Istanbul: Timeline

1453   Mehmed II Mehmed II

Mehmed II was first the Sultan [i] of the Ottoman Empire [i] for a short time from 1444 [i] to 1446 [i] ... 

 begins his siege of Constantinople Constantinople

Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire [i] and following its fall in 1453 [i], of the O ... 

 (Istanbul).

1525   First French France

France, officially the French Republic, is a country [i] whose metropolitan territory [i] ... 

 embassador in Istanbul.=

1650   Estimation: Istanbul becomes the largest city of the world, taking the lead from Beijing Beijing

Beijing , a city in northern China [i] ... 

.

1745   For five days fire destroys buildings in Istanbul.

1750   A fire in Istanbul destroys 10,000 houses.

1829   Russo-Turkish War, 1828-1829 Russo-Turkish War, 1828-1829

The Russo-Turkish War of 1828-1829 was sparked by the Greeks' struggle for independence [i] ... 

: Russian Field-Marshal Hans Karl von Diebitsch launches the Transbalkan offensive, which would bring the Russian army within 68 km from Istanbul.

1903   March 1 -Besiktas JK is founded in Istanbul, becoming the first sports club in the Ottoman Empire Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire , is also sometimes known in the West [i] as the Turkish Empire. ... 

.

1930   Constantinople Constantinople

Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire [i] and following its fall in 1453 [i], of the O ... 

 and Angora change their names to Istanbul and Ankara Ankara

Ankara is the capital [i] of Turkey [i] and the country's second largest city [i] ... 

1955   Istanbul Pogrom: Istanbul's Greek Greeks

The Greeks are an ethnic group [i] mostly found in the southern Balkan peninsula [i] of southeastern Europe [i] ... 

 minority is the target of a government-sponsored pogrom.

1970   Construction begins on the Bogazici Bridge crossing the Bosphorus Bosphorus

The Bosphorus or Bosporus, also known as Istanbul Strait, is a strait [i] that forms the bound ... 

 in Istanbul.

1970   A cholera Cholera

Cholera is a water-borne disease [i] caused by the bacterium [i] Vibrio cholerae [i], which is typi ... 

 epidemic breaks out in Istanbul.

1971   May 15 – Efraim Elrom, Israel Israel

Israel , officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia [i] on the so ... 

i ambassador to Turkey, is kidnapped; he is found killed in Istanbul May 25.

1986   In Istanbul, 2 Abu Nidal Abu Nidal

Abu Nidal — born Sabri Khalil al-Banna , also known as Amin al-Sirr and Sabri Khali... 

 terrorists kill 22 and wound 6 inside the Neve Shalom synagogue during Sabbath Sabbath

In the Bible [i], the Sabbath is a weekly religious day of rest as ordained by one of the Ten Commandments [i] ... 

 services.

1999   A 7.4-magnitude earthquake Earthquake

An earthquake is a phenomenon [i] that results from and is powered by the sudden release of stored energ ... 

 strikes Istanbul and northwestern Turkey Turkey

Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is a Eurasia [i]n country that stretches across the Anatolia [i] ... 

, killing more than 17,000 and injuring 44,000. This earthquake is the first of a long series of unrelated but frequent earthquakes throughout the world during the years 1999 and 2000. Some connect the earthquake to the fact that the Umbra of the August 11 solar eclipse was right above Istanbul.

1999   In Istanbul, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) ends a two-day summit by calling for a political settlement in Chechnya Chechnya

The Chechen Republic , or, informally, Chechnya , sometimes referred to as Ichkeria [i], ' ... 

 and adopting a Charter for European Security.

2003   Two car bomb Car bomb

A car bomb is an improvised explosive device [i] that is placed in a car or other vehicle and then exploded [i] ... 

s explode simultaneously in Istanbul, Turkey, targeting 2 synagogues, killing at least 25 people and wounding more than 300; Al-Qaida claims responsibility.

2003   Several bombs explode in Istanbul, Turkey, destroying the Turkish head office of HSBC and the British United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country and sovereign state [i] tha ... 

 consulate.