View source for Cyprus in the Middle Ages

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{{History of Cyprus}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
The Medieval history of [[Cyprus]] starts with the division of the [[Roman Empire]] into an Eastern and [[Western Roman Empire|Western]] half.

==Byzantine period==
After the division of the [[Roman Empire]] into an eastern half and a [[Western Roman Empire|western]] half, Cyprus came under the rule of [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantium]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cyprus - Turkey, Greece, Conflict {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Cyprus/External-political-influences |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> The cities of Cyprus were destroyed by two successive earthquakes in 332 and 342 AD and this marked the end of an era and at the same time the beginning of a new one, very much connected with modern life in Cyprus. Most of the cities were not rebuilt, save [[Salamis, Cyprus|Salamis]] which was rebuilt on a smaller scale and renamed Constantia after the [[Roman Emperor]] [[Constantius II]], son of [[Constantine the Great]], residing in [[Constantinople]]. The new city was now the [[Capital (political)|capital]] of the island. It was mainly [[Christians|Christian]] and due to this, some alterations were made during the rebuilding. The palaestra was turned into a meeting place and many architectural elements was used to erect spacious churches decorated with murals, mosaics, and coloured marble.

The main event in Cyprus in this period was the spreading of the Christian faith. At that time, its [[bishop]], while still subject to the [[One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church|Church]], was made [[autocephalous]] by the [[First Council of Ephesus]]. People were engaged very much in matters of faith, especially fighting the effort of the [[Eastern Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch]] to put the [[Church of Cyprus]] under his control. They were finally successful in 488, when Archbishop [[Anthemius of Cyprus|Anthemius]] guided by a dream discovered the tomb of [[Barnabas]] with the saint's body lying in a coffin and on his chest a copy of the ''[[Gospel of Matthew]]'' in Barnabas' own writing. Having the relics with him, Anthemius dashed to Constantinople and presented them to [[Zeno (emperor)|Emperor Zeno]]. The latter was very much impressed and he not only confirmed the independence of the Church of Cyprus but he also gave to the Archbishop in perpetuity three privileges that are as much alive today as they were then, namely to carry a sceptre instead of a pastoral staff, to sign with red ink and to wear a purple cloak during services. By the beginning of the 7th century, the patriarch of Alexandria was [[John the Merciful]] from Amathus. Another important Cypriot of the time is the church writer [[Leontios of Neapolis]].

==Arab conquest and Arab–Byzantine condominium==
In 649 AD the [[Arabs]] made the first attack on the island under the leadership of [[Muawiyah I]]. They conquered the capital Salamis - Constantia after a brief siege, but drafted a treaty with the local rulers. In the course of this expedition a relative of [[Muhammad]], Umm-Haram, fell from her mule near the Salt Lake at [[Larnaca]] and was killed. She was buried at that spot and the [[Hala Sultan Tekke]] was built there in [[Ottoman Cyprus|Ottoman times]].<ref>Nadvi (2000), pg. 522</ref> Under [[Abu'l-Awar]], the Arabs returned in 650 and installed a garrison of 12,000 on part of the island, where they remained until 680.

