Throughout history, the Roman Empire, which achieved great conquests and significant accomplishments, has been an inspiration for societies and subsequent great states. Many states have motivated themselves with the dream of becoming the next Rome and have prepared their propaganda and motivation accordingly. In recorded history, there are two Roman Empires mentioned. However, what many historians and people debate is the third Rome. Many states and nations have given themselves the title of the third Rome, but some have failed to go beyond being a mere imitation. The question that historians and people ask is whether there really was a third Rome, and if so, which state was it. I would like to share a thought that also greatly interests me regarding the third Rome and which state it might have been. The third Rome was actually the Ottoman Empire, a state that we are very familiar with. I have seen that many people develop a prejudice when they hear this idea. There are those who argue that the third Rome cannot be a Muslim state or a Turkish state. First and foremost, it is a grave mistake to associate the Roman Empire with a particular religion. The perception of the Roman Empire that people have somehow only interprets it as a Christian state. However, it is highly incorrect to attribute the Roman Empire solely to a religion. Just as the first Rome was pagan and the second Rome was Christian, why couldn't the third Rome be Muslim? Especially, we know that after the conquest of Istanbul by Mehmed the Conqueror, he was referred to as the Kayser-i Rum, which means the heir of Rome. The names he adopted for himself clearly support these ideas. The fact that Mehmed the Conqueror took Julius Caesar as a role model, his proficiency in Italian, Persian, and Arabic languages, and his extensive knowledge of Western and Eastern civilizations all indicate the concept of the third Rome. Furthermore, it is highly incorrect to view the Ottoman Empire as a Middle Eastern or Anatolian state. The Ottoman Empire is fundamentally a Balkan state. The event that makes us feel this most strongly is the Interregnum period. During the Interregnum, the Ottoman State (which was not yet an Empire at that time) officially lost its dominance in Anatolia. However, despite this, the Ottoman State not only did not collapse but also recovered and became an empire after the Interregnum. The reason for this is that the state was a Balkan state. This is evident in terms of its center and governance. At that time, Edirne was the capital, and the state was governed from there. Therefore, even if dominance was lost in Anatolia, the state did not collapse and maintained its authority for years.
Talking about the third Rome without mentioning Mehmed the Conqueror would leave a significant gap in understanding this period and the concept of the third Rome. Mehmed the Conqueror was a Renaissance intellectual. He was a self-taught figure of the Renaissance, utilizing his resources and pushing the boundaries, making him a multifaceted intellectual. If you ask where the portrait of a statesman and ruler of the 15th-century Renaissance is, it is not in France or Rome, it is in Istanbul. The incomprehensible aspect of Mehmed the Conqueror is his ability to influence the world around him, similar to some of the great Roman emperors in history. By looking at Mehmed's conquests and the places he aimed to conquer, it is not difficult to understand that the third Rome was the Ottoman Empire and that Mehmed was a Roman Emperor. We know that Mehmed was preparing for a campaign in Italy (the former capital of the Roman Empire) before his death. Even the famous Otranto campaign is an important event that demonstrates that the third Rome was the Ottoman Empire and that the course was heading in that direction. However, the Ottoman possession of this place in Italy lasted for only a short period of 13 months due to Mehmed's death. Due to Mehmed's sudden death and the incidents involving Beyazıt and Cem Sultan, the campaign in Italy did not take place. Although I know how wrong it is to speak about historical events in the form of "what if," if Mehmed's campaign in Italy had taken place, perhaps it would have been unequivocally accepted that the Ottoman Empire was the third Rome. When we look at the social structure of the Ottoman Empire, the fact that the majority of the population was non-Muslim also supports the idea of the third Rome. There are similarities between Ottoman provincial administration, urban governance, and the Roman (Byzantine) system. In the state and societal life, land tenure system, and criminal law, there are customary regulations derived from both ancient Turkic tribal traditions and Roman law. The provisions of Mehmed the Conqueror's criminal code resemble Justinian's legal codes. Understanding Mehmed the Conqueror, the Renaissance intellectual, intellectual, and great marshal who was the founder of the Ottoman Empire, reviewing his goals and moves, I believe, will enable us to understand many things about the third Rome. Remember, the 15th century only gains meaning with Mehmed the Conqueror.
After the fall of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium), we know that the Ottoman Empire attempted to embrace Rome and Roman culture, both culturally and in terms of imperial characteristics, and developed its imperial attributes accordingly. This was particularly evident during the reign of Mehmed the Conqueror. The title bestowed upon him (Kayser-i Rum) and the multinational nature of the Empire played a significant role in this. The Western-oriented perspective of Mehmed and his conquest policies, particularly towards the west (Italy), tell us a great deal about the topic of the third Rome. Not only his orientation towards the west but also his synthesis of Eastern and Western influences, and his profound knowledge of both civilizations, paint a portrait of a Roman emperor. This portrait has been praised endlessly, not only by foreign historians but also by Turkish historians. The influence of the third Rome continues to this day and has even shaped Turkish classical music. I would like to present an example of the ancient Byzantine Secular Music, which surprised me when I first encountered it. As seen in this piece, even our music style referred to as Turkish Classical Music has a connection to Rome. Such a similarity is one of the most concrete examples that allows us to establish a close connection between the third Rome and the Ottoman Empire. The fact that the Ottoman Empire was a Mediterranean state, and although its borders did not exactly match those of the ancient Roman Empire, they bore some resemblance, supports the idea of the third Rome. It is known that there are many nations and states claiming to be the third Rome and constantly engaging in debates on the topic. However, among them, in terms of social, cultural, imperial boundaries, and imperial attributes, the Ottoman Empire is undoubtedly the closest to the concept of the third Rome. Unfortunately, the argument that the Ottoman Empire cannot be the third Rome is often presented solely by examining its ethnic and religious aspects. Evaluating a sophisticated civilization like Rome solely from a religious and ethnic perspective is one of the greatest mistakes made in history.