‘Cyprus.’ [‎13r] (25/184)

HISTORY OF CYPRUS.
19
Queen, was sent by the Senate to Cyprus to beg Catherine to resign
the crown and leave the island. He w r as authorized to point out
that if she would not consent to this step, the Senate would be
obliged to resort to measures of compulsion; the mission appears,
however, to have been executed with considerable tact, and was
completely successful, for in a very short time the Queen signified
her assent to the proposal. Navagiero relates that the formal
abdication, and the erection of the banner of Saint Marc, took place
at Famagusta on the 26th February, 1489, in the presence of
Francis de Friuli, Captain-General of the Venetian fleet, and that
the Queen soon afterwards left the island for Venice.
The new government of Cyprus was at once instituted; the
administration consisted of a Lieutenant, with the title of Viceroy
of Cyprus, assisted by two counsellors (who with the Lieutenant
formed the Privy Council), and a Captain, who was called Captain
of Cyprus, or Captain of the Kingdom, and who added to Ins other
duties, the function of Proveditor.
To these officials the entire direction of the government, of
justice, of finance, and of the army was intrusted, save only the
legislative authority and right of appeal, which was reserved to the
metropolitan. The Lieutenant was never kept in office more than
two years, and between 1489 and 1571, when the Turks obtained
possession of the island, no less than 46 Venetian nobles held the
post. The first Lieutenant was Francis Barbarigo, appointed in
1489, and the last, Sebastian Venier, appointed in 1569, who was
to have been succeeded by Daniel Barbarigo, Duke of Candia, but
before the latter left Venice to assume the vice-royalty, the news
of the loss of the island was received by the Senate at Venice.
During the Venetian rule the island was divided into eleven
districts, some governed by captains, others by “ civitainsthe
towns of Nicosia and Famagusta were placed under Cypriote Vis
counts (Sheriffs) as in the time of the Lusignans. The districts
were—Baflfo, Avdimu, Limasol, Mazoto, Saline, Viscontado,
Messaria, Carpasso, Cerinea, Pentagia, and Khrysokho.
A detailed report, compiled at the end of the fifteenth century,
and containing statistical information concerning the population,
the number of villages, the amount of the harvests, the products of
the island, the incomes of the chief landowners, the possessions of
the clergy, and the public lands in Cyprus at this date, is contained
in M. De Mas Latrie’s “ Histoire de LTle de Chypre,” vol. iii, page
493.
There is but little of importance or of general interest to relate
concerning the period during which the Venetians ruled over
Cyprus; the Lieutenants succeeded one another far too quickly to
organise and establish alterations and improvements, or indeed to
acquire even a sufficient knowledge of the necessities of the country,
and an interest in its welfare. Once only, however, did the Greek
population rebel; in 1546, an attempt was made to recall remem
brances of ancient Greece, and the inhabitants combined to effect
a change of masters ; the Venetian government acted promptly, and
soon stifled the insurrectionary feeling, the leader, Jacques Le Cretois,
called the Didascalos, paid with his life for his ambitious project.
(774) B 2
Abdication of
Queen Ca
therine in
favour of
Venice.
Cyprus under
Venetian rule.