[[File:Atlas Van der Hagen-KW1049B13 007-CYPRVS INSVLA.jpeg|thumb|The middle age depiction of Cyprus island, where 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit under Mu'awiya conquered]]
After [[Uthman ibn al-Affan]] became caliph after Umar's death, Mu'awiya requested that the caliph allow him to build a navy to attack Cyprus, as Mu'awiya reasoned that Cyprus had become a satellite island of Byzantine forces which could threaten the caliphate on the western banks of Palestine.<ref name="[[Ali al-Sallabi|Ali Sallabi]]" /> 'Ubadah, along with veteran companions of Muhammad such as Miqdad Ibn al-Aswad, [[Abu Dharr al-Ghifari|Abu Dhar GhiFari]], [[Shadad ibn Aus|Shadaad ibn Aws]], Khalid bin Zayd al-Ansari, and [[Abu Ayyub al-Ansari]], all participated in building the caliphate's first Naval armada, led by Mu'awiya.<ref name="Legenda 4 Umara">{{cite book |last1=Indra |first1=Gunawan |title=Legenda 4 Umara Besar |publisher=Elex Media Komputindo |isbn=978-602-02-3477-9 |page=280 |date=2014-03-13 }}</ref><ref name="Ibn Hajjar, Tahdhib, V, III ff">{{cite book |last1=Rex |first1=Smith |title=The History of al-Tabari Vol. 14: The Conquest of Iran A.D. 641-643/A.H. 21-23 |date=2015 |isbn=978-1-4384-2039-4 |page=164 |publisher=State University of New York Press }}</ref> Before he joined Mu'awiya's project to build first naval forces of the caliphate, 'Ubadah joined forces with Muslim general, [[Abdallah ibn Qais|Abd Allah ibn Qays]]. Together with Mu'awiya, they built the first caliphate armada with permission from ibn al-Affan. Abu Dharr mentioned that Miqdad ibn Amr al-Aswad participated in this project.<ref name="Humphrey">{{cite book |last1=Humphrey |first1=R. Stephen |author2=Muhammad Tabari |editor1-last=Humphrey |editor1-first=Stephen |title=The History of al-Tabari Vol. 15: The Crisis of the Early Caliphate: The Reign of 'Uthman A.D. 644-656/A.H. 24-35 |publisher=SUNY press |isbn=978-0-7914-0154-5 |page=285 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oALIyvjV0fEC&pg=PA25|date=January 1990 }}</ref> Shortly later, Mu'awiya and 'Ubadah departed from [[Acre, Israel|Acre]] and headed to [[Cyprus]].<ref name="auto2">{{cite book |author=Al Ghazali |title=Muawiyah – Sebuah Biografi Awal |date=2015 |publisher=PTS Publications & Distributors Sdn Bhd |isbn=978-967-411-446-6 |page=176 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uT_DCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT65 |access-date=26 January 2020}}</ref> According to [[al-Baladhuri]] and [[Khalifa ibn Khayyat]], Mu'awiya and 'Ubadah led the attack and were accompanied by their wives Katwa bint Qaraza ibn Abd Amr of the Qurayshite [[Banu Nawfal]] and Umm Haram.<ref name="Sahih al-Bukhari 2788">[[Sahih al-Bukhari]]: [https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2788 2788]</ref> Umm Haram died in an accident during the campaign.<ref name="[[Ali al-Sallabi|Ali Sallabi]]" /> The Muslim forces accepted Cyprus' surrender under the condition that they refrain from hostility to the Muslims, inform the caliphate of any Byzantine movements, pay 7,200 dinars annually for ''Jizya'', and never reveal information to outsiders regarding the caliphate's military operations.<ref name="[[Ali al-Sallabi|Ali Sallabi]]" />

Mu'awiya and 'Ubadah forces pacified almost every Byzantine garrison. This is evidenced by two Greek inscriptions in the Cypriot village of Solois that note those two offensives.{{sfn|Lynch|2016|p=539}} The entire island of Cyprus surrendered after their capital, [[Salamis, Cyprus|Salamis]], was surrounded and besieged.<ref name="[[Ali al-Sallabi|Ali Sallabi]]" /> At least 50 military operations occurred in Cyprus between this first campaign in 648 until the last one in 650.<ref name="[[Ali al-Sallabi|Ali Sallabi]]">{{cite book |last1=Sallabi |first1=Ali Muhammad |title=Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan |date=2007 |publisher=مكتبة العصيرية |isbn=978-9953-34-717-2 |page=654 |edition=original |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a0YDzQEACAAJ |access-date=3 February 2020|author1-link=Ali al-Sallabi }}</ref>

In 688, the emperor [[Justinian II]] and the [[caliph]] [[Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan|Abd al-Malik]] reached an unprecedented agreement. The Arabs evacuated the island, and for the next 300 years, Cyprus was ruled jointly by both the [[Caliphate]] and the Byzantines as a [[condominium (international law)|condominium]], despite the [[Byzantine–Arab Wars|nearly constant warfare]] between the two parties on the mainland. The collected taxes were divided among the Arabs and the emperor.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Zavagno |first=L. |date=2013 |title=Two hegemonies, one island: Cyprus as a "Middle Ground" between the Byzantines and the Arabs (650–850 A.D.) |journal=Reti Medievali Rivista |url= https://www.artsrn.ualberta.ca/amcdouga/Hist243/winter_2017/resources/Two%20hegemonies,%20one%20island.pdf}}</ref>

Under [[Basil I the Macedonian]] (r. 867–886) Byzantine troops recaptured Cyprus, which was established as a [[Theme (Byzantine district)|theme]], but after seven years the island reverted to the previous [[status quo]]. Once again, in 911, the Cypriots helped a Byzantine fleet under admiral [[Himerios (admiral)|Himerios]], and in retaliation the Arabs under [[Damian of Tarsus]] ravaged the island for four months and carried off many captives. The isolation of Cyprus from the rest of the Greek-speaking world assisted the formation of a separate [[Cypriot Greek|Cypriot dialect]]. This period of Arab influence lasted until the 10th century.

