Rise of Empires: Ottoman
Rise of Empires: Ottoman is a Turkish historical docudrama, starring Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu, Tommaso Basili and Daniel Nuță. Its first season, which consists of 6 episodes, is directed by Emre Sahin and written by Kelly McPherson. It became available for streaming on Netflix on 24 January 2020.[1] It deals with the Ottoman Empire and Mehmed the Conqueror and tells the story of the Fall of Constantinople.[2] The second season also has 6 episodes and premiered on 29 December 2022, focusing on the 1462 campaign against Vlad the Impaler in Wallachia (in present-day Romania).
Rise of Empires: Ottoman | |
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Genre | Docudrama |
Written by |
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Directed by | Emre Şahin |
Starring |
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Narrated by |
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Country of origin | Turkey |
Original languages |
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No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 12 |
Production | |
Producers |
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Production location | Istanbul |
Editors |
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Running time | 45 minutes |
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Release | |
Original network | Netflix |
Original release | 24 January 2020 |
Premise
In Season 1 name is Rise of Empires: Ottoman, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror wages a campaign to take the Eastern Roman capital of Constantinople in 1453, resulting in the capture of the city and establishment of the Ottoman Empire.
In Season 2 name is Mehmed and Vlad, Mehmed the Conqueror and Vlad the Impaler, childhood companions in the Ottoman court, go head-to-head in the 1462 Ottoman invasion of Wallachia.
Cast
- Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu as Mehmed the Conqueror
- Tommaso Basili as Constantine XI Palaiologos (season 1)
- Daniel Nuță as Vlad the Impaler (season 2)
- Radu-Andrei Micu as Dimitrie (season 2)
- Ali Gözüşirin as Radu the Handsome (season 2)
- Tuba Büyüküstün as Mara Branković
- Yasemin Eti as Gülbahar Hatun (season 2)
- Damla Sönmez as Ana
- Osman Sonant as Loukas Notaras (season 1)
- Tolga Tekin as Murad II
- Ushan Çakır as Zaganos Pasha
- Nik Xhelilaj as Mahmud Pasha (season 2)
- Selim Bayraktar as Çandarlı Halil Pasha (season 1)
- Birkan Sokullu as Giovanni Giustiniani (season 1)
- Tansu Biçer as Orban (season 1)
- Nail Kırmızıgül as Hızır Çelebi (season 1)
- Eva Dedova as Katarina (season 1)
- Tuğrul Tülek as George Sphrantzes (season 1)
- İlayda Akdoğan as Therma Sphrantzes (season 1)
- Erdal Yıldız as Suleiman Baltoghlu (season 1)
- Baki Davrak as Đurađ Branković (season 1)
- Ryan OL as Genovese Nobleman (season 1)
- Roger Crowley, historian (season 1)
- Lars Brownworth, historian (season 1)
- Jason Goodwin, historian (season 1)
- Marios Philippides, historian (season 1)
- Michael Talbot, historian (season 1)
- Emrah Safa Gürkan, historian (season 1)
- Andrei Pogăciaș, historian (season 2)
- Mihai-Florin Hasan, historian (season 2)
- Celâl Şengör, geologist
- James Waterson, author of Dracula's Wars (season 2)
Episodes
Season 1 (2020)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
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1 | 1 | "The New Sultan" | Emre Şahin | Liz Lake, Kelly McPherson, Emre Şahin | 24 January 2020 | |
After claiming the Ottoman throne, Mehmed II sends an unmistakable signal to Byzantine emperor Constantine XI. Enter Genoese mercenaries. | ||||||
2 | 2 | "Through the Walls" | Emre Şahin | Kelly McPherson, Emre Şahin, Liz Lake | 24 January 2020 | |
