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Constantine moved the capital of the eastern part of the Roman Empire from Nicomedia (in northwestern Turkey) to the nearby Byzantium, which he redeveloped, renamed Constantinople (city of Constantine) and inaugurated in 330. This new capital was given titles such as "The New, second Rome,' 'Eastern Rome,' 'Alma Roma,' and 'Roma Constantinopolitana.' Propaganda-wise the new capital symbolised the new dawn of the Roman Empire which Constantine rule would usher in.

Ancient historians did not actually clarify why Constantine the Great moved the capital of the eastern part of the Roman Empire from Nicomedia (in north-western Turkey) to the nearby Byzantium. One reason might have been that Nicomedia had been designated as the capital of the eastern part of the Roman Empire by the emperor Diocletian who had unleashed the Great Persecution of Christians.

A highly likely reason was Propaganda, which Constantine was very good at. He even invented a fictitious descent from the family of a previous emperor.to give legitimacy to his quest for power. A new capital named after himself would give him further prestige and act as a symbol of the new dawn for the empire his rule would usher in. Constantine redeveloped the Greek city of Byzantium and renamed it Constantinople (which means the city of Constantine) in 330. The city was also given titles such as "The New, second Rome,' 'Eastern Rome,' 'Alma Roma,' and 'Roma Constantinopolitana.' Byzantium has seven hills like Rome. This created a similarity with Rome and justified the titles mentioned above.

Originally Constantine considered Sirmium (in modern day Serbia) for his new capital. Then he opted for Byzantium. Other factors may have helped this choice. This city was on the route between Europe and Asia like Nicomedia, but it was in a better strategic position. The roads from south-Western Europe to Asia converged there. It was on the Bosporus, the strait between Europe and Asia, and between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Therefore, it also controlled the naval route between these two seas. It was also a city easy to defend. It was on a promontory into the Bosporus. Therefore, it had water on two sides. The Golden Horn, an inlet of the Bosporus meant that there was water on the third side as well. The hilly terrain helped to defend the part of the city which was not on the seafront or by the Golden Horn.

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Jaylin Konopelski

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11y ago

It is not quite clear why Constantine decided to move the capital of the eastern part of the Roman Empire from Nicomedia (in south-western Turkey). Initially he considered moving it to Sirmium, in present day Serbia. Then he decided to redevelop the nearby city of Byzantium, make it the capital and rename it Constantinople.

One reason might be that Nicomedia was associated with Diocletian, who had unleashed the Great Persecution of the Christians while Constantine supported the Christians. A very likely reason could be propaganda. Constantine was a master of propaganda. He even invented a line of descent from a previous emperor Constantinople meant the city of Constantine and was given honorary titles such Roma Constantiniana; The Eastern Rome; The New, Second Rome; and Alma Roma. The new capital symbolised a new dawn for the Roman Empire under Constantine's rule.

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Anonymous

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4y ago
Bruh I need one answer not a whole essay lmao
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Anonymous

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lol

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11y ago

He moved the capital of Rome because Rome had divided its empire into 2 halves: the Western Empire and the Eastern Empire. He never really moved the Capital from Rome to Byzantium or later renamed Constantinople, later known as Istanbul, the present-day capital of Turkey. Rome remained capital of the western part, which faced decline and change. The eastern part flourished for many years.

The Roman empire was subdivided in a western and an eastern part by Diocletian, not Constantine I. Diocletian turned Milan into the imperial capital in the west and Nicomedia (in northwestern Turkey) into the imperial capital of the east. Rome became the nominal capital of the empire. Diocletian was in charge of the east and co-emperor Maximian was in charge of the west. Constantine I moved the capital of the east from Nocomedia to Constantinople.

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8y ago

When Constantine was senior emperor of the west he was based in Milan, which was the capital of the praetorian prefecture of Italia and Africa and the imperial seat of the western part of the empire. Therefore, Constantine did not move his capital. When he became sole emperor he chose to have his own capital to drive home the point that he was the only emperor and as a symbol of a new dawn his rule would bring. The ancient sources do not tell us why he chose Byzantium, which he redeveloped and renamed after himself - Constantinople means city of Constantine.

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12y ago

If you look at a map you can see that Byzantium was a great location for a strong city. It controlled both the land and sea routs and therefore collected revenues from the traders that used the city both from the east and the west. It also had military advantages by lad, sea and river.

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16y ago

because of it's unique geographical location on Europe and Asia

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10y ago

Constantine moved the capital from Rome in order to have a more centralized capital. Constantine rules Italy until 340 A.D.

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Anonymous

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3y ago

C. He believed Western Roman power was on the decline, while East Roman power was on the rise. (APEX)

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Q: Why did Constantine I moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantine?
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What do historians call the eastern roman empire?

Not sure what you mean by "new." Historically, it would be Byzantium. The Byzantine or Eastern Roman Empire began with the Roman Emperor Constantine I in the 4th Century CE; as Western Europe was collapsing into the Dark Ages, he moved the (his new) Roman capitol to the location of Byzantium in Turkey; to become the great city of Constantinople (known today as Istanbul). It continued on as the premier power center of civilization & culture of the Eastern Mediterranean for about a 1000 years, until it was conquered by the Ottomans...


