This is a brief outline of the various countries occupying Cyprus in the AD years
Rome annexed Cyprus in 58 BC, first as a province of Syria, then as separate province under a proconsul. A period of large public buildings - the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates at Kourion, the Temple of Zeus at Salamis. Further impressive remains can be found at Nea Paphos and Soli. Both Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony offered Cyprus as a gift to Cleopatra. The Roman period saw the spread of Christianity. The Apostles Paul, Barnabas and Mark landed in Cyprus in the year 45 AD. The first Bishoprics were established on the island. Barnabas died a a Martyrs death in Salamis.
With the split of the Roman Empire, Cyprus was allocated to the East Roman or Byzantine Empire. In 330 AD Constantine the Great founded a new capital for the empire on the site of ancient Byzantium. A period of prosperity for the island. Numerous churches were constructed, existing temples became churches. The island suffered numerous Arab raids resulting in an Arab presence on the island dividing the Byzantine Period into two smaller periods.
Richard the Lion Heart (Richard I, King of England) was forced by bad weather to land at Limassol whilst out crusading. The reception was not good and so Richard conquered the island. Needing money to finance crusades the island was sold to the Knights Templars in 1192. Equally short of cash and finding Cyprus a troublesome investment the Knights Templars sold the island at a loss back to Richard. He in turn sold it on to a Frankish crusading knight - Guy de Lusignan. Richard married Queen Berengaria of Navarre and crowned her Queen of England in Limassol castle - the only Royal Wedding and Coronation to have taken place outside of England
The Lusigans introduced a Norman feudal model, the Cypriots reduced to the status of serfs. The Latin church was introduced, the Orthodox church persecuted. Through trade the island prospered, Famagusta became one of the richest cities of the East. Several Gothic buildings were constructed during this period - the cathedrals of Ayia Sophia in Nicosia, Saint Nicolas in Famagusta and Bellapais Abbey.
In 1489 Catherine Kornaro, the last Queen of Cyprus, ceded Cyprus to the Venetians. This brought to an end the Medieval period and ushered in the Venetian Period. A period noted for its persecution of the Greek Orthodox Church. Massive fortresses were constructed against the threat of an Ottoman invasion. Both Nicosia and Famagusta were encircled by great walls and bastions, the remains of which can still be seen. The Turks stormed Nicosia in 1570 and Famagusta in 1572 bringing to an end the Venetian period
Cyprus was annexed by the Ottoman Empire. Many Turks arrived and settled on the island creating the two communities. The Latin Church was evicted, the Orthodox Church allowed to continue. Under Turkish rule the island fell into economic decline. In 1878 under the terms of an alliance the Sultan ceded Cyprus to the British for the purpose of defence and administration, though it remained the property of the Sultan. In 1914 when Turkey entered the War on the side of Germany, Cyprus was formally annexed by Great Britain. In 1923, under the Treaty of Lausanne, Turkey renounced all claims to the island.
Under British rule the island prospered. Problems arose when many Greek Cypriots began to demand union with Greece. This also sent alarm bells ringing in the minority Turkish community. The demand for unity with Greece pre-dates British rule and dates back to the independence of Greece. In 1950 and again in 1955 the Cypriots asked the UN to recognise their demand for independence. In 1955 Colonel George Grivas launched a terrorist campaign against the British (or an armed struggle for independence depending upon your viewpoint). The British brought in troops to quell the disturbances. This proved to be counter-productive and merely generated more support amongst the Greek Cypriots. The British then made a grave mistake, a mistake that was to lead to riots, splits between Greek and Turkish Cypriots and the eventual partition of the island. Playing on Turkish Cypriot fears and with the collusion of the Turks, the British set up Turkish Cypriot terror units. These proved all too successful, the different communities retreated into their own enclaves, and the island came very close to civil war a few years later during independence. Two more appeals were made to the UN in 1957. A fifth appeal was made in September 1958. The British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, put forward plans for the partition of Cyprus. These led to Greco-Turkish talks which finally led to the Zurich Agreement, signed in London in February 1959. Under the Zurich Agreement Cyprus was to become an independent state with Britain, Greece and Turkey acting as guarantors.
In 1960 Cyprus was inaugurated as the independent Republic of Cyprus with Archbishop Makarios as the first President of Cyprus. Cyprus had gained independence but it was not at peace with itself. Inter-ethnic fighting periodically flared up, in August 1964 Turkey launched air strikes against Cyprus, in the same year UN troops were dispatched to the island in an attempt to keep the peace between the two communities (and have been there ever since). Makarios's relationship with the fascist regime in Greece gradually deteriorated. The demand for union with Greece had not gone away. A group of Cypriots, with the backing of the military junta in Greece, launched a coup against Makarios and appointed Nicos Sampson as President. This gave Turkey the excuse it was looking for, five days later Turkey invaded Cyprus.
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