Mehmed launches an ambitious siege to break through the walls of Constantinople, but Giustiniani's mercenaries manage to forestall the Janissaries. | ||||||
3 | 3 | "Into the Golden Horn" | Emre Şahin | Emre Şahin, Liz Lake, Kelly McPherson | 24 January 2020 | |
Mehmed's men dig underground tunnels in an attempt to shatter city walls. The tides turn against the Ottomans when a naval blockade founders. | ||||||
4 | 4 | "Loose Lips Sink Ships" | Emre Şahin | Liz Lake, Kelly McPherson, Emre Şahin | 24 January 2020 | |
Mehmed moves his ships overland to the Golden Horn in a daring, visionary feat. In the shadow of betrayal, Giustiniani attacks the Ottoman fleet. | ||||||
5 | 5 | "Ancient Prophecies" | Emre Şahin | Kelly McPherson, Emre Şahin, Liz Lake | 24 January 2020 | |
Amid a spiral of brutality and low morale, Mehmed makes Giustiniani an enticing offer. The grand vizier urges Mehmed to seek a truce with his rival. | ||||||
6 | 6 | "Ashes to Ashes" | Emre Şahin | Emre Şahin, Liz Lake, Kelly McPherson | 24 January 2020 | |
Ottoman cannons reduce the city walls to rubble, and Venetian reinforcements arrive too late. Mehmed ushers in a new era for the Ottoman Empire. |
Season 2 (2022)
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
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7 | 1 | "House Of War" | Emre Şahin | Liz Lake, Kelly McPherson, Emre Şahin | 29 December 2022 | |
Mehmed II solidifies his reign, but in nearby Wallachia, childhood friend Vlad the Impaler gains notoriety and seeks to challenge Mehmed's hegemony. | ||||||
8 | 2 | "Troubled Waters" | Emre Şahin | Kelly McPherson, Emre Şahin, Liz Lake | 29 December 2022 | |
Mehmed sends Mara to coax Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus into an alliance. An epic battle along the Danube River looms, and Vlad has the upper hand. | ||||||
9 | 3 | "Land of Dracula" | Emre Şahin | Emre Şahin, Liz Lake, Kelly McPherson | 29 December 2022 | |
Mehmed's troops advance into Wallachia, and Vlad employs guerrilla tactics to weaken his rival. A threat lurks in the imperial palace. | ||||||
10 | 4 | "Brothers No More" | Emre Şahin | Liz Lake, Kelly McPherson, Emre Şahin | 29 December 2022 | |
As the war drags on and resources dwindle, Vlad wages biological warfare on Mehmed's army. Radu closes in on Vlad's castle to take Anastasia hostage. | ||||||
11 | 5 | "Night Attack" | Emre Şahin | Kelly McPherson, Emre Şahin, Liz Lake | 29 December 2022 | |
Mehmed prepares to strike a fatal blow to Vlad's army. A spy is found in Mehmed's camp. Vlad launches a nighttime attack, but a surprise awaits. | ||||||
12 | 6 | "Destiny" | Emre Şahin | Emre Şahin, Liz Lake, Kelly McPherson | 29 December 2022 | |
Vlad and Mehmed face off. Mara and Gülbahar foil the Wallachian plot. Ottoman troops march into an abandoned Târgoviște and face a gruesome sight. |
Critical response
Generally, the reception is positive. Rise of Empires: Ottoman delivers, with a similarly novel approach, a chronicle of historical events.[3] Daily History concludes that "the series uses correct timeline and description of the attack on Constantinople is incredibly accurate from the Ottoman perspective."[4]
See also
References
- "Rise of Empires: Ottoman ne zaman başlayacak? Rise of Empires: Ottoman oyuncuları". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 12 December 2019. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- Tan, Erhan (12 December 2019). "Netflix'in Yeni Belgesel Dizisi Rise of Empires: Ottoman" (in Turkish). Film Loverss. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- "'Rise of Empires: Ottoman' Netflix Review: Stream It or Skip It?". 2020-01-27. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
- "How Historically Accurate is the Rise of Empires: Ottoman Series - DailyHistory.org". dailyhistory.org. Retrieved 2023-01-08.