BYZANTIUM CHRONICLES: Rise Of Constantinople

 

Founded by Constantine I, Constantinople was a city built from the ruins of Byzantine, which became the capital of the Christian East. It was a thriving city that flourished initially due to its unique geographical location. It was home to warriors, architecture and emperors. It was the beacon of the Byzantine era and envy to others. For over a thousand years until its glorious fall.

BOSPORUS

In 657 AD, the King Byzas of Megara founded a settlement in the western side of a water way (Bosporus) which linked the black sea to the sea of Marmara. Because of its significant trade friendly placement, many powers and kingdoms battled for its ownership including Persians, Spartans, Macedonians and Athenians. Around 196 AD, the city was destroyed by Emperor Septimius Severus, but it was subsequently rebuilt with some of the structures that survived to become the BYZANTINE EMPIRE.

Now at this time, the Roman empire was divided into two, the East, whose Emperor was Licinius and West, whose emperor was Constantine I. It was until 324 AD, that Constantine I defeated Licinuis, united the two halves and declared himself as the Sole Emperor of the Roman Empire. Constantine I then decided to establish a new capital in Byzantium, which he initially called Nova Roma (New Rome).

In 330 AD, Constantine established a city that would be governed by Roman laws, observe Christianity and adopt Greek as its primary language. He renamed the city CONSTANTINOPLE. To populate the city, he gave the residents free food rations and transferred the best art pieces to Constantinople.

  STRUCTURAL MASTERY

·         THE THEODISIAN WALLS: The walls were built on the orders of Theodosius II, although it wasn't completed till later. This was unarguably a source of pride to the people of Constantinople. It had outer and inner walls, numerous towers, ditches and trenches, several gates and barbicans. The walls suffered from seismic activity. But it stood tall through it all

·         HIPPODROME: The Hippodrome is usually associated with the glorious days of Constantinople, but factually it was built by Emperor Septimius Severus in AD 203 when the city was still known as Byzantium. It was built for entertainment purposes. The name Hippodrome was coined out from two Greek words. Hippos (Horses) and Dromos (Path/Way). When Constantine I took over the city, he performed serious renovations on the square. It is estimated that the Hippodrome of Constantine was about 450 m (1,476 ft) long and 130 m (427 ft) wide. It could hold 100,000 spectators.

·         HAGIA SOPHIA: The Hagia Sophia remains one of the world's most greatest monuments. Constantine I was the first Christian Emperor of Rome. In his bid create something splendid for the church, he ordered the commencement of the Hagia Sophia in 325 AD on the foundations of a pagan temple. However the Hagia Sophia went through a toll of lot of turbulence. After Constantine II consecrated it in 360 AD, it was damaged by a fire that erupted after the banishment of its Patriarch St. John Chrysostom. It was then rebuilt by Emperor Constans I and rededicated in 415 AD by Theodosuis II. The church was burnt again in the Nika insurrection of January 532 AD. Justinian I then contracted the two best architects of his time ( Anthemius Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus) to rebuild a splendid replacement. The new and improved Hagia Sophia was completed in 537 AD. The Hagia Sophia over time suffered partial collapse in different parts due to seismic activity. But it still stands today, a 6th century edifice in all its glory.

RELIGION IN CONSTANTINOPLE:

Constantinople was regarded as the cradle of Orthodox Christian civilization. Even though Constantine I established Constantinople on a Christian foundation, Christianity was not really enforced until the reign of Theodosius I, who issued the edict of Thessalonica in 380 AD which made Christianity, specifically Nicene Christianity as the official religion on the Roman Empire. Constantine's foundation gave prestige to the Bishop of Constantinople, who eventually came to be known as the Ecumenical Patriarch, and made it a prime center of Christianity alongside Rome. This contributed to cultural and theological differences between Eastern and Western Christianity eventually leading to the Great Schism that divided Western Catholicism from Eastern Orthodoxy from 1054 onwards. After the division, Constantinople then became the seat of the Eastern Orthodox Church even after the Muslims took over.

CONQUEST

Before the eventual fall of Constantinople, the city had faced multiple wars, crusades and conquests from within its borders and outside its borders. Here's a brief run down of its most popular wars.

532 ------- Nika riot ( Riot against Justinian I)

626 AD --------- First Siege of Constantinople. (Led by the Persians and Avars conquered by Emperor Heraclius)

674 -- 678 AD ------- First Arab Siege. (Offensive by Umayyad Caliphate led by Caliph Mu'awiya I conquered by Constantine IV)

717 -- 718 AD ---- Second Arab Siege. (Umayyad Caliphate led by Maslama Ibn Abd Al-malik conquered by Leo III)

1096 AD --- The first crusade (The first of a series of holy wars)

1147 AD -- Battle of Constantinople (A clash between Constantinople and German crusaders)

1204 AD ----- Sack of Constantinople

1261 AD ----- Reconquest of Constantinople

1391 AD ---- First Ottoman Siege of Constantinople

1394 AD ---- Second Ottoman Siege of Constantinople

1411 AD ---- Third Ottoman Siege of Constantinople (This was a fruitless siege by Musa Celebi, to retaliate against Manuel II for siding his rival Suleyman)

1422 AD ---- Fourth Ottoman Siege of Constantinople (This happened as a result of Emperor Manuel II's attempt to interfere in the succession of Ottoman Sultans

1453 AD ---- THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE

We have seen the captivating rise of Constantinople and how bravely they fought over the years to keep their reign intact. However, the allure of Constantinople is intertwined with the impending shadows of its fall. After so many successful conquests against their many enemies, especially the Arabs. What went wrong in the Byzantium war room or what piece did the Arabs finally put together to once and for all level Constantinople?

Stay tuned for Part 2

SOURCES:

WIKIPEDIA

HISTORY CHANNEL

BRITANNICA