The Byzantine Period

From about 330 until the seventh century Cyprus had a golden age under the rule of Constantinople, there was peace and order. Christianity spread and cathedrals were built in all the major cities on the island. At this time Cyprus was administered from Antioch in Syria.

An earthquake rocked the island in 332, damaging and destroying many of the towns. In 342 the island was hit again, destroying Salamis. It was rebuilt by Emperor Constantius II and renamed Constantia.

In 431 a dispute arose between the Bishops of Cyprus and the patriarch of Antioch over ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the island. Syria claimed that the Church of Antioch, having been founded by the Apostle Peter had precedence over that of Cyprus. The Church of Cyprus responded that having been founded by an Apostle, St Barnabus, the island's church was also apostolic and of equal rank. This claim was initially unsuccessful until Anthemios, the Archbishop of Salamis, had St Barnabas reveal the whereabouts of his tomb in a dream. Anthemios unearthed the Apostles remains, and armed with a Gospel of St Matthew found with the bones of St Barnabas he successfully petitioned Emperor Zeno of Constantinople who granted autonomy to the Church of Cyprus.

The Emperor provided funds for the building of the monastery of St Barnabas at the site of the tomb. The original monastery was destroyed by Arab raiders in the seventh century, the present church dates from about 1750.

From the seventh to the ninth centuries the island was devastated by Arab raiders. Coastal cities and towns were abandoned, being too vulnerable to attack, many ancient and early Christian buildings were destroyed.

Under the terms of an Arab - Byzantine agreement the island had to pay tribute to both the Byzantine empire and the Arab caliphate. The island had to remain de-militarised excepting for naval bases belonging to both sides and Muslim settlers were to be accepted. This uneasy agreement was to last some 300 years, during which time Cyprus grew rich on silk production (introduced by Emperor Constantine, and the reason for Cyprus having many Mulberry bushes) and food exports.

Eventually, in 960, the Emperor Nikiphoros Phokas drove the Arabs out completely. Muslim settlers either left or converted to Christianity. Cyprus then enjoyed almost two hundred years of relative peace as a full Byzantine province. In this time most of today's towns were founded, including Kyrenia, Famagusta, Nicosia and Limassol. Great new fortifications were built at St Hilarion, Buffavento, Kantara, Famagusta, Kyrenia and Nicosia to protect the island from further Arab raids.

In the eleventh century the Seljuk Turks overcame the Arab caliphate and captured Jerusalem. They then devastated the Byzantine forces or Emperor Manuel Comnenus at the battle of Manzikert. Taking advantage of the situation the Emperor's nephew Isaac Comnenus took control of Cyprus in 1184 and renounced allegiance to Constantinople.

The Lusignan Dynasty