Constantinople

Constantinople was a very important city in history. It was located where Europe meets Asia, near the Bosporus strait. The city was founded in 324 by Emperor Constantine the Great and became the new capital of the Roman Empire in 330. For many centuries, it was the center of the Byzantine Empire and later became the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

The city was known for its grand buildings, such as the Hagia Sophia cathedral and the Imperial Palace. Its strong walls helped protect it for many years. After the Ottoman Empire fell, the city was renamed Istanbul and became the most populous city in Europe today.

Names

Before Constantinople

According to Pliny the Elder in his Natural History, the first known name of a settlement on the site of Constantinople was Lygos, a settlement likely of Thracian origin. Greek settlers from the city-state of Megara later founded Byzantium in around 657 BC, across from the town of Chalcedon.

The name "Byzantion" is not fully understood. Some think it came from the leader of the settlers, Byzas. Later, the city was briefly called Augusta Antonina by the Emperor Septimius Severus. But this name was soon forgotten.

Names of Constantinople

Main article: Names of Constantinople

Byzantium became Constantinople after Roman emperor Constantine I made it the new capital of the Roman Empire in 330. It was also called 'Second Rome' and 'Eastern Rome'. People often just called it Polis or 'the City'.

Different cultures had their own names for the city. The Vikings called it Miklagarðr. In Arabic, it was Rūmiyyat al-Kubra, and in Persian, Takht-e Rum. In Slavic languages, it was known as Tsargrad. In Persian, it was Asitane, and in Armenian, Gosdantnubolis.

Modern names of the city

The modern Turkish name, İstanbul, comes from the Greek phrase meaning '(in)to the city'. During Ottoman times, people used both İstanbul and Kostantiniyye. After Turkey changed its writing system, the name Istanbul became common worldwide. However, some groups, like the Eastern Orthodox Church, still use the name Constantinople. In Greece, the city is called Konstantinoúpoli(s) or simply "the City".

History

Main articles: History of Constantinople and History of Istanbul

Foundation of Byzantium

Main article: Byzantium

Constantinople was founded by the Roman emperor Constantine I in 324. It was built on the site of an older city, Byzantium. Byzantium was settled long ago around 657 BC by people from Megara. This was the first big settlement on the site of later Constantinople. Before that, there was a settlement called Lygos.

The city stayed independent until it became part of the Persian Empire in 512 BC under Darius I. Persian rule ended in 478 BC when a Greek army led by Pausanias captured it. Later, around 150 BC, Byzantium entered Roman rule peacefully. The city was never as important as Athens, Corinth, or Sparta, but it stayed safe and grew because of its good location. It was on the route from Europe to Asia and near the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It also had a great harbor called the Golden Horn.

324–337: The refoundation as Constantinople

Constantine wanted to make Constantinople the new capital. Rome was too far from the empire’s borders. Byzantium was a good place for a capital—it was easy to defend and close to the borders.

Constantinople was built over six years and finished in 330. Constantine divided the city into 14 parts, like Rome. He decorated it with public buildings. But at first, it did not have all the same offices as Rome. It had senators, but they were not as important as Rome’s. Constantine also promised land to people who built houses. He said there would be free food for citizens, like in Rome.

Constantine created a new square called the Augustaion. He built a senate house and the Great Palace of the Emperor. There was also a big space for chariot races called the Hippodrome, and famous baths called the Baths of Zeuxippus. A big street called the Mese led from the Augustaion through the city.

337–529: Constantinople during the Barbarian Invasions and the fall of the West

See also: Palace of Lausus

Constantinople became more important over time. From the death of Constantine in 337 to the rule of Theodosius I, emperors were only in the city for short periods. The city’s status as a capital grew when the first Urban Prefect, Honoratus, was appointed in 359. The urban prefects controlled three nearby areas.

The emperor Valens built the Palace of Hebdomon near the Golden Gate. Theodosius I built the Church of John the Baptist and a university in 425.

Prince Uldin of the Huns attacked the area but was pushed back. New walls were built to protect the city.

After the Western Roman Empire fell, Constantinople became its capital. Emperors stayed in the city and sent out generals to lead armies. Wealth from the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia flowed into Constantinople.

527–565: Constantinople in the Age of Justinian

The Emperor Justinian I was respected for his wars, legal changes, and building projects. From Constantinople, his expedition to reconquer Africa sailed in 533. After winning, the Temple treasure of Jerusalem was brought to Constantinople before being returned to Jerusalem.

Chariot racing was very important in Rome and also in Constantinople. The Hippodrome became a place where people showed support for new emperors or protested against the government. In 532, serious riots called the "Nika" riots happened in the Hippodrome. Over 30,000 people were involved.

Justinian rebuilt the city’s main church, Hagia Sophia, after it was destroyed in the riots. The new Hagia Sophia was amazing, with a large dome. It was finished in 537. Justinian also built other churches and changed laws to protect the city’s views.