==Byzantine reconquest==
In the year 965 or slightly earlier, the Byzantines reconquered the island and installed [[Cyprus (theme)|theme]]. The general [[Niketas Chalkoutzes]] led the reconquest, of which no details are known, and was probably the first governor of Cyprus after that.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Savvides | first = Alexios G. C. | script-title=el:Προσωπογραφικό σημείωμα για τον απελευθερωτή της Κύπρου Νικήτα Χαλκούτζη και για τη χρονολογία ανακατάληψης της μεγαλονήσου (965 μ.Χ.) | journal = Επετηρίς Κέντρου Μελετών Ιεράς Μονής Κύκκου | volume = 2 | location = Nicosia | year = 1993 | pages =371–378 | language = el}}</ref>

A rebellion by governor [[Theophilos Erotikos]] in 1042, and another in 1091 by [[Rhapsomates]], failed as they were quickly subdued by imperial forces.

In 1185, the last Byzantine governor of Cyprus, [[Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus|Isaac Komnenos]], from a minor line of the [[Komnenos]] imperial house, rose in rebellion and attempted to seize the throne. His attempted coup was unsuccessful, but Komnenos was able to retain control of the island. Byzantine actions against Komnenos failed because he enjoyed the support of [[William II of Sicily]]. The emperor had agreed with the [[sultan]] of Egypt to close Cypriot harbours to the [[Crusaders]].

==Crusades&ndash;Lusignan period 1095–1489==
Cyprus was spared the destruction of the loss of [[Anatolia]] and remained peaceful and relatively prosperous during turn of the 12th century. During the [[Siege of Antioch]], a battle of the [[First Crusade]], the Crusader army received supplies from Byzantine-controlled Cyprus.{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=347}}

In the spring of 1156, the island was attacked by [[Raynald of Châtillon]] and [[Thoros II, Prince of Armenia]].{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=347}} The island was then governed by [[John Doukas Komnenos]], who remained with part of the local garrison at Nicosia, while the general [[Michael Branas]] led a force to confront the invaders. Branas was driven back towards Nicosia, and John led a sally to rescue him. The Byzantines were again defeated, with both John and Branas taken prisoner.{{sfn|Runciman|1952|pp=347–348}} The victorious Franks and Crusaders then conducted widespread plundering of the island, not sparing churches or convents. In the words of the historian [[Steven Runciman]], "The crops were burnt; the herds were rounded up, together with all the population, and driven down to the coast. The women were raped; children and folk too old to move had their throats cut". The rape of the island lasted for three weeks, before Raynald and Thoros boarded their ships with their loot and prisoners, and departed.{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=348}} The destruction was compounded by the effects of the [[1157 Hama earthquake]], and by a [[Fatimid Caliphate|Fatimid]] naval raid in 1158.{{sfn|Runciman|1952|p=348}}

[[Richard I of England|Richard the Lionheart]] landed in [[Limassol]] on 1 June 1191 in search of his sister and his bride [[Berengaria of Navarre|Berengaria]], whose ship had become separated from the fleet in a storm. Upon her arrival, the ruler [[Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus|Isaac Comnenus of Cyprus]] requested that Berengaria deboard, which she refused, and upon her own refusal was denied supplies from Comnenus. Richard took this as an insult and attacked the island which was easily subdued. Comnenus was bound to lend aid to Richard in his crusade against Saladin, an oath which he later broke, and Richard had him bound in silver chains (as he swore not to bind Comnenus in iron) and kept prisoner till his death in 1194 or 1195. The Cypriot chronicler [[Neophytos of Cyprus|Neophytus]] gave Richard the epithet of "the wretch". Richard married Berengaria in Limassol on 12 May 1192. She was crowned as [[Queen consort|Queen of England]] by [[John Fitzluke]], [[Bishop of Évreux]]. The crusader fleet continued to [[St. Jean d'Acre]] on 5 June.

The army of Richard the Lionheart continued to occupy Cyprus and raised taxes. After local revolts he decided to sell the island to the [[Knights Templar]], who were unable to hold the island because of further hostility among the local population due to tax raising. A rebellion which took place on April 6, 1192 made the Templars sell the island to [[Guy de Lusignan]] (1192–1194) who established himself in May 1192.

