‘Cyprus.’ [‎11r] (21/184)

HISTORY OF CYPRUS.
15
There is but little of historical importance to relate concerning
the three centuries during which Cyprus was ruled by the Lusig-
nan dynasty : internal tranquillity, a state of affairs which had
hitherto been almost unknown in the island, prevailed through
out nearly the whole period, with the two exceptions mentioned
below, and consequently the kingdom was generally in a flourish
ing condition; at the same time some distinction was gained
against the Arabs and Turks. In 1372, an untoward incident
occurred ; Pierre II was then King of Cyprus, and whilst he was
entertaining several Genoese and Venetian grandees on a festival
day, a quarrel with regard to precedence arose, and was decided by
the King against the former. It is said that the Genoese then
plotted against the King’s life, and that their intentions being
discovered, it was ordered that all the Genoese subjects in the
kingdom should be put to death. This monstrous command was
only too faithfully obeyed, and the Republic of Genoa, in order to
avenge the murder of her citizens, despatched at once a considerable
fleet to Cyprus under the command of Admiral Pietro Fregoso,
who, after several engagements, took Famagusta in 1373, and
carried off Jacopo Lusignan, the King’s uncle, and Lieutenant-
Governor of the island. The Genoese continued to hold and
garrison Famagusta, strongly fortifying the city in order to ensure
their grasp on the island, and they exercised supremacy there for no
less than ninety years, when King Jacques II., with the aid of the
Egyptians, retook the place.
In 1425, Cyprus was invaded by an Egyptian force which first
took Lamaca, then Limasol, and subsequently ravaged almost the
whole island. King Janus was carried off a prisoner to the Sultan
at Cairo, but after paying a ransom, and promising that Cyprus
should send an annual tribute to Egypt, he was liberated, and
allowed to return to his kingdom as the lieutenant of the Sultan. - *
King Janus died in 1432 ; he was succeeded by his son Jean II.,
who married Helena Paleologos, niece of the Emperor of Constanti
nople, and their daughter, Carlotta, was now the only legitimate de
scendant of the Lusignans. King Jean, however, left a natural son,
named Jacques, who was Archbishop of Cyprus. Carlotta, on the
death of her father in 1458, became Queen of Cyprus; she had
married, first, one of the sons of the King of Portugal, and secondly,
Louis de Savoie, who, with her, governed Cyprus under the titles of
King and Queen of Jerusalem, Cyprus, and Armenia. Their reign
was, however, but short, for in September 1460, Jacques, “Le Batard,”
who was a man of great ability, and highly popular with the
Cypriotes, headed a revolt against their authority, seized Nicosia,
the capital, and then with the assistance of the Sultan of Egypt,
forced the King and Queen to fly from the island; he was
immediately proclaimed King, with the title of Jacques II., and
before dismissing the Egyptian troops, he captured Famagusta from
the Genoese. This exploit greatly increased his popularity amongst
* An interesting account of this Egyptian invasion is to be found in a document
contained in Do Mas Latrie’s History of Cyprus, vol. ii, page 506-614 ; it was written
by Khalil Bhaheri, the Sultan’s vizier.
Cyprus under
the Lusig
nans.
Capture of
Famagusta
by the
Genoese.
Cyprus be
comes tribu
tary to Egypt.
Usurpation of
the throne by
Jacques Le
Batard.