Sorry, no claim packages available. Please, contact the site administrator.
Constantinople
Constantinople, another struggle for control of the Roman Empire determined the city’s fate for the next 1000 years. Founded by the ancient Greeks as Byzantium in the 7th century BC, it evolved into a thriving city. However, it truly rose to prominence in 330 AD when Emperor Constantine I made it the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and renamed it Constantinople. Emperor Constantine pursued his rival Licinius to Augusta Antonina,then across the Bosphorus to Cyropolis (Üsküdar), Defeating his rival in 324, Constantine solidified his control and declared the city the ‘New Rome’. He laid out a vast new city to serve as capital of his Empire and inaugurated it with much pomp in 330.
Constantine died in 337, just 7 years after the dedication of his new capital but the city continued to grow under the rule of the emperors. Theodosius I (‘the Great’) had a forum built on the present site of Beyazıt Square, while his son Theodosius II, built the Theodosian walls in 413 when the city was threatened by the marauding armies of Attila the Hun. Flattened by the earthquake in 447 and hastily rebuilt within 2 months the walls he built still surround the old city today.
Theodosius died in 450 and was succeeded by a string of six emperors, the last of whom was Justin, the uncle of the man who was to become one of the famous Byzantine emperors, Justinian (r 527-65) 3 years before taking the throne, Justinian had married Theodora, a strong-willed former courtesan. Together they further embellished Constantinople with great buildings, including the famous Hagia Sophia (537). Justinian’s ambitious building projects and constant Wars of reconquest exhausted his treasure and his empire. Following his reign, the Byzantine Empire would never again be as large, powerful or rich.
Much remains of ancient Constantinople including churches, palaces, cisterns and the Hippodrome. In fact there is more left than most people realize. Any is excavation reveals ancient streets, mosaics, tunnels, water and sewer system houses and public buildings buried beneath the modern city centre.
Constantinople
Constantinople, another struggle for control of the Roman Empire determined the city’s fate for the next 1000 years. Founded by the ancient Greeks as Byzantium in the 7th century BC, it evolved into a thriving city. However, it truly rose to prominence in 330 AD when Emperor Constantine I made it the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and renamed it Constantinople. Emperor Constantine pursued his rival Licinius to Augusta Antonina,then across the Bosphorus to Cyropolis (Üsküdar), Defeating his rival in 324, Constantine solidified his control and declared the city the ‘New Rome’. He laid out a vast new city to serve as capital of his Empire and inaugurated it with much pomp in 330.
Constantine died in 337, just 7 years after the dedication of his new capital but the city continued to grow under the rule of the emperors. Theodosius I (‘the Great’) had a forum built on the present site of Beyazıt Square, while his son Theodosius II, built the Theodosian walls in 413 when the city was threatened by the marauding armies of Attila the Hun. Flattened by the earthquake in 447 and hastily rebuilt within 2 months the walls he built still surround the old city today.
Theodosius died in 450 and was succeeded by a string of six emperors, the last of whom was Justin, the uncle of the man who was to become one of the famous Byzantine emperors, Justinian (r 527-65) 3 years before taking the throne, Justinian had married Theodora, a strong-willed former courtesan. Together they further embellished Constantinople with great buildings, including the famous Hagia Sophia (537). Justinian’s ambitious building projects and constant Wars of reconquest exhausted his treasure and his empire. Following his reign, the Byzantine Empire would never again be as large, powerful or rich.
Much remains of ancient Constantinople including churches, palaces, cisterns and the Hippodrome. In fact there is more left than most people realize. Any is excavation reveals ancient streets, mosaics, tunnels, water and sewer system houses and public buildings buried beneath the modern city centre.