From Constantinople to Istanbul: the story of the name change that made history!

Istanbul, a city that has changed its name many times throughout its history, has always played an important role in history and politics. This city, as the only capital of the world that spans two continents, is considered one of the most strategic and historical places in the world.

Istanbul was first known as “Byzantium” and then it was renamed to “Constantinople”; This era was accompanied by the prosperity and transformation of the city into the cultural and economic center of Eastern Rome and the Byzantine Empire. After the conquest of the Ottomans, Constantinople became the new capital of this empire; However, its name did not officially change for centuries.

With the formation of the Republic of Türkiye in the early 20th century, the city’s name was officially changed to “Istanbul” and it remains one of the most important cities in the world. Today, Istanbul, with its rich identity and cultural diversity, is a glimpse of the tumultuous past and fruitful history of this region. In this article, you will learn more about how the names of this city changed and its cultural developments.

How did Constantinople become Istanbul?

Istanbul; A bridge between East and West

Istanbul is a very rare and unique city and the only place that is located in Europe and the Middle East at the same time; In fact, this Turkish metropolis is considered an Asian and European city at the same time.

This particular geography is a good explanation for the question of why Istanbul, when it bore the name of Constantinople, was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, or the Byzantine Empire; Also, why did it later become the power center of the Ottoman sultans, whose influence spread to Africa and the Arab world?

_{Photo source: aljazeera; Name of the photographer: unknown}

The question may arise when exactly did Constantinople change its name to Istanbul. The answer is that, contrary to popular belief, this did not happen with the capture of the city by Ottoman forces in 1453 AD. The Turkish-speaking conquerors, long after the conquest of the city, used the name “Constantinoye” (in Turkish; Кастантиние Kostantiniyye) in official documents.

Christoph Herzog, head of the Turkish Studies Department at the University of Bamberg, Germany, says this:

It is a fact that the Ottomans mentioned “Istanbul” with the name of “Konstantiniye” in thousands of their official documents.

_{Photo source: TÜRK-TARİH-KURUMU; Name of the photographer: unknown}

Cultural changes and different names of Istanbul

The largest city in present-day Turkey had many different names before it took the name “Constantinople”. This city was founded by the Greeks in 657 BC with the name “Byzantion” (Bazantion), which was later changed to the Latin name “Byzantium”.

In addition to that and in honor of the son of the Roman emperor, it was also called “New Rome” and “Augusta Antonina” and nicknames such as “Queen of Cities” or simply “City”. (The City) has also had.

_{Photo Source: Pinterest; Name of the photographer: unknown}

The Roman emperor, “Constantine the Great”, who is also known as the first Roman Christian emperor, changed the name of the city to “Constantinople” in 330 BC in his honor, and this name remained until the arrival of the Ottomans. stayed

The Ottomans did not officially change the name of Constantinople when they captured it in the 15th century; But this conquest brought significant geopolitical changes; Because the center of gravity of Constantinople moved to the east and away from Europe.

“Christoph Herzog” says this:

I think that the strategic and symbolic importance of Istanbul was known even then; As this city was also chosen as the new capital of the Ottoman Empire.

_{Photo source: fikriyat; Name of the photographer: unknown}

People in other parts of the empire began to use the word “Istanpolin”, which in Turkish means “toward the city” (from the Greek word for the city or eis tan polin), and in fact, to describe the new headquarters colloquially. The power of the Ottoman Empire was used.

“Istanbul” was used more over time; But “Constantinople” remained as the official name. Over the centuries and gradually, the slang changed and finally, “Istanbul” gave way to “Istanbul”.

_{photo source: aksam; Name of the photographer: unknown}

Recognition of the name of Istanbul

After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, their monarchy was abolished in 1922 and the Republic of Türkiye was born in 1923. Shortly thereafter, in 1930, the Turkish Postal Service decided to register “Istanbul” as the official name of the city due to the perceived need for further clarification.

Other institutions soon followed suit, and in the same year, the US State Department and other governments around the world used the title “Istanbul” in their official communications.

_{Photo source: fikriyat; Name of the photographer: unknown}

Based on all the available documents, it is not possible to say exactly when the name “Constantinople” changed to “Istanbul”; Because this name became official when people had been using the word “Istanbul” and its various forms for a long time. In other words, it is difficult to determine a specific date for the transmission of this word in popular speech; Because language evolves gradually.

“Herzog” believes that the traces of the rich history of Istanbul with its many names can be seen in the cultural structure of the city. As the capital of an empire that spanned three continents for centuries, this city housed many groups of people.

_{Source of photos: fikriyat, aydinlik, Pinterest; Name of the photographer: unknown}

What do you know about the history of the city of Istanbul, the course of change and cultural developments and different names? Please share your valuable opinion with us and other Kojaro companions.

_{Cover photo: Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Blue Mosque of Istanbul; Cover photo source: livescience; Name of the photographer: unknown}