Türkiye’s Erdogan Marks 572nd Anniversary of Istanbul’s Conquest

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday marked the 572nd anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul by inaugurating four new 'nation's gardens' in the city.

Speaking at a ceremony, Erdogan said the newly opened parks bring the number of the nation’s gardens in Istanbul to 34, covering more than 5.5 million square meters, The Caspian Post reports, citing Turkish media.

He added that construction is underway for 20 more as part of efforts to expand green spaces across the Turkish metropolis.

“We designed our nation’s gardens to serve as gathering points in times of disaster,” Erdogan said. “We saw how important this is during the Istanbul earthquake.”

Last month, a powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Istanbul, injuring at least 236 people in panic-driven incidents, according to officials.

In a separate post on social media, Erdogan commemorated the 1453 conquest, calling it “one of the most magnificent victories in our history.” He paid tribute to Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, also known as Mehmed the Conqueror, and his army “with mercy, gratitude and respect.”

The conquest of Istanbul in 1453 marked the end of the Byzantine Empire and the rise of the Ottoman Empire. Led by Sultan Mehmed II, Ottoman forces captured the city after a 53-day siege, establishing it as the empire’s new capital.