Which city served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire from 1453 to 1922?

Constantinople served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire from its conquest in 1453 until the empire’s collapse in 1922. The city is known today as Istanbul and occupies a strategic position on the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia.

Sultan Mehmed II captured Constantinople on 29 May 1453 after a 53-day siege, making it the Ottoman imperial capital. The city had previously been the capital of the Byzantine Empire and, earlier, the eastern Roman Empire. Its location connected Black Sea routes with the Mediterranean and made it an exceptional political, commercial, and military center.

The Ottomans rebuilt and repopulated the city, adding palaces, mosques, markets, schools, and public baths. Topkapı Palace became the sultan’s principal residence, while the Grand Bazaar developed into one of the world’s major trading centers.

Bursa and Edirne were earlier Ottoman capitals. Ankara did not become the capital until 1923, after the Ottoman sultanate ended and the Republic of Turkey was established. During Ottoman rule, the city was officially called Kostantiniyye in many contexts, while Constantinople and Istanbul were also widely used.