The city of Istanbul has one of the oldest (and still actively used for that purpose) squares in the world: The Beyazıt Square. Named Forum Tauri when first established by Emperor Constantine I, it was remodelled by Emperor Theodosius I, the last man to rule over both halves of the Roman Empire... The purpose of the land the square was built upon, however, was different.
In the turbulent times of the early reign of Constantine, rulers of the Tetrarchy – the four rulers of the Roman Empire, were wying for ultimate power of the Empire and become sole ruler, where Constantine was one of the tetrarchs. While fighting againt Licinius, his final opponent, Constantine besieged the city of Byzantium. The war ended with the final battle – the Battle of Chrysopolis (present day Üsküdar) – and Constantine become the one and only ruler. However, the war damaged much of Byzantium and it had to be rebuild. While in Byzantium, he decided to build it in such a way, that it should be the new capital of his newly reunified Empire. Later would be known as Constantinople for more than 1500 years, Byzantium was transferred into Nea Roma – the New Rome and Constantine’s capital.
The rebuilding of the city and transforming it into the new capital that would satisfy Constantine, it needed expansion, as Byzantium wasn’t much more than the city’s Acropolis, which is currently occupied by the Topkapı Palace complex. In the ancient times, the city cemetery – the necropolis was situated outside the city walls. As Byzantium’s necropolis would become part of and within the city, it would be unacceptable to use it with its then-current purpose. Therefore, as it was the ancient practice, it was leveled and turned into a public city square, a forum – or more specifically, Forum Tauri.
Forum Tauri became Forum Theodosiani – the Forum of Theodosius – with his remodelling. He added a triumphal column similar to the Trajan’s Column in Rome and a distinctive triumphal arch. The column stood up until the end of the 15th Century, but now nothing remanis. Ruins of the triumphal arch and parts of the forum can be seen at the environs of the current Beyazıt Square.
When Ottomans took the city in 1453, they made it their capital. In doing so, the need of a palace was imminent. Probably one of the reasons why the square survived as a square but not became a residential area like the Forum of Constantine somewhat 600 meters away, is the first Ottoman palatial structure in the city was constructed on the location currently occupied by the Istanbul University in front of the square. With the construction of the Topkapı Palace, that palace became known as the Old Palace, and replaced in time by the current structers built in the 19th Century. The Grand Bazaar and the oldest surviving Imperial Mosque – the Beyazıt Mosque also faces the square.
One of the hotbed locations of the city in the Ottoman times when there is a revolt, it was the site of many historic events, such as the (re)declaration of the Constitution on July 23, 1908.
Today, it is still one of the most important squares of Istanbul, yet Taksim Square is now the more preferred place for demonstrations.
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