Cyprus history and culture
From ancient times to European Union
Cyprus has for centuries struggled under the yoke of successive occupations, only becoming an independent state in 1960 and even then all was not settled as the division between the Turkish North and the Greek South of the island in 1974 sadly demonstrates.
Cyprus Timeline
565BC-545BCE
Cyprus under Egyptian control.
1191 - 1192
Richard the Lionheart overruns the island, then later presents Cyprus to Guy de Lusignan, King of Jerusalem, and the Lusignan dynasty begins.
1571
Turkish invasion and beginning of Ottoman Era (1571 – 1878).
1878
Turkey turns Cyprus over to the British.
1955
Greek Cypriots begin guerrilla war against British rule.
1956
Archbishop Makarios is deported to the Seychelles, accused of supporting terrorists.
1959
Makarios returns and is elected President.
1960
Cyprus gains independence after reaching agreement on a constitution and Britain retains sovereignty over two military bases.
Following conflict a UN peacekeeping force is set up.
1967
A Turkish-Cypriot government is formed.
1974
Following a series of coups, Makarios is restored as President, leaving Turkish troops holding 37% of the island, resulting in Greek and Turkish sectors with a UN no-man’s land in between.
1977
Archbishop Makarios dies and Spyros Kyprianou becomes President.
1983
Turkish Cypriots declare the northern third of the island a separate republic, recognised only by Turkey.
2004
Cyprus becomes a member of the European Union, but does so as a divided island.
Quick Facts:
- A buried cat uncovered in 2004 is said to be 9,500 years old.
- Benjamin Disraeli described Cyprus as “The rosy realm of Venus, the romantic Kingdom of the Crusades”.
- In 1915 Britain offered to cede Cyprus to Greece if they entered the war immediately on Britain’s side – the offer was rejected.
- The Green Line dividing Cyprus, runs for 180 km from Kokkina to Famagusta.
