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Istanbul collage 5j-1-
For Istanbul before 1930, see Constantinople.

Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and fifth largest city in the world.

In its long history, Istanbul (formerly Constantinople) has served as the capital city of the Roman Empire (330–395), the Byzantine Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul remained an important city, but the capital was moved to Ankara. In 1930, the city's name was officially changed to Istanbul, the Turkish rendering of the appellation Greek speakers used since the 11th century to colloquially refer to the city.

Istanbul in "The Emperor's Return"[]

Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire on 29 May 1453. The last Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI, prayed for a miracle: that he would see the city back in Christian hands. In a blaze of fire, he sank into the floor of the Hagia Sophia.

On 7 June 2003, Greece and the Soviet Union joined forces to invade Turkey, the successor state to the Ottoman Empire. Greece's price for the alliance was the return of Constantinople (now Istanbul) to Greek rule. The Soviet and Greek forces captured the city three days later.

Istanbul in Through Darkest Europe[]

Istanbul was the capital of the Seljuk Empire. In ancient times, it had been Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire.[1][2]

In AH 1439, Aquinist terrorists attempted to blow up Istanbul's bridge over the Bosphorus, but were unsuccessful. Had they succeeded, this would have cut the Empire in two and blocked the strait with the wreckage.[3]

While citizens of the Muslim World usually called the city Istanbul, Europeans, even non-Aquinists, reflexively called the city Constantinople well into the modern era.[4]

Istanbul in Worldwar[]

Istanbul was the largest city in Turkey. When the Race arrived in mid 1942, the city was not severely damaged and remained isolated from the ravages of the war until the Race conquered the country in 1944. Being close to the German border, it was the site of a lot of unrest within the country in the years afterwards. During the Race-German War of 1965, the city of Istanbul was used as a major supply base for the Race's effort in defending Poland. In spite of the strong anti-missile defense system the Race deployed in order to protect the city, a German nuclear missile managed to get through and destroy the city.

See also[]

References[]

  1. Through Darkest Europe, pg. 25, HC.
  2. See also Inconsistencies (Through Darkest Europe).
  3. Ibid., pg. 285, HC.
  4. Ibid. pg. 289.
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