Ankara or Istanbul is the capital of Turkey? The capital of Turkey now

"Ankara or Istanbul is the capital of Turkey?" Many foreign tourists wonder. And they are very surprised when they hear that the main city is located somewhere in the north-west of the country. What makes people think that the capital is Istanbul? Probably, the sensational series "The Magnificent Age", an epic in which the twists and turns of the family of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Suleiman Qanuni (Fair) was narrated. Yes, the city on the Golden Horn was the capital. And, by the way, not only in the time of the Sultans. And Ankara? Is it a "new construction", like, say, the Kazakh capital Astana? About the vicissitudes of the destinies of two cities, read this article.

Foundation of Istanbul

The honor of laying the "first stone" in the city belongs to the Greek colonists. In the year 658 BC. E. They arrived from Megara and founded a settlement on a small island that was located between the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn Bay. They named their city in honor of their leader Vizant. Favorable geographical position, which made it possible to control the passage of vessels from the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea and back, contributed to the enrichment of the inhabitants, the development of crafts and trade. The city of Byzantium - the future capital of Turkey Istanbul - quickly became one of the main Greek policies. In the year 74 BC. E. Asia conquered Rome Asia. The city, whose territory had long stretched far beyond the original islet, continued to flourish. But the invasion of the barbarians, which became the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire, shook the well-being of the inhabitants of Vizant. By the third century AD, the city had fallen into decay.

Ancient Ankara

If you ask which city is older - Byzantium or Angira (this is the former name of the capital of Turkey), it should be recognized that both modern metropolises arose at about the same time, in the VII century BC, but Ankara has something to shut out for the belt Istanbul . Not far from it is located the unique Neolithic city of Chatal-Hyuk. And in the territory of modern Ankara in the XI century (long before the arrival of the Greek colonists) there was a fortress, which was one of the links of the defensive chain of the Hittite civilization. It is interesting that the Greek name "Angira" is translated as "anchor". Whence such a ship symbol in a city remote from the seas? Angira lay at the crossroads of many roads linking Asia Minor with Europe and Africa. Because of its advantageous position, the city was constantly attacked. He was possessed by Persians, Phrygians, Celts. A special impetus for economic development was the Roman conquest. The Emperor Augustus built his summer residence here. In Angira, as in ancient Byzantium, there were such benefits of civilization as sewerage, water supply, street lighting, followed by the fire department and the police.

Decadence times

The eastern part of the huge Roman Empire suffered less from the invasion of the barbarians than the western part. Therefore, a native of Trier (modern Germany) Constantine the Great decided in 324 to move the capital of his state to Byzantium. That the city, which came to some decline, corresponded to the metropolitan standards, the emperor started large-scale construction. He introduced tax holidays for potential settlers - artisans and traders. For six years the area of the city has increased several times. Of course, it was less than modern Ankara or Istanbul. The capital of Turkey at that time was a small city. But Byzantium, which Constantine renamed the New Rome, flourished. The Emperor really wanted his capital to eclipse the Eternal City with its luxury. In addition to benefits to entrepreneurs, he distributed from the treasury bread, olive oil and fuel to the needy. From Athens, Ephesus, Rome and Corinth to New Rome were invited sculptors and artists, architects and clergy.

The Byzantine Times

The name did not catch on, and after the death of the emperor, the city was renamed Constantinople. It was a real metropolis of the early Middle Ages. Here were brought the relics of the main saints, built majestic temples, baths, cisterns, a racetrack. The city, given under the auspices of the Virgin, had several trade and military ports. After the final collapse of the Roman Empire, Constantinople became the capital of a new state - Byzantium. This mighty power, led by the basileus, stretched much further than present-day Turkey. The capital (the map of the Byzantine Empire demonstrates this) was then almost in the center of the country. Even further was the spiritual influence of Byzantium. The confession of the Slavic peoples came to us from there. And also the alphabet is Cyrillic. But Tsargrad (the so-called Slavs of Constantinople) became the object of military campaigns. Kings of the West, crusaders, Slavs, Huns, Persians, Avars, Arabs and Pechenegs dreamed to master it.

Ankara in Byzantine times

The luxury and splendor of a great empire, albeit indirectly, also affected the eastern neighbor of Constantinople - the humble Angira. Through this city passed the most important route to the East, to Asia. For control of the "Silk Road" fought the Arabs and the Crusaders. With the weakening of the Byzantine Empire, Ankara, the capital of Turkey in the future, became Seljuk. This happened after the Battle of Malazgit in 1073. Under the Seljuks, the city did not deteriorate. But here in the historical arena appeared the Ottomans. At the beginning of the XV century, their troops under the leadership of Sultan Bayazid I fought in the Angora battle with the army of Timur. The city and its surroundings were badly damaged. True, the Sultan's troops were defeated in this battle, and he himself was taken prisoner.

Magnificent century

561 a year ago, on May 29, 1453, Constantinople was taken by the army of Mehmed II Fatih (Conqueror). Constantine XI Palaeologus, the last basileus, died in battle. Thus ended more than 1100-year history of the Byzantine Empire. Constantinople was renamed Istanbul. "Brilliant Port" (as the Ottoman Turks called it), having inherited such economic potential, has become one of the prominent players in the political arena of the world. Before Mehmet Fatih there was no question - Ankara or Istanbul. The capital of Turkey, the Ottomans, was to conquer the imagination of foreign ambassadors with luxury and unprecedented scope. It is here that grandiose mosques are built and, of course, the Sultan's Topkapi Palace.

Ankara during the Ottoman Empire

The present capital of Turkey, before the fall of Constantinople, first went to the Seljuks, and then to the Ottomans. This city on the Anatolian highlands has long been accustomed to the life of a frontier outpost. From VI to IX century (even under the Byzantine Basilians), a citadel with a double ring of defensive walls was built in the city. The capital of Turkey, Istanbul, was connected to Ankara by a trade route. Consequently, the provincial city was not a backwater. Here mosques are built - some directly on the basis of Christian churches, which, in turn, were erected on the site of pagan temples. The oldest Muslim building of Ankara is the Hajibayram Mosque, built in the XV century on the ruins of the Temple of Augustine and Roma. This cult building still performs its functions. Inside is the tomb of Haji Bayram, the saint and founder of the monastic order, who died in 1430.

Ankara - the capital of Turkey

In the 18-19th centuries, the Ottoman Empire, weakened by constant wars, fell into decay. Even in the First World War, Turkey decided to support Germany - and as a result, shared with her the bitterness of defeat. Therefore, in 1918, Istanbul was occupied by armies of France, Great Britain and Greece. But soon, after the struggle for independence, the world recognized the sovereignty of Turkey. In 1923 leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk proclaimed the overthrow of the monarchy and the formation of the Republic. He wanted to distance himself as much as possible from the "Sultan" Istanbul, especially since there were many supporters of the old regime. In addition, Ataturk wanted to move the capital away from the "line of military operations." Ankara was chosen not by chance. This city was in relative proximity to Istanbul, besides it was connected with it by a railway branch. But the new capital of Turkey (the photo of those years eloquently testify) was a complete backwater. In the city there was no running water, lighting, drainage. Ambassadors sarcastically mentioned that donkeys are tied to the trellised window of the country's Foreign Ministry.

The capital of Turkey now

Atatürk has invested a lot in the development and development of the city. Now it is a multimillion-dollar metropolis. The main attraction of Ankara is the mausoleum of the people's leader Ataturk. Next to the newest buildings, there are narrow medieval streets and ancient mosques. But the numerous embassies and government buildings dispel any doubt about which city - Ankara or Istanbul - the capital of Turkey.