Cyprus

Cyprus

From the Saints to the Crusaders and Venetians

Byzantine rule was restored in 965 , when Emperor Nicephorus II Phocas won decisive victories on land and sea . In 1191 , during the Third Crusade , Richard I of England conquered the island against Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus and used it as the main supply base , since it was relatively safe from the Saracens . A year later it was sold to the Knights Templar , who sold it to Guido of Lusignan , who founded a kingdom . His brother and successor Amalric was recognized as King of Cyprus by Henry VI of Swabia . After the death in 1473 of James II , the last king Lusignan , the Republic of Venice took control of the island , while the Venetian widow of the late King , Queen Catherine Cornaro , formally exercised power. Venice annexed Cyprus in 1489 , after the abdication of Catherine. The Venetians fortified Nicosia by building the famous Venetian walls , using it as an important trading center . During Venetian rule , the Ottoman Empire frequently raided the island . In 1539 the Ottomans destroyed Limassol and so fearing the worst , the Venetians also fortified Famagusta and Kyrenia . During the nearly four centuries of Latin rule , there were two distinct communities in Cyprus , a Greek and the other Levantine

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