Day of the Capture of Istanbul (29/05)

Memorable date — Istanbul Capture Day — is celebrated in Turkey annually on May 29.

The capital of the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople (today — Istanbul), was for a long time the «center» of Christianity; in the Middle Ages it was considered the largest and richest city in Europe.

Constantinople fell on 29 May 1453. The city was captured by Turkish troops. The robbery of the city lasted three days. Over 60 thousand city residents were captured. The last Emperor of Byzantium, Constantine XI Palaiologos, died in battle, and the Temple of Hagia Sophia, the main shrine of the Orthodox Church in those days, was converted into the Aya Sofya mosque.

After five and a half centuries, this historical event is a cause for celebration in Turkey. City authorities organize fireworks and even reproductions of events. Scientists and public figures hold discussions. Demonstrations can be observed on the streets. Moreover, every year the enthusiasm of the Turks increases when celebrating this anniversary.

Recently, writer Nadim Gursel caused a storm of protests in the Islamist press with his work «The Conqueror's Novel». It states, in particular, that the rapture of carnage is a «collective pathology» that has nothing to do with the pride of the descendants of the Ottomans. This statement caused indignation among the Turks, who believe that the retention of Istanbul affects precisely the sense of identity of the Turkish people, and Islam, like any monotheistic religion that puts universalism at the forefront, has absolutely nothing to do with it. And May 29 is so lush for reasons far from religious disputes.

Today multinational Istanbul — is the former capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires (since 1923 the capital of Turkey — city Ankara) — is the largest city in Turkey with a rich history, culture and architecture.

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