Richard & Lusignans    The Turkish invasion    Green Line     Farmagusta    churches of Farmagusta

Welcome to the Island of Cyprus page. Here you will learn about the island, it's history and it's people. We also relate the unlawful invasion by the Turkish forces who invaded and divided our island contrary to all international law. As such Nicosia remains the only divided city in Europe.

Our History

Cyprus has a long history stretching back to the dawn of civilisation. To us, the Cypriots who live here, it is more than a holiday destination, it is our home, a land which we have had to fight to keep free over the centuries.

Our history goes back over 5000 years, the Egyptians came here for copper, and old workings still exist in the mountains, though disused now. Some historians like to put our history as starting from the late bronze age in 1600 to 1050 BC but whatever they say nothing changes the fact that Cypriots have always had to fight for their identity, and ensured it's survival against all the odds.

During the late bronze age Cyprus traded with Egypt, Syria, most of Lebanon and all of the Greek world. Many settlers arrived from Mycenae on the greek mainland to settle around the coast of Cyprus. Unfortunately our land was close to the Turkish mainland and pirates from this area attacked trade from Cyprus. As a result the powers of the day saw Cyprus as a strategic island and it fell under the rule of,Phoenicians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians and Romans.

The land area of Cyprus is 3572 square miles, and many people from abroad do not realise that much of this land is mountainous and hilly, although most of the population lives close to the coast.

Under Rome Cyprus had some stability and prospered. This period stretched from 58BC until the Roman empire split and Cyprus became ruled from Constantinople and was part of the Byzantine empire and Orthodoxy became our religion.

Cyprus once more became the focus of pirate attacks until the Byzantine empire put the arabs to flight. By the 12th century the empire of Byzantium was fading and Cyprus became truly independent. The ruler was however a tyrant called Isaac Comnenus who ruled until 1191. At this time Cyprus began it's long association with England and the English.

In 1191 Richard the Lionheart defeated Comnenus in battle while on his way to the 3rd crusade. Richard found no use for the Island and sold it to the Knights Templar to raise money for the crusade. The knights found the Cypriots troublesome and independent and persuaded Richard to take the island back.

Richard installed a French knight called Guy de Lusignan. Guy was a brave and gallant soldier and a good ruler and established a dynasty called the Lusignan's. King Peter 1st 1359 - 67 built many fine churches and buildings around Farmagusta and Nicosia.

With the death of Peter the Genoese and the Venetians both sought control of the Island. The Venetians finally took control in1489 to use the island as a base to stop the Ottoman empire of the Turks. During this period the massive defences around Farmagusta and Nicosia were built. Despite this the people of Cyprus were invaded by the Turk in 1570 and Nicosia fell. Farmagusta held out for a further 10 months and surrendered in 1571.

A period of repression now began, our religion was attacked and we became a pawn in the machinations of other powers. With Russia taking an increasing interest in the Ottoman empire and Cyprus in particular, the Sultan of Turkey, in 1878, placed Cyprus in the hands of the British for administration purposes.

Britain annexed Cyprus in 1923 and under the treaty of Lausanne Cyprus became a British Crown Colony.

The Cypriots hoped for freedom and justice under the British but it was not to be. In the cold war years after the second world war Cyprus was a strategic prize and the fire of Hellenism burned for most Greek Cypriots. It was inevitable that in April 1955 the partisan movement EOKA, led by Colonel George Grivas began the struggle for Cypriot independence.

After 4yrs of bloodshed Cyprus achieved independence under the leadership of our Archbisop Makarios 3rd. The Archbishop, despite his death is held in great affection by the Cypriot people.

The treaty of Zurich which ended the conflict was signed by Britain, Greece and Turkey in1959 and Cyprus at last was free.

There followed co-operation between the Turkish minority, (about 10% of the population), and the Greek majority. A Turkish vice president was a vital part of the independence agreement. In 1963 relations between the Cypriot Turks and the Greek Cypriots started to deteriorate until open hostilities broke out in 1964 and United Nations peace keepers were sent in the following year. In 1967 hostilities again broke out and simmered on till 1974 when a coup in Cyprus supported by the military junta in Greece brought Nicos Sampson to power. Five days later and with the UN forces standing impotently by the Turks invaded Cyprus seizing 37% of the island and started to import Turks from the mainland to bolster the Turkish population. This ethnic cleansing has received little comment from the "Great Powers" who are so vociferous when it comes to ethnic cleansing elsewhere in the Balkans.

In 1985 contrary to all international law the illegal regime in northern Cyprus declared it's own state. Recognised by only Turkey, this enclave has become a sanctuary for criminals from around the world.

The "Green Line" of Cyprus is a reminder to all free peoples of the world that dictatorship still persists and is a potent reminder of the hypocrisy of those governments who claim the moral high ground. The fall of the Berlin wall was greeted ecstatically. There is still another wall, a wall of barbed wire and mines on which Cypriots have died, THE GREEN LINE of Nicosia.

Give your support, write to your MP or Congressman a FREE CYPRUS MUST BE A REALITY.

We shall be adding details of Cypriot lifestyle and architecture, holiday resorts and places of interest soon, please keep visiting.

Farmagusta lies in an area called,'The Mesaoria' while jutting eastwards is the 'Karpas' that finger of land poking towards Syria. Farmagusta was a mixed village of Greeks and Turks living amicably together until the time of the invasion.

Much of Farmagusta was allowed to decay and even today it is still possible through binoculars to see the damage wrought by the invading Turks.

Old Farmagusta is an impressive walled city, more impressive than Jerusalem and it is complete. The new area to the south is called, 'Varosha' and is mainly residential with flats and hotels.

The ruins of ancient Salamis lie just 6mls north of Farmagusta. The whole area is steeped in history and the cosmopolitan nature of the city before the invasion is demonstrated by the wealth of fine churches and mosques to be found within the old Venetian walls.

Christian churches are:- The Carmelite church of St. Marys, the Nestorian church, St. George of the Latins, the churches of the Templars and Hospitallers, St George of the Greeks and the superb St. Nicholas cathedral.

Othellos tower (the citadel) at the north east end of the walls is a great landmark.