{"id":1826,"date":"2021-04-04T14:03:42","date_gmt":"2021-04-04T14:03:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitlocalturkey.com\/?p=1826"},"modified":"2022-10-01T22:19:33","modified_gmt":"2022-10-01T22:19:33","slug":"istanbul-and-constantinople","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/visitlocalturkey.com\/istanbul-and-constantinople\/","title":{"rendered":"Why and When did Istanbul Become Constantinople? A Local Answers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I lived all my university years and half of my professional life in Istanbul. Istanbul has a vast history and immense culture. Yet, Istanbul can be confusing even with the most basic questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Istanbul is Turkey\u2019s most populous city, with a local population of 16 million, and Istanbul has many layers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Istanbul has more history, population, and culture than most countries in the world. Istanbul is so unique that it was called \u201cthe city\u201d for many centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Istanbul\u2019s name means going to the city in old Greek. Going to the city phrase \u201ceis ten polin\u201d (Istanbul) is the origin and meaning of Istanbul\u2019s name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Are Istanbul and Constantinople the same place? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many years ago, Istanbul\u2019s name was Constantinople. Yet, Istanbul is not exactly the same place as Constantinople. More accurately, Istanbul includes Constantinople. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Constantinople was the capital city of the East Roman Empire (or, in other words, the Byzantine Empire.). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Turks conquered Istanbul in 1453 and Istanbul also became the capital city of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul and Constantinople were used interchangeably with many other less popular names. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1930, the newly founded Turkish Republic adopted Istanbul, and since that time, Istanbul has been the only official name of Istanbul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, when people speak of Constantinople, they do not speak about Istanbul. Constantinople is mostly used to define Istanbul’s old city or historical areas. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Today, Constantinople is used to refer to the historical center of Istanbul. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

In centuries Istanbul grew much more than Constantinople’s city center. The old city, which was called Constantinople, is now just a fraction of Istanbul.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Another map of Istanbul shows the locations of Byzantium (older city) and Constantinople (old city)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

For travel tips and hacks about Istanbul, click to read <\/strong>Istanbul: All You Need to Know Before Coming<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Where is Constantinople in today\u2019s Istanbul?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Istanbul started as a small settlement. In the beginning, Istanbul was called Byzantium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the map above, you can see the old borders of Constantinople and Byzantium. The city walls were pushed further away as the population grew to create more living space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today the area inside the old walls is the Fatih, Aksaray, and Sultanahmet districts of Istanbul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sultanahmet area, where Byzantine and Ottoman palaces were located, was the administrative part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sultanahmet area is also the place where the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace are located.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today’s Sirkeci area was the commercial center. Egyptian Market, Grand Bazaar, is located in this area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Grand Bazaar is the oldest shopping mall in history. Even today, Grand Bazaar has more than 4000 shops.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Sultanahmet (where Hagia Sophia is located.) in Byzantine Times<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Golden Horn, which was between the trading area and administrative center, was one of the harbor areas of Constantinople. Golden Horn was also a protected area by numerous defense systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other side of the Golden Horn, the Galata, and Taksim. These areas functioned as a trading hub and were mostly settled by Italian (Genoese) Merchants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was one of the major trade ports on the Silk route linking China and India to Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Constantinople in Byzantine times.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

5. Why did they change the name of Constantinople? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Constantinople’s name was changed to Istanbul by Ataturk, the founding father of the Turkish Republic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time, Turk had just won their independence war, and many fiercest battles were fought between Turkey and Greece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The name change has two major reasons, one of them was the current Greek Kings’ name, and the second was the Turkish Republic’s negative reaction to Ottoman Empire’s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Constantine I (between 2 August 1868 \u2013 11 January 1923), was the Greek King at the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the reasons for the name was the name of the Greek King.  Turks did not want their biggest city resembling the name of the king of their major enemy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, the following decades after the 1920s were the time of modernization and nationalization in Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turks were rediscovering their identities. Everything was changing, including the dress code and the alphabet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ottoman Empire at the time was a symbol of failure and old ways that didn’t work. Turks reformed everything about their Ottoman past during the early years of the Turkish Republic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe Turkey went through a similar transformation to the Meiji era of Japan. During these years, Constantinople’s name was changed to Istanbul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparing your bucket list for Istanbul, please click to read 21 Fun and Unique Things To Do in Istanbul (A Local\u2019s Guide)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. When did Constantinople Became Istanbul?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In 1928 the Latin alphabet was adopted in Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1930, it was declared that Istanbul was the only official name of the city Istanbul. The rule was strictly enforced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After 1930, it was the rule of law to use Istanbul. The Turkish postal administration started returning mails addressed to Konstantinopolis, Constantinople, Konstantiniyye, or other variant names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUGGESTED READING: Is Istanbul Safe? Answered By a Local<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7.  The Old Names of Istanbul<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Byzantium (also Byzantion) – Indigenous People and Greek Immigrants (until 330)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The remnants of this ancient settlement are located near the Yenikap\u0131 district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is believed that this settlement\u2019s history goes back to 8500 BC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Byzantium\u2019s name comes from the Greek Settlers who named the city Byzantion to honor their king Byzas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova Roma – Romans (Between 330 – 337)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Nova Roma\u2019s name was given to Istanbul after the Roman Empire was divided into West and East. From the year 330, Istanbul was the capital of the East Roman Empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nova Roma did not become popular and was soon replaced by Constantinapolis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Constantinople – East Roman Empire, Byzantium, and Ottoman Empire (Between 330 -1930)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After the death of Roman Emperor Constantin I (aka Constantine the Great)  in the year 337, the name of the city is changed to Constantinople, meaning \u201cthe city of Constantin\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 337, Byzantion and Nova Roma names were replaced by Constantinapolis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later on, the East Roman Empire’s name was also changed to Byzantium, derived from the city’s old name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stanpoli – Ottoman Empire (Between 1453 and to present day)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Istanbul was the city of all cities and the capital of all capitals for a long time.  If you were going to a city in those times, it must be Istanbul. This is also the reason Istanbul got its name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At those times, if somebody asks where you are going, you would answer, \u201c \u2018eis ten polin\u201d (Istanbul). This old Greek phrase means I am going to the city. This is the origin and meaning of today\u2019s Istanbul name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Ottoman times, Constantinople and Istanbul names were used interchangeably until 1928. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kostantiniyye was the Turkish version of Constantinople. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet, the use of the name \u201cKonstantiniyye\u201d was prohibited at one time during the Ottoman period by Sultan Mustafa III, but it was a brief period in history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stanpoli, Islambol, and Istanbul were other versions during the Ottoman Empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Istanbul – Turkish Republic (1930 is the year spelling of Istanbul is fixed.)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Today, Istanbul is still the sole official name of Istanbul. Constantinople is only used to define the old town of Istanbul and the historical context of the Byzantine Empire’s capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Istanbul’s cultural history is also reflected by the languages spoken in the city, you can click here to read more about the languages spoken in Istanbul.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Istanbul, the capital of which countries? Why is Istanbul so famous?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Istanbul has been one of the most important cities in human history. Between 330 and 1922, Istanbul was the capital of four world superpowers and the administrative center for two major world religions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Istanbul was the capital of <\/p>\n\n\n\n