===Guy de Lusignan===
Richard saw this sale as advantageous to himself, as the island wasn't worth the trouble to him, as Guy had been captured by [[Saladin]] at [[Jerusalem]]. Though released later, in 1192 he was ousted in favor of [[Henry II of Champagne]] as a result, and was willing to buy Cyprus. The crusaders described him as "simplex et minus astutus", though he did set the foundation of Cypriot society in the Lusignan period. He invited Palestinian barons, disenfranchised by [[Saladin]] to move on the island, granting them [[feudal system|feudal rights]] over huge estates, using the Cypriots as serfs.

===Aimery===
[[Geoffrey of Lusignan]] passed up the position of ruler, so Guy was succeeded by his older brother Aimery (1194–1205). During his reign, the Latin church took over the dioceses of the Orthodox, creating a long-standing dispute that also characterized the [[Lusignan]] period. [[Aimery of Cyprus|Aimery]] also got Cyprus recognized as "[[Kingdom of Cyprus|kingdom]]", a title granted to him by [[Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI]]. He then regained officially the title of the [[Kingdom of Jerusalem|King of Jerusalem]] by marrying [[Henry II of Champagne]]'s widow, [[Isabella I of Jerusalem|Isabel]]. Though in name only, this title was something the Lusignan kings were very proud of as it appears on the Cypriot coat of arms. After some skirmishing in Acre with the [[Sultan of Egypt]] al-Malkik [[Al-Adil I|al-Adil]], a treaty was granted in 1204 giving him some advantages in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]]. It is said that his eating too much fish in one sitting was his cause of death in 1205.

===Hugh I===
The kingship then passed to his son, [[Hugh I of Cyprus|Hugh I]] (1205–1218). He participated in the useless 5th crusade, and died suddenly in Tripoli. Maria Komnene, dowager queen of Jerusalem, and a daughter of a former Byzantine dux of Cyprus, conducted the negotiations for the marriage of her granddaughter Alisia of Jerusalem to Hugh I of Cyprus, king Aimery's eldest surviving son and successor, in accordance with the agreement their fathers had reached. Champagne's regentess, Blanche of Navarre, supplied Alisia's dowry as she sought to ensure that Alisia would stay in Cyprus rather than attempting to lay claim to Champagne and Brie. Alisia and Hugh I married in the first half of 1210, with Alisia receiving the County of Jaffa as the agreed dowry. Hugh's marriage with [[Alice of Champagne of Jerusalem|Alisia of Jerusalem]] (daughter of Henry of Champagne and queen Isabella I of Jerusalem) produced only one son, Henry I (1218–1253), but also two daughters.

===Henry I===
Henry I became king at the age of 8 months, when his father died. The official regency was undertaken by Henry's mother Alice, but the acting regent was Henry's uncle Philip of Ibelin, who had Henry crowned at the age of 8, to ward off advances from [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor]]. When Philip died, the regency passed to Philip's brother [[John of Ibelin, the Old Lord of Beirut]], who maintained it until Henry came of age at 15.

When Henry was 12, Emperor Frederick seized the regency, taking it by force from John of Ibelin. However, when Frederick left the island of Cyprus, the popular John of Ibelin rallied forces from the Outremer, and retook the island, which began the [[War of the Lombards]]. In the [[Battle of Aghirda]], the much smaller force of Ibelins won a surprising victory over the imperial forces, and the efforts of Frederick, known as the [[Stupor Mundi]] proved unsuccessful. King [[Henry I of Cyprus|Henry]] ("the fat" as he was called, for his easy going manner) played no part in these struggles, but when of age he participated in the 7th crusade under [[Louis IX of France]] to destroy the power of [[Egypt]]. His forces left behind were forced to surrender in 1250.

At about that time, a Cypriot youngster in search of a better education would travel to the empire of Nicaea and eventually become Patriarch of Constantinople as [[Patriarch Gregory II of Constantinople|Gregory II]]. Gregory's autobiography gives valuable information on the transition from Byzantine to Lusignan rule and its impact on the local population and especially education.

Meanwhile, Henry takes as his 3rd wife [[Plaisance of Antioch]], who finally bears him a son [[Hugh II of Cyprus|Hugh II]] (1253–1267) who came upon the throne while only a few months of age. Plaisance acted as his regent, and is described by one chronicler as "one of the most valiant women in the world". She appeared at Acre, now erupting into virtual war between the [[Venice|Venetians]], [[Pisa]]ns, and [[Knights Templar]] and the Genoese, [[Spain|Spanish]], and the Hospitallers. By backing the Venetians, she hoped to have her son recognized as the King of Jerusalem, but the title had little value.

