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Up until late 19th century, Alexandroupoli was merely a small fishing village, despite its status as a city of military importance during the era of the Byzantine empire. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the city was almost wiped out. It was rebuild by the Ottomans during the 19th century, and was given the name Dedeagaç. Later, during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, it was occupied by the Russians, who rebuilt the city, improving its original design of narrow spiral streets and alleys, like the majority of villages at the time. During the Balkan Wars, Alexandroupoli was first occupied by the Bulgarians, and subsequently by the Greeks. it was returned to Bulgaria until the First World War, when Thrace was ceded to Greece, although Bulgaria was allowed to use it as a port due to its more convenient location for accessing the Mediterranean Sea, instead of the Bulgarian ports in the Black Sea. Although most people guess that the name of Alexandroupoli refers to Alexander the Great, it was named after King Alexander of Greece, who visited the city in 1920. The city officially became a part of Greek territory with the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. However, when the Nazis occupied Greece during the Second World War, Alexandroupoli was ceded back to Bulgaria until the defeat of the Axis forces. It then became Greek once again, and remains so to this day.