During Justinian’s rule, Constantinople had about 500,000 people. But a sickness called the Plague of Justinian between 541 and 542 killed many people, about 40% of the city.

Survival, 565–717: Constantinople during the Byzantine Dark Ages

In the early 600s, the Avars and Bulgars threatened the Balkans. The Persian Sassanids also attacked Anatolia. Heraclius became emperor and saved the city. The people begged him to stay.

The city survived a big attack in 626 but lost free grain. The population dropped because supplies from Egypt were cut off.

The city was attacked by Arab armies from 674 to 678 and again from 717 to 718. The strong Theodosian Walls kept the city safe. A new weapon called Greek fire helped the Byzantine navy protect the city. In the second attack, Khan Tervel of Bulgaria helped Constantinople.

717–1025: Constantinople during the Macedonian Renaissance

In the 730s Leo III repaired the city walls.

Theodora, wife of Emperor Theophilus, acted for their son Michael III. Michael was known for wild behavior. He was killed in 867.

In 860, leaders from Kiev attacked the city but were driven away.

In 980, Emperor Basil II received 6,000 warriors from Prince Vladimir of Kiev. They formed a guard called the Varangian Guard.

The Book of the Eparch from the 10th century shows how the city’s trades were organized.

Constantinople had between 500,000 and 800,000 people in the 9th and 10th centuries.

Iconoclast controversy in Constantinople

In the 8th and 9th centuries, a debate called the iconoclast controversy caused trouble. Emperor Leo III destroyed some religious images in 726. Later, Empress Irene restored the images in 787. The controversy returned in the 9th century but was solved in 843 by Empress Theodora, who restored the images. This affected relations between the Western and Eastern Churches.

1025–1081: Constantinople after Basil II

In 1071, the emperor’s army was defeated at the Battle of Manzikert by the Seljuk Turks under Alp Arslan. The emperor was captured but was released. However, another leader took the throne and refused to keep the peace. The Turks moved into areas of Anatolia. By 1080, much land had been lost and the Turks were close to Constantinople.

1081–1185: Constantinople under the Komneni

Under the Komnenian dynasty, the empire recovered. In 1090–91, the Pechenegs attacked but were defeated. Emperor Alexius I asked for help, which led to the First Crusade passing through Constantinople in 1096.

The city became rich and crowded. New buildings were constructed, and trade grew. Many people from other places, including Venetians, lived in the city. Toward the end of Manuel I Komnenos’s rule, there were about 60,000–80,000 foreigners in a city of around 400,000 people. In 1182, many people from western Europe were killed in the city.

Art also flourished, with advances in mosaic art.

1185–1261: Constantinople during the Imperial Exile

In 1197, a big fire damaged parts of the city. But worse came with the Fourth Crusade in 1203. The Crusaders took over Constantinople in 1204. They looted the city and took control of many churches and buildings. Valuable statues and treasures were destroyed or melted down.

The Byzantine leaders fled to places like Nicaea and Epirus. In 1261, Michael VIII Palaiologos recaptured Constantinople from the Latins.

1261–1453: Palaiologan Era and the Fall of Constantinople

See also: Byzantine Empire under the Palaiologos dynasty and Fall of Constantinople

After retaking the city, Michael VIII Palaiologos faced many problems. The population was small, and disasters like wars, earthquakes, and the Black Death made things worse.

By 1453, the city had about 50,000 people. The defenses were weak. On 29 May 1453, the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople after a siege. The city was conquered by Sultan Mehmed II.

1453–1930: Ottoman and Republican Kostantiniyye

Main article: History of Istanbul § Ottoman Empire

See also: Beyoğlu

Constantinople became part of the Ottoman Empire. Ottoman soldiers were allowed to visit the city for three days. Mehmed II stopped the looting and turned the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. He wanted to make the city the capital and brought in people from many places to live there.

Later, the city became a center for trade and culture. In the 19th century, new buildings were constructed in European styles. During World War I, the city was occupied by Allied forces until 1923. The new Republic of Turkey made Ankara the capital, but Constantinople, known as Istanbul, remained the largest city.

Culture

Constantinople was a very important city in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. It was the capital of the eastern part of the Roman Empire for over a thousand years. The city was rich and big, with many beautiful buildings like the Hagia Sophia.

The city helped keep many books safe from Greek and Latin writers when other places were losing them. After the city fell, these books went to Italy and helped start the Renaissance. Constantinople was also a place where many languages and cultures met. The city had a big effect on Europe in art, technology, and culture.

International status

Constantinople was a strong protector for the eastern parts of the old Roman Empire. It had very tall walls built by Theodosius II. These walls made it hard for attackers to break in. The city was so famous that it was written about in old Chinese histories. They described its huge walls, gates, and a special water clock with a golden statue. The histories also told how the city was once surrounded by an army but managed to make peace.