Sultan Mehmed II, after witnessing his father's struggles in capturing Constantinople due to the effective blockade by the Byzantine fleet, was determined to launch another offensive as soon as he ascended the throne. Meanwhile, the Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI aimed to negotiate a diplomatic peace with the Ottomans to protect Constantinople, but Mehmed rejected the peace offer and proceeded with his siege plans. In 1452, Mehmed initiated the construction of a large fortress at the narrowest part of the Bosphorus, marking the beginning of the ambitious project by signing his own initials and those of the Prophet Muhammed on the first brick with goat blood. Originally named 'Bogazkesen,' meaning 'strait/throat cutter,' the fortress was built on the site of an ancient Roman fort and was later renamed the Rumeli Hisari, signifying 'Fortress on the Land of the Romans.' Mehmed's strategic plan proved effective as the fortress prevented aid from reaching Constantinople during the final Ottoman raid in 1453. After a 53-day siege, Constantinople fell in April of that year. Following the city's fall, the fortress transitioned into a customs checkpoint but lost its strategic importance when additional towers were constructed further upriver. Subsequently, during the 17th century, the Rumeli Fortress was repurposed as a prison for prisoners of war. Unfortunately, a fire in 1746 destroyed the wooden parts of the fortress, leading to its repair and subsequent use for residential purposes.