After he captured Belgrade in 1521, and the kingdom of Hungary in 1526 and laid siege to Vienna in 1529, the Ottoman sultan Süleyman the Magnificent (r. 1520–66) achieved international fame and notoriety. Like Mehmet II before him, Süleyman was often portrayed on medals. Rulers throughout Europe both admired and feared the sultan, who was recognized as one of the viri illustri of his time. Several different casts of this oversized medallion survive.

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