Constantinople was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman empires between its consecration in 330 until 1930, when it was renamed to Istanbul. Initially as New Rome, Constantinople was founded in 324 during the reign of Constantine the Great on the site of the existing settlement of Byzantium, and shortly thereafter in 330 became the capital of the Roman Empire. Following the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the late 5th century, Constantinople remained the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, the Latin Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. Following the Turkish War of Independence, the Turkish capital then moved to Ankara. Although the city had been known as Istanbul since 1453, it was officially renamed as Istanbul on 28 March 1930. The city is today the largest city in Europe, straddling the Bosporus strait and lying in both Europe and Asia, and the financial center of Turkey.
Location: Fatih and Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey
Region: Marmara Region
Area: 6 km² (2.3 sq mi) enclosed within Constantinian Walls 14 km² (5.4 sq mi) enclosed within Theodosian Walls
Founded: 11 May 330
Type: Imperial city
Part of: Roman Empire · Byzantine Empire · Latin Empire · Ottoman Empire
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