Istanbul

known in times past as Byzantium and Constantinople, (though Constantine himself tried unsuccessfully to get the name "Nea Roma" to fix itself to the place). Once called Lygos this was replaced by Byzantium, though the whereabouts of the progenitor is close to where the Topkapı Palace, (the old Ottoman HQ) is now.

In the 3rd century AD 'Augusta Antonina' was a name given to the city. Other names now districts absorbed by the city include Stamboul (see Graham Greene's novel about the Orient Express!), Pera, The City of The Seven Hills, (c.f. Rome!), Chalchedon (now called Kadıköy); and Turks use the name 'Beyoğlu'. It is also merely referred to as 'The City' by many, and is the largest in Turkey (approx. 13 million people - almost 20% of Turkey) and the cultural, economic, as well as financial centre of Turkey.

Located on the Bosporus Strait (the harbour is the famous Golden Horn), it's on both sides of the two continents it straddles - Europe (Thrace) and Asian (Anatolia) - the only city in the world on two continents (though the growth seems to be occurring on the Asian side.

Istanbul has served as the capital* of the Roman Empire (330–395), the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), as well as the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922).






* NB When the Republic of Turkey was proclaimed on 29 October 1923, Ankara, which had previously served as the headquarters of the Turkish national movement during the Turkish War of Independence, was chosen as the new Turkish State's capital.