II. CONSTANTINOPLE

Byzantium was a Greek city-state founded by Greek in 667 BC and named after King Byzas. The city was attached by the Romans 196 AD. It became second capital of the Roman Empire 330 AD. It was named New Rome but soon became known as the 'City of Constantine' (Constantinople). In 1453 it was taken by the Ottoman Turks and in 1930 it was officially renamed Istanbul. The Christian city was near its end at the time of Clavijo's visit and his record is of great historical value. It began with a visit to the Emperor.