‘Cyprus.’ [‎9r] (17/184)

HISTORY OF CYPRUS.
11
found tire port closed by sunken ships and other impediments, so
the troops were rowed in galleys a short distance along the coast
to a place where the shore was low and suitable for landing, and
here he disembarked, and advanced upon Limasol. The Latin
inhabitants of the town at once opened their gates to him, and
informed him that Isaac, with the Greek army, had retired to the
hills. Eventually a meeting took place between Richard and
Isaac in the English camp, and the king expressed his surprise at
the inhospitable treatment which his followers had experienced,
reminded Isaac of his duty as a Christian prince, and concluded by
asking him to join in the crusade, and throw open the island for
the purchase of provisions. To all this, Isaac at the time agreed,
but after leaving the King’s presence he changed his mind, and
rejoined his army at Kolossi, whence he sent a message ordering
the English to leave the island at once, or to take the consequences.
Indignant at this falseness and arrogance, Richard now resolved to
delay his crusade for a time and punish Isaac; he therefore at once
disembarked his cavalry, marched against the Greeks, vanquished
them, and shortly re-entered Limasol with a large quantity of
booty. Amongst other trophies gained on that day was the
Imperial Standard, which was subsequently deposited in St.
Edmund’s Chapel, in the county of Suffolk.
The arrival in Cyprus at this juncture, of Guy de Lusignan,
ex-king of Jerusalem, accompanied by the Princes of Antioch and
Tripoli, caused a temporary suspension of hostilities, and on the
12th May, 1191, Richard, in the presence of his distinguished
guests, celebrated his marriage with the Princess Berengaria, who
was crowned Queen of England by the Bishops of York and
Evreux. Hearing shortly afterwards that Isaac had re-organized his
army in the interior, Richard set off with the main body of his
forces to attack him, and sent the fleet round to Larnaca to co
operate. In consequence probably of the fact that the geography
of the island was at this time but,imperfectly known, the sub
sequent operations are not very clearly related by historians;
it appears, however, that Guy de Lusignan was detached with a
portion of the troops to Famagusta, which town he occupied
without meeting with any resistance; Isaac having taken up his
position in the Messaria Plain, near Tremithoussia, a place very
suitable for cavalry movements. Richard quickly followed him
to this spot and gave battle; the Anglo-Norman army attacked
with great impetuosity, and for some time victory wavered.
Isaac, anxious to encourage his followers, threw himself into the
thickest of the fight, and encountering the King of England,
struck at him with his battle-axe, he was, however, soon sur
rounded, dragged from his horse, and made a prisoner. Isaac’s
capture completed the discomfiture of the Greeks, who dispersed
in all directions, without a thought for the defence of Nicosia, which
town surrendered without resistance, and tendered its allegiance
to King Richard. If the historians of the time are to be believed,
the King, as a mark of his supremacy, then ordered the Cypriotes
to cut off’ their beards.
The chief towns being now occupied, it only remained to reduce
Guj de Lu-
eignan arrires.
Marriage of
King Richard.
Battle at
Tremi-
thoussia.
Surrender of
Nicosia.