Founding of Constantinople: What Happened
On 11 May 330 AD, the Roman emperor Constantine the Great officially dedicated a new capital for the empire on the site of the old Greek city of Byzantium, on the Bosporus. He named it Nova Roma, New Rome, but it soon became known as Constantinople, the city of Constantine. The location was ideal. It stood at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, controlled the sea route between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, and was protected by water on three sides. It was also closer than Rome to the empire's threatened eastern and Danube frontiers. Constantine expanded the city greatly, building new walls, a great palace, a hippodrome for chariot races, forums and churches, and he brought in statues and treasures from across the empire. As the first emperor to support Christianity, he made it a Christian capital from the start. Constantinople became the heart of the Eastern Roman Empire, known today as the Byzantine Empire, and remained its capital for more than a thousand years, until it fell to the Ottomans in 1453.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Constantinople founded?
Constantinople was officially dedicated on 11 May 330 AD by the Roman emperor Constantine the Great, on the site of the old Greek city of Byzantium.
Why did Constantine choose Byzantium?
The site stood at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, controlled sea trade between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, and was protected by water on three sides.
What was Constantinople originally called?
Constantine officially named the city Nova Roma, meaning New Rome, but it quickly became known as Constantinople, the city of Constantine.
How long was Constantinople the Byzantine capital?
Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, Empire for more than a thousand years, until it fell to the Ottomans in 1453.
What is Constantinople called today?
Constantinople is today Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey. Greeks still often call it Konstantinoupoli, or simply the Poli, meaning the City.
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