Turks Celebrate Capture Of Constantinople -- Turkish soldiers dressed in similar costumes to those worn 500 years ago when their ancestors captured Constantinople. On May 29, 1453, exactly 500 years ago, the Ottoman Turks captured Constantinople, the queen of cities. Thus perished at a single blow the last sad remnants of "The Glory That Was Greece, the grandeur that was Rome". July 1, 1953. (Photo by Paul Popper).