The Turkish Sultan Suleiman The Magnificent (reigned 1520-1566) stood at the helm of the Ottoman Empire at the zenith of its power. He conquered Balkan lands in Europe, much of the Middle East and North Africa. The Ottoman navy dominated the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. He is also known for promoting major changes in taxation, education, criminal law and social issues. Together with his officials, he managed to conciliate the two sources of Ottoman law, the civil law or Sultanic law, and the Sharia, or Islamic law.
