During the period circa 1200-1500 CE, the Ottoman Empire strategically employed religion to consolidate and legitimize their power.
Under the leadership of Sultan Mehmed II, the Ottoman rulers embraced Islam as a unifying force, promoting themselves as the defenders of the faith. They established a symbiotic relationship with the religious establishment, granting religious scholars influence and authority in return for legitimizing the sultans' rule.
The Ottoman rulers used the concept of the caliphate to assert their political and religious authority, portraying themselves as the rightful successors to the Islamic leadership. By intertwining political power with religious legitimacy, the Ottomans reinforced their rule and created a cohesive identity, fostering unity among diverse ethnic and religious groups within their vast empire.