Istanbul — The Turkish metropolis of Istanbul witnessed on Friday the “Conquest March” as part of events celebrating the 573rd anniversary of the conquest of Istanbul.
According to Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, the march commenced from Beyazıt Square and concluded at Hagia Sophia Mosque Square. The event saw the participation of Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan, and First Army Commander General Bakhtiyar Ersay, alongside a large crowd of city residents.
Participants gathered in the Beyazıt area and marched in a procession led by mounted police units and the Ottoman military band, known as “Mehteran.” Carrying the Turkish flag, the crowd marched until they reached Hagia Sophia Square.
Anadolu’s correspondent reported that participants enthusiastically chanted slogans and sang along as the Mehteran band played spirited military anthems.
The march also attracted a large number of foreign tourists, who were keen to capture commemorative photos and videos of the event.
Banners raised during the procession bore slogans such as, “Congratulations on the 573rd Anniversary of the Conquest of Istanbul” and “You are at the age when Sultan Mehmed conquered Istanbul.”
Addressing the crowd from Hagia Sophia Square, Governor Gül congratulated the attendees on both the 573rd anniversary of the city’s conquest and the upcoming Eid al-Adha.
The city is hosting a variety of events and activities today to commemorate the 1453 conquest of Istanbul by Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.
On May 29, 1453, Sultan Mehmed II conquered Constantinople—then the capital of the Byzantine Empire—marking a monumental event that historians widely regard as the beginning of the modern era.