700 - 350 BC

            Succession of invasions by Assyrians, Egyptians, and Persians.

 

           333 BC

           Alexander The Great destroyed Persia’s hold and took the island.

 

           323 BC

Alexander The Great died; Cyprus ruled by Viceroys of Ptolemy 1 of Egypt. The capital transferred from Salamis to Paphos.

 

58 BC

Roman Invasion: administered by Cicero, but later by Julius Caesar, Ptolemy and Arsinoe of Egypt and then by Mark Anthony and Cleopatra.

 

45 AD

Apostles Paul and Barnabus arrived in Cyprus to spread the Gospel and it became the first country to be governed by a Christian, the Proconsul, Sergius Paulus.

 

116 AD

A general revolt by the Jews against Roman power and the spread of Christianity included Cyprus, where thousands of Jews and Cypriots were killed. As a result further settlement of Jews in Cyprus was forbidden.

 

395 AD

Cyprus came under the Byzantine Empire with its capital as Constantinople. Many of the churches, so beautifully decorated, were built in this period.

 

700 – 1000 AD

Continuous Arab raids on the island, causing great destruction, particularly to churches.

 

1191 AD

Cyprus was conquered by Richard The Lionheart of England on his way to the Holyland. In 1192 he sold Cyprus to the Lusignans from France, who established a feudal kingdom.

 

1489 AD

Princess Caterina Cornano – the last Lusignan queen was forced to pass on her rights of monarchy to the Republic of Venice. The Venetians construted impressive defensive walls around Nicosia and Famagusta and renovated the castles in Kyrenia, Limassol and Paphos.

 

1571 -1878 AD

Turkish forces captured the island and they ruled till 1878, when they gave up their rule to Britain in return for military aid.

 

1878 – 1960 AD

Cyprus under British rule.

 

1960 AD

Cyprus gained independence, with Turkey, Greece and Britain as guarantor powers. Archbishop Makarios III became the first President.

 

1963 AD

Turkish Cypriot community rebelled against the 1960 Constitution.

 

1974 AD

A military coup was staged by Greek Junta and President Makarios was overthrown. Turkey invaded and occupied 38% of the territory. About 6000 people were killed and 2000,000 people (40% of Greek Cypriots) were expelled from their homes.

 

Cyprus is a member of the United Nations and now in the European Union. In spite of UN resolutions calling for withdrawal of the Turkish army, they still remain in the northern part of Cyprus.

 

HISTORY OF THE ISLAND OF CYPRUS