<Li> 1261 AD: Liberation of Constantinople </Li> <Li> 1453 AD: Fall of Constantinople </Li> <P> Constantinople (Greek: Κωνσταντινούπολις Kōnstantinoúpolis; Latin: Cōnstantīnopolis) was the capital city of the Roman / Byzantine Empire (330--1204 and 1261--1453), and also of the brief Latin (1204--1261), and the later Ottoman (1453--1923) empires . It was reinaugurated in 324 from ancient Byzantium as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Emperor Constantine the Great, after whom it was named, and dedicated on 11 May 330 . </P> <P> From the mid-5th century to the early 13th century, Constantinople was the largest and wealthiest city in Europe . The city was also famed for its architectural masterpieces, such as the Greek Orthodox cathedral of Hagia Sophia, which served as the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the sacred Imperial Palace where the Emperors lived, the Galata Tower, the Hippodrome, the Golden Gate of the Land Walls, and the opulent aristocratic palaces lining the arcaded avenues and squares . The University of Constantinople was founded in the fifth century and contained numerous artistic and literary treasures before it was sacked in 1204 and 1453, including its vast Imperial Library which contained the remnants of the Library of Alexandria and had over 100,000 volumes of ancient texts . It was instrumental in the advancement of Christianity during Roman and Byzantine times as the home of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and as the guardian of Christendom's holiest relics such as the Crown of Thorns and the True Cross . </P>

When did the roman capital moved to constantinople