Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Byzantine Cyprus
Constantinople Calling
The Roman Empire was divided in AD 395 and Cyprus fell under its eastern half, the Byz-
antine Empire, with its capital in Constantinople. Byzantine rulers were sent to Cyprus to
govern the island.
The island was able to keep a considerable degree of ecclesiastical autonomy when the
Archbishop of Cyprus convinced the Byzantine emperor that the Church of Cyprus had
been founded by the Apostles. In AD 488 the archbishop was granted the right to carry a
sceptre instead of an archbishop's crosier. He was also given authority to write his signa-
ture in imperial purple ink, a practice which continues to this day.
During this period many of the stunning churches of the island were built, with frescoed
walls, mosaics and domed roofs, including the church of St Barnabas, built over his grave
in Famagusta.
This relative stability would not last long, as the island would soon be at the forefront of
clashes between the Byzantines and the growing Islamic empire.
Arab Raids
Islamic expansion in the 7th century had a profound effect on the island. The lands of the
Byzantine Empire were attacked by Muslim Arabs. Fleets of ships began a series of bloody
raids starting in 647, killing many and destroying coastal cities. Salamis (Constantia) was
ravaged and sacked heavily, never quite recovering. The city kingdom of Kourion declined
dramatically, and coastal settlers moved inland.
In response, fortifications and castles were built, the three grandest being those of St Hil-
arion, Buffavento, and Kantara in the Kyrenia mountains, defending the north coast.
During one such raid in Kition, Umm Haram, the wife of an Arab commander and the
aunt of the Prophet Mohammed, fell from her mule and died. The mosque at Hala Sultan
Tekke was built at the site of her fall on the edge of Larnaka's salt lake. It is among the
holiest places in the Muslim world.
In 688 a truce was called when Justinian II and the Arab caliph Abd-al-Malik signed an
agreement for the joint rule of Cyprus. This agreement remained until 965, when Emperor
Nikiforos Fokas sent an army of men to the island to regain complete control for the Byz-
antines.
New governors were sent to Cyprus as dukes. Due to the devastation of the coastal cities,
the capital was moved inland to Nicosia and built on the remains of the old city of Ledra.
