The limits of the series have compelled me to confine myself chiefly to the story of Constantinople as a mediæval town. Thus I have been reluctantly compelled to leave out much that I should have liked to say about Skutari, the Bosphorus and its palaces, and the present social life and religious observances, the Dervishes, the "Sweet Waters," and many familiar names. For the same reason, I have dwelt very briefly on much that is of great interest. I would gladly, for instance, have said more about Iconoclasm, and something about that great theologian, S. Theodore of the Studium. Practically, I may add that the advice of Murray's Guide is always to be taken; personally I have always found the Hotel Bristol most comfortable in every way, and I have no occasion to commend any other hotel, because I have never felt tempted to leave it. It has had varied fortunes, but it is at its best, I think, as managed by Herr H. Güllering. I have myself found a dragoman, except for the first day, unnecessary; but I can strongly recommend Eustathios Livathinos as a most pleasant companion. Jacob Moses has also much experience. I should add that in my spelling of names I have usually adopted, for simplicity, the common use; but I fear I have not even been uniform. I owe very much to the kind offices of Lord Currie and of Sir Nicholas O'Connor, Her Majesty's Ambassadors in 1896 and 1899, and to several members of the Embassy, with a very special debt of gratitude to Mr Fitzmaurice, C.M.G. I can never forget the kindness of the late Canon C. G. Curtis, whose death in 1896 was so great a loss to the British community in Constantinople, to archæology, and to religion. In several instances photographs taken by my friend, Mr J. W. Milligan, who was in Constantinople in 1896, have been of not a little use to my friend, the Rev. Sydney Cooper, to whose illustrations this book will owe very much more than half its interest. W. H. HUTTON. THE GREAT HOUSE, BURFORD, OXON, _S. Mark's Day, 1900_. CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I _The History of the City in ancient and mediæval times_ 1 CHAPTER II _Constantinople under the Turks_ 154 CHAPTER III _The Churches_ 231 CHAPTER IV _The Walls_ 270 CHAPTER V _The Mosques, Türbehs and Fountains_ 290 CHAPTER VI _The Palaces_ 310 CHAPTER VII _Antiquities_ 320 ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE _Interior of S. Sophia_ _Frontispiece_ _Seraglio Point after Sunset_ 2