Moscow, Third Rome

For the concept of "Third Rome" in general, see Succession of the Roman Empire.

Lesser version of the coat of arms of the Russian Empire with the double-headed eagle, formerly associated with the Byzantine Empire

Moscow, Third Rome (Russian: Москва — третий Рим, romanized: Moskva — tretiy Rim) is a theological and political concept asserting Moscow as the successor to ancient Rome, carrying forward the legacy of the Roman Empire. The term "Third Rome" refers to a historical topic of debate in European culture originating in Eastern Orthodox circles: the question of the successor city to the "First Rome" (Rome, within the Western Roman Empire) and the "Second Rome" (Constantinople, within the Eastern Roman Empire). The Ottoman Empire, likewise, claimed to be the successor of the Roman Empire after its conquest of Constantinople.