Why is Istanbul still refered to as Constantinople?

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Dellarovere

Because of long use through time, historical background and even easiness in pronouncing it in each individual language.
I'll just answer as an Italian:
In the formal italian language the name of the city in question is Constantinopoli the way that the name of Frankfurt is Francoforte.
More than this, the island of Zakynthos is called Zante, and the one of Lefkas is called Santa Maura, as a remembrance of the Venetian occupation of these islands.
I haven't ever seen a war break up about these names, between Greeks and Italians or Germans and Italians.
And I don't see why one must get offended or angry because of names which only indicate historical facts.
Istambul, Trabzon, Ismir, Isparta, are names deriving from the phrases or names Eis tin Polin, Trapezous, Eis Smyrnin, Eis Spartin, and are of Bysantine origin, and simultaneously Greece is full of site names which remained from the Ottoman period: Chaidari, Passalimani, Yusurum, Kileler to mention only a few.
Both Greece and Tyrkiye are countries which derive from the Ottoman Empire, which succeded the Bysantine Empire, which succeded the Roman Empire, so what's the meaning of "pure" national names?
And why sould I ever (being Greek as well) be offended if a Turk calls Thessaloniki Selanik, or an Italian calls it Salonico?

olgafuriosa

Well, I don't know of anyone who refers to Istanbul as "Constantinople" in the United States, in Egypt, or in Italy. The only place they refer to Istanbul as "Kostantinoupoli" is in Greece. I imagine it is still used interchangably for that reason (that, and "Constantinople" sounds more exotic, no?)

That said, I went to Istanbul last year, and I remember most Turks wouldn't really care when I slipped up and called the city by its Greek name...they would just smile and reassure me that Turks and Greeks are now friends...

For users like Totally Blunt - what difference does it make whether Constantine was Hellene or Roman? I never made a mention of his ethnicity, and there's no such thing as genetic purity anyway, so whether he was Greek or even African, in the end, he promoted Greek language and religion, and contributed to the collective Hellenic identity.

Totally Blunt

For Greeks, (aside from the obvious political reasons) probably because Constantinople/Konstantinopolis is easier on their tongues.

We don't say Salonika, we say Selanik, for example. And we say Mora Peninsula instead of Peloponnes.

As for the Westerners, they are known to have listened to anyone but Turks for a loooong long time.

PS. For users like Olga, Konstantin was a Roman emperor, not Hellen.

PS2. No, it would mean the name was Konstantiniyye, not Constantinople.

PS3. I don't know where you get your information. The city was founded by the Roman Empreror Constantin. The empire wasn't divided until later, after Theodosius' death, when it was divided between his two sons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Roman_Empire

Abul

Because of nostalgia of western christian world.

anlarm

A rose would still smell the same if it weren't called a rose. What's in a name?
However, in this case, there is something in 'a name'. The city was known with many names until the Byzantine Emperor Constantinus re-built it after a fire, and thus it was called after his name: Constantinopolis. Turks and Arabs called it Konstantiniyye, which is the same thing. The present day Turkish(!) name Istanbul is also derived from Greek: stin polis (in the city/to the city).
This Byzantine city of legends had become a symbol for Greek speaking Orthodox Christians for centuries. It came as a trauma to lose it to members of another religious faith (Muslim Turks/Ottomans).
Clergymen and some politicians loved exploiting the issue in order to gain popularity and control over people. Thus they kept alive a 'belief' that someday they will take the city back! Such people persistently use the name Konstantinopolis, referring to it's Christian roots and that it will some day be back in the hands of Christians. Some Turks, in return, take this as an insult and provocation.
Apart from such fanatics, ordinary people do not really care about what name you use. So we call that German city Münih, they call it München. Greeks call it Monacho. We say Londra, Greeks say Londino, English say London :)

Bix

First of all, you should know that the name Constantinople was still in use long time after the city was conquered by the Ottomans in 1453. If you look at postal cards from Istanbul or books (even published in Turkey) until the late 1920s, you will still find that name. However, after 1453 the official name of the city became Istanbul and until 1930 the name Constantinople was used only by Western countries and the Christian population.

After that, the name Istanbul became official as part of Atatürk's reforms. I'm sure that this was made to underline that Istanbul is part of the Turkish Republic.

For me personally, the name Constantinople is nothing more than part of Istanbul's history. I don't have any problems if somebody uses that name in that historical context. The Western World refers to Istanbul as Istanbul and not as Constantinople. I have never seen a newspaper or news program on TV referring to their journalist in "Constantinople".

Some people still use the name Constantinople for "political" reasons. It's a kind of not accepting the facts. I don't have any problems with that because this "political" reason is nothing more than ridiculous. If these people want to dream about the "Resurrection of the Byzantine Empire", they can continue to do so. As said, this is nothing more than funny.

If the Greeks (or others) want to use the name in a religious sense, like the "Patriarch of Constantinople", I can understand that. This religious title can't change after the take-over by the Turks. This doesn't change that the name of the city will remain Istanbul.

aravind don

historical hangover

Jello F

constantinople was the capitol of the Byzantine Empire, you probably still remember your ancient history and the Mesapotamia area lol.

