CYPRUS IN THE MIDDLE AGES.
When standing amidst the grand relics of a past age which meet the
eye at every turn in the capital of this beautiful island, or when
wandering about its dirty narrow streets, I could not but reflect on
the manifold changes this fine city has undergone, and picture the days
when she stood in the zenith of her fame and beauty.
The career of Cyprus is without a parallel in the history of the world.
Here we find established in the very heart of the East, on Phœnician
Grecian foundations, a mighty kingdom distinguished by its high display
of all that adorned the finest age of chivalry, and in spite of all the
agitations which beset the outer world, retaining these traditions till
the close of the sixteenth century, when the Turks swept down upon her,
carrying ruin and destruction in their train.
It will be worth one’s while to linger for a few minutes whilst we
note the history of Cyprus during these four centuries. “This sweet
island,” as the poets of the country are fond of calling her, was for
nine hundred years under the dominion of the Byzantine kings, until in
1191 it was seized upon in a burst of anger by our own impetuous and
rash Cœur de Lion, whose indignation had been excited by a refusal to
allow his queen, Berengaria, to land. He at once forced a landing at
Limasol, stormed the city, overthrew the prince’s army, and overspread
the whole island, compelling the people to submit to him.
A prince of the house of Comnena was at this time on the throne.
Richard, for the first time aware of the value of his new possession as
a gathering point and resting-place in any further attempts upon the
Turks, and yet unable to take the government upon his own shoulders,
resolved to make money of his lucky acquisitions, and offered the crown
to Wido (Guido) Lusignan, ex-king of Jerusalem, for the sum of 100,000
ducats. During the time of Richard’s possession he conducted himself
with much severity to the inhabitants. Half the land was at once
appropriated to the use of himself and his followers, a certain portion
was set aside for his personal expenses and the endowment of churches
and monasteries, and the rest divided and allotted as feudal tenures to
his followers.
Such an El Dorado was not to be regarded with indifference by the
adventurous knights of Christendom, and numbers followed in the wake of
Richard to receive their share of the titles and baronial fiefs that
were being lavished around.
As years went on, and one place after another was wrested from
Christendom, monks and priests, anxious to find a comfortable
resting-place, turned their steps to Cyprus.
Wido de Lusignan had brought no less than three hundred knights and two
hundred squires in his train. These Knight Templars at once erected
a lodge to their order in Limasol, and twenty years afterwards their
numbers had greatly increased; some were English and German, but the
majority Italians and Frenchmen. A reign of chivalry now arose which
drew the eyes of Europe to this small and famed island. Wido, the first
king of the Lusignan dynasty, only reigned three years, but his reign
was marked by strenuous efforts to complete the subjection of the
Cypriotes by the building of strong castles and fortresses. Order and
justice distinguished his sway.
Amalrick, his brother and successor, was no sooner installed than he
summoned his followers and announced his intention of at once offering
his crown as a fief to some monarch powerful enough to protect him from
all enemies. An embassy was sent to offer allegiance to the Emperor
Henry the Sixth, of Germany, who recognised the importance of the step,
and consented to uphold Amalrick as his vassal. The Archbishop of Trami
and Brindisi was despatched to bear a sceptre to the royal vassal, and
desire that the coronation might take place in the emperor’s presence
when he visited the Holy Land. Amalrick, however, was averse to this
delay, and his royal master therefore consented that the ceremony
should be performed before a deputy.
In September, 1197, Bishop Hildesheim, the Imperial Chancellor,
arrived, and received the oaths of the new king. The coronation was
then celebrated before him in the principal church in Nikosia. Now
commenced a long career of knightly deeds and chivalrous enterprises,
led under the banner of the King of Cyprus, and many notable feats were
performed by sea and land.
From 1285 to 1373 must be regarded as the most glorious period of this
career of enterprise, the reigns of Henry the Second, Hugo the Fourth,
and Peter the First being particularly distinguished in the annals of
the times; Smyrna and Alexandria were conquered, and the emirs upon the
coast compelled to pay tribute.
At this epoch, Cyprus was the centre of Eastern commerce, and
merchandise was brought thither from Asia and Europe, either
for exchange, or to be forwarded to other hands. The towns of
Limasol, Paphos, and Keryneia, were crowded with merchandise from
Constantinople, Beyrout, Damascus, and Alexandria, from Venice, Pisa,
Genoa, Barcelona, and Marseilles. Famagusta was regarded as the
principal mart of the Mediterranean, and a constant stream of pilgrims
enlivened all the havens of Cyprus.
With the improved cultivation of the land and such developed commerce
large sums of money were made, and in proportion as the wealth of
the island increased an equal change in its inhabitants arose, and
self-indulgence and cross extravagance began to sap the strength of the
upper classes. The highest prosperity of Cyprus may be said to have
continued for two hundred years. In 1337 its misfortunes recommenced.
The Genoese fell upon the island and met with little or no resistance
from the inhabitants, who were quite unprepared for the attack.
Famagusta became the head-quarters of these merciless oppressors, who
at once stretched forth an iron hand upon the trade of the country.
