Did the Ottomans want to conquer all of Europe?

The last attack included a sustained charge by the elite Janissary corps, and when that was beaten back the army was demoralized enough to head back. While the 1529 siege and defense of Vienna makes for a great story, the point is Europe did not put together a united front against the Turks at this point. read more

Ottoman Turks were just one of many attempts - by Asian horse tribes - to conquer all of Europe: Huns, Mongols, Tartars, Turks, etc. Turks advanced the farthest west even beseiging Vienna before they were repulsed by the combined efforts of several Northern European Christian armies. read more

The Ottoman army was the largest in Europe, its navy ruled the shipping lanes of the eastern Mediterranean, and its capital Istanbul was five times the size of Paris. Its resources seemed limitless, and its capacity to sweep aside opposition in the name of Islam gave the Turkish Empire an awesome presence. read more