When Plaisance died, Hugh of Antioch became regent.

===Hugh III===
Hugh II died childless, and Hugh of [[Antioch]] changed his name to [[Hugh III of Cyprus|Hugh III]], (1267–1284), taking from his mother's side in order to revive the Lusignan dynasty. The Christian-friendly [[Mongols]] were pushing from the east and offered a chance of alliance against the Egyptian Sultan, but the eternally feuding powers of Medieval [[Europe]] threw this chance away, while Hugh tried to mediate with them in [[Syria]]. He died in [[Tyre (Lebanon)|Tyre]], succeeded by his oldest son [[John I of Cyprus|John I]] (1284–1285), and then by his other son [[Henry II of Jerusalem|Henry II]] (1285–1324). His reign and reputation suffered from his [[epilepsy]], and in 1286 he was crowned at Tyre for the kingdom of Jerusalem only to see it fall to Egyptian Mameluk sultan. In 1306, Henry's brother [[Amalric, Lord of Tyre|Amaury]] seized power and exiled Henry in [[Cilicia]], but Henry was restored in 1310. He is mentioned in [[Dante]]'s Paradiso, but it is not a nice reference.

===Hugh IV===
Rule passed on to his nephew [[Hugh IV of Cyprus|Hugh IV]] (1324–1359), who found himself in a new privileged position. The fall of the last coastal strongholds of the [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]] made it unnecessary for the island to waste its money on its defense. It also made the island the center for Oriental trade, and [[Famagusta]]n merchants became notoriously rich, and the island as a whole became known for its wealth. Hugh enjoyed a peaceful reign, and preferred to stay on the island.

===Peter I===
[[Peter I of Cyprus|Peter I]] (1359–1369), son of Hugh IV, may perhaps be the best known king of Cyprus. He is mentioned in [[Chaucer]]'s canterbury tales. He led an expedition to [[Alexandria]] that upset the [[Italy|Italian]] merchants, but proved successful (at least in gathering booty). He toured Europe in order to gather support for his love of crusading, but found their promises unfulfilled. He sacked [[Alexandria]] again regardless, and in destroying the gates found it impossible to hold against the [[Mameluks]]. He was driven out, but had he held it would have been a very valuable outpost. He was murdered by his nobles, but left a very devoted wife [[Eleanor of Aragon, Queen of Cyprus|Eleanor of Aragon]] (supposedly he took her nightgown with him on his campaigns), who with the help of the [[Italians]] pursued the assassins.

===Peter II===
Upon the ascension of [[Peter II of Cyprus|Peter II]] "the fat", (1369–1382), because of his lethargy, a riot broke out the coronation ceremony at the Cathedral of [[St. Nicholas]] in [[Famagusta]] between the Venetians and the Genoese. The dispute arose over who would lead the king's horse on the right side; traditionally it belonged to the Genoese but now the Venetians took it. Many Genoese were killed in the riot, and the Italian city responded harshly. In 1374, the island surrendered to the Genoese under terms of tribute, payment for damages, and loss of Famagusta to the Genoese, effectively ending prosperity.

===James I===
Peter succumbed to his lethargy, and the rule passed on to [[James I of Cyprus|James I]] (1382–1398), his uncle and now prisoner in [[Genoa]]. He was released on harsh terms, including the proviso that all ships coming into Cyprus land in now Genoese [[Famagusta]]. The king also had to raise taxes in order to pay. He added the title the King of [[Armenia]] in 1393, though it was useless as well.

===Janus===
He was succeeded by the son of Peter the II., [[Janus of Cyprus|Janus]] (1398–1432), though also called the fat was described as "tall and good looking". He unsuccessfully tried to drive the Genoese from Famagusta. In 1426 the [[Mameluks]] raided the island, and Janus met them at [[Khirokitia]]. Apparently the troops had no water, so they drank wine instead and became rather intoxicated. When a Mameluk embassy was sent, it was treacherously killed by Janus' men. The outraged mameluks slaughtered the inebriated, enfeebled, soldiers under Janus. They then proceeded to expose the hoax of the levitating cross at the [[monastery]] at [[Stavrovouni]], containing a piece deposited by [[St. Helena]] in the 4th century. Janus was taken to Egypt and paraded around backwards on a donkey in humiliation. At the same time according to the chronicle of [[Leontios Makhairas]] Cypriot serfs rebelled against the Franks and established "Re Alexis" as a king in Lefkonoiko (the word Re means king in [[Provençal dialect|Provençal]] and [[Italian language|Italian]]), and "captains" in Morphou, Limassol, Lefka and Peristerona. It took the Frankish nobility more than 6 months to defeat the rebels and Re Alexis was eventually hanged. Ten months after the battle at Khirokitia, Janus was ransomed back, and Cyprus was now ruled by the [[Mameluks]] as a tributary state.

