New Constantinople

The city of New Constantinople is the largest city in Pantocratoria. It is also the oldest, being founded shortly after the landing of the first Roman settlers in 1462. It was originally acclaimed as "the Third Rome", but after the establishment of New Rome as the imperial capital, the name "New Constantinople" gradually entered common use. New Constantinople and its surrounds form the Despotate of New Constantinople, a separate state-within-the-state.

It is Pantocratoria's major port, and is the first port of call for most immigrants. The city is divided into two distinct areas - the walled city, and the slums and shanty towns. The walled city contains the old city itself, the homes of most of the established citizens of the city, and most of the businesses and places of employment. An immigrant or particularly poor citizen is much more likely to be found outside the walls, in New Constantinople's slums and shanty towns. The unfortunate inhabitants of these areas are the poorest people in all of Pantocratoria - the economic success of the Empire as a whole is shielded from trickling down to them by the separation between the Empire and the Despotate.

A tourist visiting New Constantinople will want to stay in the walled city. He or she will want to go see those areas of the Palace of the Despotic Court of New Constantinople which are open to members of the public, the other sixteen historic palaces of the city, the cathedral and famous churches, most notably of which is the oldest church in Pantocratoria, the Church of Saint Mary of Constantinople, dedicated to the Virgin Mary (Theotokos), in which the first Emperor of Pantocratoria, Demetrius I Palaeologus was crowned in 1462.