strategies formulated before the war and war strategies sketched while the war was on-going. The former was the ‘grand strategy’ involving political, economic and military manouvres while the latter were planned during war cabinet meetings in the battlefields. Key words: Muhammad al-Fatih War Strategy Ottoman Military History 15 Century AD th INTRODUCTION When discussing the aspects of war strategies, the Strategy is an important element in ensuring a will be refered as al-Fatih, or more famously known in the successful outcome of any activity. Failure to achieve a West as Mehmed II) is not unfamiliar to the tactical and goal or an objective is normally attributed to the absence technical aspects of a war. This is so as al-Fatih was the of an accurate and systematic strategic planning. only Sultan cum army chief who managed to defeat For instance, if one is to achieve excellence in a specific Constantine IX, penetrating the defence line of the field, any activity towards achieving excellence must be Crusaders and conquering Constantinople, a feat which executed according to a detailed and wise planning which neither previous Sultans nor Islamic army general had include any contingency plans should the activity fail. been able to achieve. Raby [1] highlighted that al-Fatih The same goes without saying in any war. War strategy laid down the foundations for Istanbul’s demographic, is among the important factors which influence the victory topographic and architectural future including of any war beside other factors such as logistics, military establishing Istanbul’s military sites. Murphey [2] hardwares and the strength of the army. Without a precise affirmed that al-Fatih “..was after all a very successful strategy, war defeat is almost guarranteed. This shows commander and clearly took pride in his achievements in that strategic planning is most crucial in facing any war or the military sphere and it is this pride in his record of battle. military success that provides the clue to how we should name Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih (from this point onward