Where was Constantinople? What is Constantinople now called?

A legendary city that has replaced many names, peoples and empires ... Rome's eternal rival, the cradle of Orthodox Christianity and the capital of the empire that existed for a century ... On modern maps this city you will not find, nevertheless he lives and develops. The place where Constantinople was located is not so far away from us. Let's talk about the history of this city and its glorious legends in this article.

Occurrence

To master the land between the two seas - the Black and the Mediterranean, people began in the VII century BC. As the Greek texts say, the colony of Miletus settled on the northern shore of the Bosporus Strait. The Asian coast of the strait was settled by the Megarians. Two cities stood opposite each other - in the European part was Miletus Byzantium, on the southern coast - Megara Calhedon. This position of the settlement made it possible to control the Bosporus strait. The lively trade between the countries of the Black and Aegean Sea, regular flows of cargo, merchant ships and military expeditions provided customs duties for both these cities, which soon became one.

So, the narrowest place of the Bosphorus, later called the bay of the Golden Horn, became the point where the city of Constantinople is located.

Attempts to capture Byzantium

Rich and influential Byzantium attracted the attention of many generals and conquerors. About 30 years during the conquest campaigns of Darius, Byzantium was under the rule of the Persian empire. A field of relatively quiet life for hundreds of years to his gate came the troops of the king of Macedonia - Philip. Several months of siege ended in vain. Enterprising and wealthy townspeople preferred to pay tribute to numerous conquerors, rather than enter into bloody and numerous battles. Conquer Byzantium succeeded another king of Macedonia - Alexander the Great.

After the empire of Alexander the Great was fragmented, the city fell under the influence of Rome.

Christianity in Byzantium

Roman and Greek historical and cultural traditions were not the only sources of culture for the future of Constantinople. Originating in the eastern territories of the Roman Empire, the new religion, like a fire, swept through all the provinces of ancient Rome. Christian communities accepted into their ranks people of different faiths, with different levels of education and income. But already in apostolic times, in the second century of our era, numerous Christian schools and the first monuments of Christian literature appeared. Multilingual Christianity is gradually emerging from their catacombs and is becoming more and more self-proclaimed to the world.

Christian Emperors

After the separation of the huge state formation, the eastern part of the Roman Empire began to position itself precisely as a Christian state. The Emperor Constantine took power in the ancient city, calling it Constantinople, in his honor. The persecution of Christians was stopped, the temples and places of worship of Christ began to be worshiped on a par with pagan sanctuaries. Konstantin himself was baptized on his deathbed in 337 AD. The subsequent emperors invariably strengthened and defended the Christian faith. And Justinian in the VI. AD Left Christianity as the only state religion, banning ancient rites in the territory of the Byzantine Empire.

Temples of Constantinople

The state support of the new faith positively affected the life and state structure of the ancient city. The land where Constantinople was, filled with numerous temples and symbols of the Christian faith. Temples appeared in the cities of the empire, divine services were held, attracting more and more adherents to their ranks. One of the first famous cathedrals that arose at this time was the Temple of Sofia in Constantinople.

Church of St. Sophia

Its founder was Constantine the Great. This name was widespread in Eastern Europe. Sophia was the Christian saint who lived in the II century AD. Sometimes they called Jesus Christ for wisdom and learning. Following the example of Constantinople, the first Christian cathedrals with this name spread throughout all the eastern lands of the empire. The son of Constantine and heir of the Byzantine throne, Emperor Constantius, rebuilt the temple, making it even more beautiful and spacious. A hundred years later, during the unjust persecutions of the first Christian theologian and philosopher John the Theologian, the temples of Constantinople were destroyed by rebels, and the Cathedral of St. Sophia burned to the ground.

The revival of the temple became possible only with the reign of Emperor Justinian.

The new Christian ruler wanted to rebuild the cathedral. In his opinion, St. Sophia in Constantinople should be revered, and the temple dedicated to her must surpass her beauty and grandeur any other structure of this kind in the whole world. For the erection of such a masterpiece, the emperor invited the famous architects and builders of the time - Amphimia from Thrall and Isidore from Miletus. In the submission of architects worked a hundred assistants, and in the immediate construction were employed 10 thousand people. At the service of Isidore and Amphimia were the most advanced building materials - granite, marble, precious metals. Construction lasted five years, and the result surpassed the most bold expectations.

According to the stories of contemporaries who came to the place where Constantinople was located, the temple reigned over the ancient city, like a ship over waves. The Christians from all over the empire came to an amazing miracle.

Weakening of Constantinople

In the 7th century, a new aggressive Islamic state appeared on the Arabian Peninsula - the Arab Caliphate. Under his pressure, Byzantium lost its eastern provinces, and the European regions were gradually conquered by the Phrygians, Slavs, Bulgarians. The territory where Constantinople was located was repeatedly attacked and dumped tribute. The Byzantine Empire lost its position in Eastern Europe and gradually fell into decay.

In 1204, the armies of the Crusaders, as part of the Venetian flotilla and the French infantry, seized Constantinople in a months-long siege. After prolonged resistance, the city fell and was plundered by the invaders. Fires destroyed many works of art and monuments of architecture. At the place where there was a crowded and wealthy Constantinople, is the impoverished and looted capital of the Roma Empire. In 1261 the Byzantines were able to defeat Constantinople from the Latins, but it was no longer possible to restore the city to its former glory.

Ottoman Empire

By the 15th century, the Ottoman Empire was actively expanding its borders in European territories, planting Islam, sword and bribery, adding more and more lands to its possessions. In 1402, the Turkish sultan Bayazid had already tried to take Constantinople, but was defeated by the emir of Timur. The defeat at Anker weakened the strength of the empire and extended the quiet period of Constantinople's existence for another half-century.

In 1452 Sultan Mehmed 2 after careful preparation began to seize the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Previously, he took care of the seizure of smaller towns, surrounded Constantinople with his allies and began a siege. On the night of May 28, 1453 the city was taken. Numerous Christian churches turned into Muslim mosques, faces of saints and symbols of Christianity disappeared from the walls of cathedrals, and a crescent moon flew over St. Sophia.

The Byzantine Empire ceased to exist, and Constantinople became part of the Ottoman Empire.

The reign of Suleiman the Magnificent presented Constantinople with a new "Golden Age". With him, the Suleymaniye Mosque is being built, which becomes a symbol for Muslims, the same as St. Sophia remained for every Christian. After Suleiman's death, the Turkish empire continued to adorn the ancient city with masterpieces of architecture and architecture throughout its existence.

Metamorphoses of the city name

After the capture of the city, the Turks did not officially rename it. For the Greeks, he retained his name. On the contrary, from the mouths of Turkish and Arab residents, the sounds of "Istanbul", "Istanbul", "Istanbul" became more often called Constantinople. Now there are two versions of the origin of these names. The first hypothesis states that this name is a bad tracing of the Greek phrase, in the translation meaning "I go to the city, I go to the city". Another theory is based on the name Islambul, which in translation means "city of Islam". Both versions have the right to exist. Be that as it may, the name of Constantinople is still used, but the name Istanbul is firmly rooted in the usage. In this form, the city also got on the maps of many states, including Russia, but for the Greeks it was still named after the emperor Constantine.

Modern Istanbul

The territory where Constantinople is located now belongs to Turkey. However, the city lost its title of capital: according to the decision of the Turkish authorities, the capital in 1923 was transferred to Ankara. And although Constantinople is now called Istanbul, for many tourists and guests ancient Byzantium still remains a great city with numerous monuments of architecture and art, rich in the southern, hospitable, and always unforgettable.