The western world probably refers to it as constantinople bc that was a time where western civilization had influence there.. and it was renamed istanbul after ottoman turks took over...

but then again i hope u research the part where i said ottomans took over and influence of western civilization..its been a while since i had that type of history class.

and i dont know if u should say constantinople when you're there....history to some ppl might bring resentment, but hey if u get a bloody nose it wont be a problem lol jk.

Rather than being referred to as colonies, each province in the united states are called states... something like that is similar to istanbul

Oh my darling Clementine

Constaninople was the city's name back way before our time. After many wars and probably realignments of borders, it's now Istanbul. I lived in Turkey for a while, and most of them were offended when they were at all referred to by any word associated with Greece. But that was just my experience.

essential

nah you're wrong....it is referred to as cyclonisclingronistorbitrationdinglaront...

and you are a feckin troll, lolz

Vasiliki-Βασιλική

Well,when I am in Greece I still call it as Konstantinopole.When I speak with non-Greeks I call it Instanbul or Konstantinopole/Instabul.

In Greek language,this is the name.
Like France is Gallia,Like Switzerland is Elvetia,etc.....

I don't find something bad in this...Turks call Thessaloniki as Selanik,even if the international name is Thessaloniki.

Now,this is for how Greeks call it.As for western,as far as I know,they mostly call it Instanbul.

I think it was official even in Turkey till 1923,if I am not mistaken (as Konstantiniye)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_European_cities_in_different_languages:_I-L#I

habisce

Well... Sorry but if you don't know why you still refer to it as Constantinople, there's no way I could. Probably it's the way you were brought up?

genç türk

Konstantiniyye = Constantinia = Constantine's place

And yes, it was used until the greek king Constantine in 1920 interpreted the name of the city as his own city, thereby making this name unusable for turkish citizens who don't want to give their cities away.

Trotsky vs Kerensky-дахэ дэи

You must be living in a strange world Mattheos. Because apart from history books which speak of the era of empires and today's Greeks, I have never heard anyone calling Istanbul Constantinople. Of course, the use of this word today connotes a common desire which most fanatic Christians would not hesitate to cherish, namely the resurrection of the Eastern Roman Empire. How many different nations still use the famous double-headed eagle as a symbol? (Though today, many of these nations would prefer a Konstatine Pavlovich sitting on the throne than some Konstantinos guy) Naturally, these people do use Constantinople but they're a marginal bunch, so who really cares? In addition, many of these fanatic people, following the Orthodox faith, hardly bear the most prime examples of *Western* characteristics. So I do not know what kind of a "West" that stubbornly uses the word "Constantinople" you speak of here.

Turkey is not the Ottoman Empire, so I find it irrelevant discussing how old the names Istanbul, Konstantiniyye etc. are.

Gwen

I repeat, as I wrote in Dellarovere's earlier question: I have no idea why any Greek would have a problem with the name "Istanbul".

Dellarovere is absolutely right about the issue of pronunciation and morphology over time. Several state names in the USA are derived from Native American words: Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas ... *many* states.

Similarly, "Istanbul" is derived from the Greek "Eis Ten Polis".

And this does not only apply to Western Anatolia: The name of my hometown Konya, which can be considered a major center of Anatolian Turkish Beyliks, and is renowned for its Islamic conservatism, is derived from the Greek "Iconium" as well.

If you accidentally slip and say "Constantinople" instead of "Istanbul" while in the city, I don't think that anyone will get too upset, though they might politely correct you about modern usage. They sell books to tourists in Istanbul, under the caption "Constantinople", and since you will most likely be viewed as a tourist, I really don't think they will care: As long as you buy their stuff. :D

Leprechaun

To correct some answerers, the official name was never Constantinople. Turks used various names such as Stambul, İslambol, Konstantiniyye, Dersaadet, Asitane until 1930.

Ladybug Queen of Lazistan

the only place where Istanbul is still refered as Constantinopoli is Greece,the reason is that they lost Istanbul to the ottoman empire and that still hurts...but we are hopeful that they will get over it eventually...
Ruhun şaad olsun Fatih Sultan Mehmet ve askerleri...

Daky

That's nobody's business but the turks. hehehe

DesertFox - Nope, Not Banned

Because there are people who are still bitter over the fact that they lost it in 1453 and it is now rightfully called İSTANBUL.

dingdong

in Bulgaria where i came from ppl always call the city ISTANBUL and in Romania ppl calls it Istanbul. in UK ppl calls it Istanbul too. i think it is only you who call it constantinople

Lady S

As far as I know, only Greeks call it Constantinople; in all other languages it is called Istanbul.

Augustus

Because Anatolia and all the Mediiterranean countries were part of the Roman Empire...Constantin was a cousin of mine...

1234567

I have only heard Greeks & history teachers refer to Istanbul as Constantinople. This question is so lame.

amaannnn

wooow sytem of down huh? coool

btw leprechaun is right. my answer ll be istanbul since 1453 (may 29)

Moonlight Turkish Muslim ☪

Istanbul is Muslim city.

andreyeahh

because somethings will never change!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsQrKZcYtqg

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