The Lusignan Dynasty

The first and second crusades largely bypassed Cyprus. Isaac Comnenus continued to rule Cyprus tyrannically. He promised the Saracen leader Saladin, who had recaptured Jerusalem, that he would not aid in the Third Crusade to liberate the city.

In 1191 the English and French crusaders set sail for Acre. Richard the Lionheart led the English fleet, but on route to Acre they were caught in a storm, and the fleet was scattered. Richard's fiancée, Princess Berengaria of Navarre, landed on Cyprus where Comnenus mistreated her. Richard arrived some days later, landed in force and seized Limassol. Comnenus gave in and swore allegiance to Richard, but promptly went on the run until captured by Guy de Lusignan at Cape Andreas in the Karpas. Richard then married Princess Berengaria in Limassol where she was crowned Queen of England. Richard stripped Cyprus of its wealth and set sail for Acre in June that year leaving a garrison on the island.

Following Cypriot uprisings against the new rulers Richard sold the island to the Knights Templar. They found the Cypriots equally as rebellious and troublesome, and quickly handed the island back to Richard.

Richard, not wanting to be troubled by the island then gave Cyprus to Guy de Lusignan who had been deposed from the throne in Jerusalem. This began almost 300 years of Lusignan rule on the island.

Guy died two years later in 1194. His brother Amaury succeeded him to the throne, and ratified by the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry VI, Amaury became the first Lusignan king of Cyprus.

The defenses of the island were once again extended to secure Amaury's position. He also began to repress the Orthodox church. While harsh and tyrannical to the native Cypriots, the Lusignan dynasty left some wonderful monuments to their rule including the Cathedrals of St Nicholas in Famagusta, St Sophia's in Nicosia and the Abbey of Bellapaix at Beylerbeyi.

At the coronation of King Peter II in 1372, rivalries between the Venetian and Genoese powers erupted over who should lead the king's horse, resulting in a brawl. After the coronation the Venetians attacked the Genoese, killing them and destroying their property. The Genoese responded, sending troops to Cyprus and capturing Famagusta and Nicosia along with the young prince, James. Eleanor, the king's mother, took refuge in Kyrenia castle which withstood all Genoese assaults until in 1374 a treaty with the Genoese restored Peter II to the throne. The Genoese kept control of Famagusta and held James hostage until his succession to the throne in 1385 as James I.

James' successor, Janus led several raids on Egypt, until in 1426 the Marmelukes invaded Cyprus, decimating the Cypriot army and sacking Nicosia and imposing tribute on the island.

The Lusignan dynasty never recovered, and while James II managed to oust the Genoese, his marriage to Caterina Cornaro of Venice was to spell the end of the dynasty. James II died in 1473 in suspicious circumstances. He was succeeded by his infant son James III, but his death was engineered by the Venetians the following year. In 1489 Queen Caterina was made to abdicate by the Venetians who took over government of the island.

The Venetian Period