Turkey marks 569th anniv of conquest of Istanbul

Turkey on Sunday commemorated the 569th anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul, which marks a watershed moment in history for the Ottoman Empire's expansion westward and end of the Byzantine Empire.

Tens of thousands joined the celebrations commemorating the conquest.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the First Lady Emine Erdogan joined celebrations on a runway at Ataturk Airport, which had its operations ceased after the construction of Istanbul Airport.

Erdogan's government said that the airport would be turned into a giant park and event grounds.

Mehter bands, or traditional Ottoman military bands, were also on site playing during the event.

Another big celebration, which hosted thousands, was held at Maltepe rally grounds by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

The venue held a drone and light "mapping" show in which the conquest of Istanbul was depicted.

Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's Mayor, congratulated the residents of Istanbul on the anniversary.

Imamoglu was elected as a candidate of the centre-left CHP (People's Republican Party) at the 2019 local elections after years of administration by Erdogan's Party AKP (Justice and Development Party).

During his speech Imamoglu alluded to the separate celebrations held at the former Ataturk Airport, saying that he did not threaten people by cellphone messages to appear at the celebrations held by the Municipality, referring to statements of opposition politicians and some social media posts claiming that government workers were pressured by cell phone messages and indirect personal threats to show up at the anniversary celebrations held by Erdogan's party.

Imamoglu added that he and the mayor of the opposition held Bakirkoy municipality, where Ataturk Airport is located, were not invited to celebrations held by Erdogan.

Istanbul, or Constantinople by its Byzantine name, was besieged 28 times in history before its conquest in 1453 by the Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed II or Mehmed the Conqueror.

Mehmed II besieged the city with 80,000 soldiers and managed to destroy the famed Byzantine walls surrounding the city with grand cannons, allowing the troops to seize the city.

Constantinople's conquest ended the 1,058-year-old Byzantine Empire, turning the city into Istanbul, capital of the Ottoman Empire.