===John II===
His son [[John II of Cyprus|John II]] (1432–1458), was described as "effeminate, but not unattractive" and was reviled by [[Pope Pius II]] as a vile evil sloth. He was dominated by two women in his life, both [[Greeks|Greek]]; [[Helena Palaiologina]] his wife and [[Marietta de Patras]], his mistress. Supposedly in a fight between these two in the king's presence, the queen bit off her adversary's nose. As the queen was Greek, she was well loved by the Cypriots and the [[Orthodox Church of Cyprus|orthodox church]].

Her daughter Charlotte and her opponent's son [[James II of Cyprus|James]] would play huge roles in the collapse of the [[Lusignan]] dynasty. James "the bastard", as he was called, was well loved by John, who made him archbishop of the island at a very young age. Yet [[Charlotte of Cyprus|Charlotte]] in 1458 was recognized as Queen regent, and James fled to Egypt. The two were said to have had a fairly good relationship, and it is probably very much due to the church that this political conflict arose between them. James convinced the Egyptian Sultan to aid him, promising loyalty to Egypt, and landed, armed, in 1460.

===James===
James won victories over the major forts, including Genoese [[Famagusta]], and was solidly placed on the throne in 1464. Charlotte had unsuccessfully tried to secure aid from outside, including from the pope. According to legend, James fell in love with his wife [[Caterina Cornaro]] while walking with her uncle who purposely dropped an image of her. The two were wed by proxy, and Caterina was adopted by the Venetian state, securing the passage of the island to the signory. James died in 1473, and his short-lived son the next year, and the Venetians were eyed with suspicion. In 1473, the [[Catalan people|Catalans]] on the island formed a revolt supporting [[Ferdinand II of Aragon]], that was put down by the Venetians. In 1479, the party of Queen Charlotte plotted to assassinate the queen, but it was betrayed and quashed. Due also to the looming threat of the [[Ottoman Turks]], Venice used the Queen's brother to convince her to abdicate the throne in 1489, ushering in the Venetian period.

==See also==
*[[Chronicle of Amadi]]
*[[Cyprus under the Ottoman Empire]]
*[[History of Cyprus]]
*[[Kingdom of Cyprus]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*Hunt, Sir David (ed.) 1994. ''Footprints in Cyprus''. London.
*Cobham, C. D. 1908 (reprint 1969). ''Excerpta Cypria. Materials for a History of Cyprus''. Cambridge.
*[http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/cyphome/govhome.nsf/LookupIDs/CF5ED5B3EDE71CFEC2256B6B003B1BD3?OpenDocument&languageNo=1 History of Cyprus - Middle Ages by Cypriot Government] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051201135541/http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/cyphome/govhome.nsf/LookupIDs/CF5ED5B3EDE71CFEC2256B6B003B1BD3?OpenDocument&languageNo=1 |date=1 December 2005 }}
* {{cite book | last=Jenkins | first=Romilly James Heald | author-link=Romilly Jenkins | chapter=Cyprus between Byzantium and Islam, A.D. 688-965 | title=Studies presented to D.M. Robinson 11 | publisher=[[Washington University in St. Louis]] | year=1953 | pages=1006–1014}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Lynch |first1=Ryan J. |title=Cyprus and Its Legal and Historiographical Significance in Early Islamic History |journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |date=July–September 2016 |volume=136 |issue=3 |pages=535–550 |jstor=10.7817/jameroriesoci.136.3.0535 |doi=10.7817/jameroriesoci.136.3.0535 |url=https://zenodo.org/record/4544866 }}
* {{cite book |first=David Michael |author-link=Michael Metcalf |last=Metcalf |title=Byzantine Cyprus, 491–1191 |publisher=Cyprus Research Centre |year=2009}}
* {{Runciman-A History of the Crusades|volume=2}}

{{Cyprus topics}}
{{Roman history by territory}}

[[Category:Medieval history of Cyprus| ]]
[[Category:Military history of the Mediterranean]]