Who united the Roman empire moved the capital from Rome to Byzantium and he stopped the persecution of Christians?

Relevant answers:Who moved the capital of the Romans Empire from Rome to Byzantium?Constantine. Read MoreWho moved to capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium?Easy! Constantine obviously move the capital. Come on a 5th grader knows this! seriously - Constantius, retard. - Read MoreWho moved the capital of the roman empire from rome to byzantium?Constantine Read MoreWhat roman empire stopped the persecution of Christians?The roman emperor ConstantineThe Roman emperor Galerius was the first to pass a law that the Christians were not to be persecuted. Constantine the great was the first Christian emperor. Read MoreWho moved the capital of the roman empire to Byzantium?Canstantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantium. =) Read MoreAll already answered on the site.


What was the eastern roman empire non as?

The eastern part of the Roman empire was known as the Byzantine empire.The eastern part of the Roman empire was known as the Byzantine empire.The eastern part of the Roman empire was known as the Byzantine empire.The eastern part of the Roman empire was known as the Byzantine empire.The eastern part of the Roman empire was known as the Byzantine empire.The eastern part of the Roman empire was known as the Byzantine empire.The eastern part of the Roman empire was known as the Byzantine empire.The eastern part of the Roman empire was known as the Byzantine empire.The eastern part of the Roman empire was known as the Byzantine empire.


Who created a Christian Roman Empire in the East with the new capital of Constantinople?

The Emperor Constantine the Great (also known as Constantine I) moved the capital of the old Roman Empire to the Ancient Greek city in the East called Byzantium, and renamed this city as "Constantinople - the New Rome" in the year 330 AD. Constantinople remained the capital of the New Roman (or Eastern Roman) Empire until the year 1453 AD.


What was the result when Constantine moved the capital of the roman empire to constantinopal?

After the reign of Constantine I, Constantinople became the capital of the eastern pert of the Roman Empire. Mediolanum (Milan, in northern Italy) became the capital of the western part of the empire. Milan had been designated as the capital of the west by Diocletian (Constantine's predecessor) who had also designated Nicomedia as the capital of the east. Constantinople replaced Nicomedia as the capital of the east. The capital of the western part of the empire was moved to Ravenna (also in northern Italy) in 402.

Related questions

Why do historians consider Constantine the founder of the Byzantine empire?

He moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium, which would be the capital of the Byzantine Empire for more than 1,000 years.


Why do historians consider Constantine i the founder of the byzantine empire?

He moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Byzantium, which would be the capital of the Byzantine Empire for more than 1,000 years.


How did emperor Constantine establish the Byzantine empire?

Constantine the Great designated Byzantium as his imperial capital, redeveloped and renamed it Constantinople, after himself - Constantinople means city of Constantine. However, this did not lead to the beginning of the Byzantine Empire. In fact, the Byzantine Empire did not actually exist. This is a term which has been coined by historians to indicate the eastern part of the Roman Empire after the fall of the western part of this empire and which became popular in the 19th century. The people in question did not know this term and called their empire Roman Empire. Therefore, it would be more appropriate to talk of a "Byzantine" period. This started about a century later.


In what year was Constantinople the capital of the Byzantine World?

Emperor Constantine the Great moved the capital of the Byzantine/Roman Empire from Rome to Constantinople around 330 AD.


Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine or Christian Empire?

It was the capital of Eastern Roman Empire, which was later called by the historians Byzantine Empire to differentiate it from the Roman Empire. Constantinople was named by the Roman emperor Constantine the First after himself but there was already a city at that location called "Byzantium". However, the people living there just usually called their city "Istanbul", which means "in this city". Today, the city is officially called Istanbul. It is the largest and most famous city of Turkey and was the capital city of the Ottoman empire until the foundation of the Turkish republic in 1922. The capital was then moved to Ankara.


What Roman Emperor founded the Byzantine Empire?

Constantine


Why do modern scholars refer to the Eastern Roman Empire as the Byzantine Empire?

It's capital was Byzantium, later renamed Constantinople after the emperor Constantine.


Who created Constantinople?

Emperor Constantine the Great moved the capital of the Byzantine/Roman Empire from Rome to Constantinople around 330 AD.


The byzantine empire came after the fall of which empire?

The Byzantine Empire was actually the part of the Roman Empire that Emperor Constantine still had control of - so technically it came after the Roman Empire


What religion did Constantine promote in the Byzantine Empire?

Constantine promoted Christianity, but not in the Byzantine Empire. Constantine was emperor of Rome from 306 to 337 CE, but the Byzantine Empire came into existence in 395 CE, when Arcadius became emperor of the Eastern Empire, separating from the Western Roman Empire.


What is constantinople-?

It is a city in Turkey (now it is called Istanbul). Constantinople was a city which the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great designated as his imperial seat and renamed it after himself (it means City of Constantine). It is best known as the capital of the Byzantine Empire. It was conquered by the Turks and it was reamed Istanbul.


What was Istanbul the Capital of?

Istanbul was the capital city of Ottoman Empire. Under the name Constantinople, it was the capital city for Roman and Byzantine Empire, beginning with Constantine the Great.When the empire became the nation of Turkey after World War I, the capital was relocated to Ankara (in Anatolia, or eastern Turkey).