Table of Contents
Introduction
Istanbul, one of the most historic and culturally rich cities in the world, has had a variety of names throughout its long and dynamic history. Each name reflects a different era, civilization, or cultural influence.
Lygos, Byzantium, Augusta Antonina, Nova Roma, Constantinople, Kostantiniyye, Stamboul, and eventually İstanbul. From its earliest days as a small settlement to its role as a capital of empires, the city’s many names tell a fascinating story.
1. Lygos: The Earliest Known Settlement
Before the arrival of Greek colonists, the site of modern-day Istanbul was home to Lygos, a small Thracian settlement. Dating back to around the 13th century BCE, Lygos was situated near Sarayburnu (Seraglio Point), at the strategic meeting point of Europe and Asia. While little is known about the culture of Lygos, archaeological evidence suggests that it was one of the earliest known human settlements in the area.
2. Byzantion (Byzantium): The Greek Foundation
In 657 BCE, Greek settlers from Megara established a city on the European side of the Bosphorus, naming it Byzantion (or Byzantium in Latin). The name is believed to have come from Byzas, the legendary leader of the Megarians who founded the city. Positioned at the crossroads of trade and culture, Byzantion thrived as a Greek city-state for centuries.
3. Augusta Antonina
Istanbul was briefly called Augusta Antonina during the reign of the Roman Emperor Caracalla (211–217 AD). The name change was likely in honor of his father, Septimius Severus, whose family name was Antoninus, or as part of Caracalla’s attempt to solidify his own legacy and authority.
The name Augusta Antonina was short-lived and not widely adopted. After Caracalla’s death, the city quickly reverted to its more established name, Byzantium.
4. Nova Roma: The New Rome
Byzantion’s importance grew dramatically when the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great recognized its strategic value. In 330 CE, Constantine refounded the city, transforming it into the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. He initially named it Nova Roma (New Rome) to signify its role as a new center of the Roman world. However, the name Constantinople soon took precedence, honoring the emperor himself.
5. Constantinople: The City of Constantine
The name Constantinople means “the City of Constantine” (from the Greek Konstantinoupolis). It became the formal name of the city after Constantine’s death in 337 CE and remained so for over 1500 years.
Under this name, the city served as the capital of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire and later the Ottoman Empire. As a beacon of Christianity, Constantinople was home to architectural marvels like the Hagia Sophia and served as a hub for culture, trade, and religion.
- How long was it called Constantinople? Constantinople was officially known by this name for about 1,600 years, from its founding in 330 CE until the early 20th century.
- Who called it Constantinople? The name was used across the Christian world, especially by the Byzantine Greeks, the Latin West, and later, the Ottomans, who referred to it formally as Konstantiniyye (a Turkish version of Constantinople).
5. The Ottoman Period: Konstantiniyye, Islambol, and Istanbul
When the Ottoman Empire conquered the city in 1453, it continued to be called Konstantiniyye in official Ottoman documents. This name was the Turkish transliteration of Constantinople and remained in formal usage throughout the Ottoman period.
However, two other names also emerged during the Ottoman era:
- Islambol: Derived from the Turkish words “Islam” and “bol” (abundant), Islambol poetically means “City of Islam” or “Abundant in Islam.” This name reflected the city’s new role as the center of the Islamic Ottoman Empire and appeared in literary and religious contexts, especially during the early Ottoman period. Islambol was more symbolic and was not widely used in everyday speech.
- Stamboul: Stamboul, a simplified and colloquial variation of Istanbul, referred specifically to the historic peninsula of the city. The name was commonly used by Western travelers and diplomats during the Ottoman era and remained prevalent in European texts up to the 19th century. In Turkish, Stamboul was used interchangeably with Istanbul, particularly when referring to the older parts of the city.
The name Istanbul itself was derived from the Greek phrase “eis tèn pólin”, meaning “to the city.” This phrase was commonly used in everyday speech by the Greek-speaking population to refer to Constantinople.
Over time, “eis tèn pólin” evolved into “Istanbul” in Turkish.
Istanbul became the popular and colloquial name among the city’s diverse populations, even while Konstantiniyye remained the formal term.
6. Atatürk and the Official Adoption of Istanbul
After the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, sought to modernize and secularize the country. Part of his efforts included standardizing place names to reflect Turkish identity.
In 1930, the Turkish government officially adopted Istanbul as the city’s name, abandoning the use of Konstantiniyye, Islambol, and other historical variants.
Atatürk encouraged the international community to recognize and adopt this change.
How Long Did It Take for the World to Accept "Istanbul"?
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While the Turkish government made the name change official in 1930, it took some time for the rest of the world to adapt. Many Western countries and institutions continued to refer to the city as Constantinople for several years, especially in official and historical contexts.
However, as Turkey became increasingly integrated into the international community, the name Istanbul was gradually accepted worldwide. By the mid-20th century, it had become the standard name in maps, textbooks, and international diplomacy.
Are There Still People Who Call It Constantinople?
Some Greeks continue to call the city Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολη Konstantinupoli in Modern Greek) or simply “The City” (η Πόλη i Poli).
While Istanbul is now almost universally recognized, some communities, particularly in the Greek Orthodox Church and among parts of the Greek diaspora, continue to refer to the city as Constantinople. For them, the name preserves the memory of the Byzantine Empire and its cultural and religious heritage.
The use of Constantinople is also prevalent in historical and religious contexts, especially when referring to the city before the Ottoman conquest.
Other Names of Istanbul
Istanbul’s countless names mirror its extraordinary role as a cultural, political, and religious crossroads throughout history. This city has existed under various empires—Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman—and each new ruler or cultural group imprinted upon it a name reflecting their own language, worldview, and aspirations. Below are some deeper reasons why Istanbul has so many names:
- Rhome: Occasionally used in Byzantine Latin texts to connect it to the Roman Empire.
- Roma d’Orient: “Rome of the East,” used by European Christians.
- Golden Horn City: Referring to the city’s famous natural harbor, the Golden Horn.
- Μέγα Πόλις (Mega Polis): “The Great City,” occasionally used in classical texts.
- Basileuousa: Meaning “The Queen City,” used by Byzantine writers to emphasize its preeminence.
- Asitane: Meaning “Threshold” or “Gate,” referring to its role as the imperial capital.
- Der Saadet: Meaning “Abode of Felicity,” emphasizing its prosperity under Ottoman rule.
- Takht-e Rum: Meaning “Throne of the Romans,” used by Persian writers to describe the city as the center of the Byzantine (Roman) Empire.
- Al-Madina al-Mahrousa (المدينة المحروسة): Meaning “The Protected City,” emphasizing its fortified status.
- Tsargrad: The name used by the Slavic peoples, especially in Russia and Bulgaria, meaning “City of the Tsar (Emperor).”
- Carigrad: Another Slavic variation of Tsargrad.
- Fu Lin (拂菻): Used in Tang dynasty records to describe the Byzantine Empire and its capital.
- Qushṭandina (קושטנדינה): The Hebrew adaptation of Constantinople.
Conclusion: A City of Many Names
From Lygos to Byzantion, Constantinople, and finally Istanbul, the city’s changing names reflect its unique history as a meeting point of empires, cultures, and religions. Whether you call it Constantinople for its Byzantine legacy or Istanbul as the vibrant heart of modern Turkey, one thing remains clear: this is a city unlike any other.
Istanbul continues to captivate the world, standing as a testament to its rich past and dynamic present. As the Turkish saying goes, “Dünyada bir şehir vardır, o da Istanbul’dur” – “In the world, there is but one city, and that is Istanbul.”
