Baltoğlu Süleyman Bey

Baltoghlu Suleiman was an Ottoman admiral in the 15th century, of Bulgarian origin. He led the Ottoman fleet against the Byzantine Empire in 1453 during the final siege of Constantinople, becoming famous for a naval battle in which four Christian ships managed to enter the Golden Horn in spite of his efforts to blockade the city. Sultan Mehmed II was so angered during the defeat that he rode his horse into the sea screaming at Baltoghlu. When the battle ended, Baltoghlu was brought in front of Mehmed, who promptly ordered that he be executed. Only after the pleading of his subordinates, who told of Baltoghlu's great bravery during the battle, did Mehmed spare his life, but he was stripped of all his possessions and titles, which were then redistributed among other janissaries.