PenguinTheYeti OP t1_ixwqxaw wrote on November 26, 2022 at 11:54 PM

Reply to comment by Usual_World4332 in We think of the Roman Empire as ancient, despite the fact it technically ended in 1453. by PenguinTheYeti

Ah, interesting! So would that mean that it would then have fallen with the fall of the Ottomans? Also, did he declare himself Byzantine Emperor, or did the Byzantine court?

Usual_World4332 t1_ixwuchl wrote on November 27, 2022 at 12:22 AM

After the conquest of Constantinople, Mehmed claimed the title of caesar of the Roman Empire (Qayser-i Rûm), based on the assertion that Constantinople had been the seat and capital of the Roman Empire since 330 AD, and whoever possessed the Imperial capital was the ruler of the Empire.

In the mind of George of Trebizond, it was the possession of Constantinople that made Mehmed the legitimate Roman emperor: "no one can doubt that he is emperor of the Romans. He who holds the seat of empire in his hand is emperor of right; and Constantinople is the centre of the Roman Empire