Cyprus never rallied from this blow. A feeble attempt was made to drive
out the invaders, but the Genoese called in the assistance of the
Egyptian Mamelukes, who compelled the Cypriotes to pay them tribute.
Now arose a scene of anarchy and rapid decline; every man’s hand was
against every man, and private revenge took the place of law and order.
The interposition of the Venetian rule at this time must be regarded
as a decided improvement on such a state of things. Katherine, the
daughter of a lofty Venetian patrician, was given in marriage to
James, the now insignificant prince of the unfortunate island, and
jointly shared his throne. The marriage was celebrated in 1471, and
the Venetian Senate adopted the queen as a daughter of St. Mark. In
1473 James died, and the Venetian Government at once assumed charge of
his son. This child, however, dying, Katherine was persuaded by the
Senate to abdicate in their favour. Meanwhile Charlotte Lusignan, only
daughter of John the Third, who had married her cousin Louis, son of
the Duke of Savoy and Anna of Cyprus, went to reside in Rome, where
she died in 1487, bequeathing her claims to Charles Duke of Savoy, in
consequence of which the sovereigns of that dynasty assumed the titles
of kings of Cyprus and Jerusalem. (This interesting fact will explain
the feeling with which our interference with the island has been
regarded in Italy). The Venetian rulers at once attempted to restore
order and foster expiring commerce, but without much success.
In 1571 the last traces of Cyprian glory disappeared under the
blighting shadow of the Turkish banner. The people did not surrender
without a struggle, but they were much enfeebled, and their Venetian
rulers had already more possessions than they could maintain by force
of arms. All Europe trembled before the successful troops of Suliman
the Third. In 1566 the Cypriotes were commanded to fortify their
capital, the city was to be reduced to a third of its then size, and
surrounded by walls, moats, and eleven bastions, all buildings beyond
these limits to be destroyed. The nobility and people willingly obeyed,
and consented not only to execute the order, but bear all attendant
expenses. Mansions and villas were torn down to make way for the new
fortresses. Even the Dominican cloister, which contained the graves
of their kings, was sacrificed, and of the eleven gates that then
surrounded Nikosia only three were allowed to remain standing.
Selim the Second, Suliman’s successor, had a strong taste for Cyprian
wine, the companion in his carousals being a Portugese Jew called
Miguez Nassy. This man had once professed Christianity, but had found
it convenient to renounce his faith. He is said to have incited Selim
to put his son on the throne of Cyprus. In order to accomplish this
end Selim appeared before Limasol in 1570, with the Turkish fleet. The
arsenal in Venice was set in flames at this time; this act is supposed
to have been committed by incendiaries sent thither by Nassy for that
purpose. The Venetians in Cyprus had no force to withstand the Turkish
troops, and the Cypriotes were too spirit-broken to fight for the land
that was only cultivated to enrich their merciless taskmasters.
The Proveditore, Nicolaus Dandolo, decided to surrender the whole of
the island, with the exception of Famagusta and Nikosia. The Turks
landed without further hindrance and marched at once to the capital
with 100,000 men, whilst their fleet kept guard, lest assistance might
be sent from Europe. For seven weeks the city sustained the siege,
and the nobility, ably supported by the lower orders, bore themselves
like brave but desperate men. Twice the Turks led an assault, and
twice were gloriously repulsed, until they were obliged to send for a
reinforcement of 10,000 men, including many sailors, to aid them in the
desperate struggle. The bold defenders of the capital were at no time
more than 100,000 strong.
In the night on the 9th of September began the third general storming
of the doomed city. The whole army threw itself as one man against the
walls, and before sunrise three bastions were in the enemy’s hands;
20,000 men fell at the first shock, but their places were soon filled
by those who pressed behind. The unfortunate women, as soon as they saw
that all was lost, flung themselves in numbers from the roofs of the
houses, and many daughters, we are told, met their death at the hand
of their father or mother to save them from a worse fate. The carnage
and work of destruction lasted for eight days, and when it ceased, what
had once been a fair city was a mere open space, covered with blackened
ruins, with only its still towering cathedral dome looking down upon
the scene. Two thousand Turks remained to keep possession, whilst the
rest of the army marched on to Famagusta.
Nikosia was in the hands of the Mussulmans, and the last Christian
city in the East entirely destroyed. Enormous booty, comprising an
immense amount of jewels, gold cloth, and fine works of art, and nearly
a thousand of the fairest and noblest maidens, were put on board
three ships to be sent to Constantinople, as tribute from Cyprus to
the Sultan. A Greek lady on board; preferring death to the fate that
awaited her, found her way to the powder magazine, which she ignited.
The ship at once exploded, setting fire to its companion vessels, which
were also totally destroyed; only a few sailors saved themselves by
swimming. Four years later Sultan Selim, having enjoyed the choicest
Cyprian wine to his heart’s content, happened one day to take a fuller
cup than usual before entering his bath, his foot slipped and his skull
was fractured on its marble floor. He only survived this accident
eleven days.