History of North Cyprus

The habitation of Cyprus dates back 9,000 years. Archaeological excavations at numerous localities have brought light to the different stages in the islands’ development.

Today history of North Cyprus is seen everywhere – remains of ancient Cyprus cities, temples, theatres, gymnasia, palaces, mosaics, Byzantine churches with fresco paintings, medieval crusader cathedrals, North Cyprus castles and walled cities, etc. In recorded history Cyprus was occupied by the Egyptians in 1,450 BC after which came the Assyrians, Persians, Ptolemies, Romans, Byzantines, Isaac Comenus, Richard I of England, Templars, Lusignans and Venetians respectively, up to 1571. In that year the Turks captured the Cyprus Island. It was a Turkish province until 1878. In that year began the British occupation, which continued until 1960 when the island became a Republic.

History and Mythology intertwine throughout the Cyprus Island. Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, arose from the waters near Paphos. After Cronus cut of Uranus’ testicles and threw them into the sea, the very beautiful Aphrodite rose from the white foamy sea. The Olympian gods, Zeus, Apollo, Poseidon, Hera, Athena, Artemis and Demeter made their home here on Mount Olympus in the Troodos Mountains.

Although we cannot give a long and detailed account of the whole of the Island’s history, we will mention the highlights since the beginning of the Christian era.

The outstanding event in the Roman Period (58 BC – 395 AD) and later under the Byzantines (395 – 1191 AD) was the establishment and growth of Christianity in Cyprus. Paul, Barnabas and John Mark visited Cyprus in 45 AD. It was then that the Roman Governor, Sergius Paulus was converted, and Cyprus became the first country to have a Christian ruler.

In 1191 the Anglo-Norman crusading fleet led by Richard I of England started for the Levant. There was a storm and some of the fleet took refuge in Cyprus. The Ruler of Cyprus, Isaac Comnenus, captured the sailors and Berengaria of Navarre, Richard’s fiancée. Richard waged war against Isaac and captured Cyprus.

Realising the need of men-at-arms in the Holy Land and money, Richard sold the Island to the Order of the Knights Templar, took a deposit from them, and left the island.

The Templars held Cyprus chiefly as a source of revenue. The Cypriots plotted to fight against the Templars because they used such harshness. On Easter Day 1192 a massacre took place which put the Templars into a bad position. Their debt to Richard was also a problem.

In 1192 King Richard sold the island again to Guy de Lusignan, the ex King of Jerusalem, as a sort of compensation for the loss of Jerusalem. The reign of the Lusignans (1192 – 1489) is considered the Golden Age of Medieval Cyprus. Today the beautiful cathedrals and castles still stand. Merchants flocked to Cyprus and Famagusta flourished and was regarded as the principal port of the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Lusignan power began to wane and the Venetians occupied the island (1489 – 1571).
The Venetians neglected everything. They imposed heavy taxes and constructed the strong military fortifications such as those around Nicosia and Famagusta.

In 1570 Sultan Selim II of Turkey decided to bring Cyprus under Turkish Rule. After a bloody fight the Turks captured the island in 1571. In 1878 hostilities between Russia and Turkey came to an end. The Russian claims upon Turkey aroused the opposition of Great Britain. The British worried that the Russians would threaten the Suez canal. As a result in 1878 the Sultan permitted Cyprus to be administered by Great Britain. In 1914 Turkey joined forces with Germany so the island was annexed to the British. The following year Britain offered Cyprus to Greece if Greece fought with the Allies in World War I. Greece refused. In 1925 the Island became a Crown Colony of the British Empire.

Encouraged by the Orthodox Church, the people of Cyprus wanted union with Greece. There were terrible riots and Government House was burnt to the ground in 1931. However World War II saw 30,000 Cypriots fighting in the British forces. It was not long after the end of the war that ENOSIS (Union with Greece) reared its head again. The Greek-Cypriot underground EOKA (National Organisation of Cypriot Combatants), lead by Grivas, began a bloody battle against British rule. In 1957 and again in 1958 Greece applied to the United Nations to allow self-government on the island. The Turkish Cypriots had not been considered important by the Greek Cypriot majority. Turkey called for partition of Cyprus. A conference on Cyprus took place in Zurich in January 1959. This was followed in February 1959 by the London Conference where the Zurich Agreement on Cyprus was signed by Archbishop Makarios, Dr Fazil Küçük (Turkish Cypriot leader), Prime Minister of Great Britain, Greece and Turkey. This agreement had safeguards for the minority Turkish Cypriots as well as powers of intervention to Britain, Turkey and Greece.

At 00:01 on August 16th 1960 Cyprus became an independent sovereign republic.

The peace so longed for by the Cypriots was not to last.

Cyprus had a Greek President and a Turkish Vice President each with powers to veto government decisions, however the majority were in favour of the Greeks. In 1963 armed Greek EOKA rebels entered the mostly Turkish area of Omorphita (Kücük Kaymakli) in Nicosia and opened fire on the Turks. This included woman, children and the elderly. Anyone who did not escape was tortured. The Turkish people had to defend themselves and took to living in enclaves. The buffer zone dividing Nicosia was set up by the British, but did this not keep the two sides apart successfully. In 1964 the UN took over. Makarios renounced the London conference making it clear that he wanted Enosis. Makarios was forced to withdraw his announcement for Enosis but the damage was done. The Greeks continued to crush the Turks. Turkey threatened with action but was stalled by the military coup in Greece. Enosis was dropped and Cyprus saw an upturn in its economy becoming a popular holiday destination.

Grivas returned back to Cyprus from Greece in 1974 with the intention of heading the armed forces and starting EOKA-B. He then died of a heart attack and Makarios, who renounced the call for Enosis was re-elected as President. Makarios ordered the withdrawal of mainland Greek officers which provoked the National Guard into storming his Presidential Palace. Makarios escaped the military coup which had been supported by the junta in Greece. Turkey now felt it had the right to intervene and save the Turks. Turkish forces landed in Cyprus on July 20th 1974 taking 40 per cent of the island.

TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS K.K.T.C.

‘Kuzey Kıbrıs Turk Cumhuriyeti’ (the official name for North Cyprus)
Was established on 15th November 1983.

Despite continual negotiations between the Turkish and Greek sides of the Island an agreement between the two sides is yet to be reached.

Although the K.K.T.C. has not (to date) been recognised by the rest of the world as an official Country, it does function as one to the best of its ability.

It is a multi-party Republic with a 50 seat legislative assembly. The head of State is the President of the Republic and the head of the Government is the Prime Minister.

The Capital City for both the Turkish and the Greek sides of the Island is Lefkoşa (Nicosia).

The majority religion is Muslim (98% of the population).

In April 2004 a referendum was held for the Cypriot people in the South and on the North. This referendum was based on a plan – called the Annan Plan – drawn up by Kofi Annan and the United Nations. Since 1974 there have been many attempts to reunited Cyprus, and this plan was drawn up allowing for compromises to be made by both sides. The Turkish Cypriots voted in favour even though it meant giving up land and many Turkish Cypriots would have become refugees again. The Greek Cypriots voted overwhelming against. So on May 1st 2004 Cyprus became a full member of the EU, but following the referendum, only the Greek side became a member.

For further information we recommend the Landmark Visitors Guide to Northern Cyprus. The ISBN number is 1-84306-158-9