Project: Cyprus/People
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Flag of Cyprus |
Head of State and Head of Government
Notable | Born | Title | In Office | Photo | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nikos Christodoulides | 1973 | President of Cyprus | 2023 | ![]() | Not Connected |
The Cypriot Monarchy
The Kingdom of Cyprus was a medieval kingdom of the Crusader states that existed between 1192 and 1489. Initially ruled as an independent Christian kingdom, it was established by the French House of Lusignan after the Third Crusade. It comprised not only the entire island of Cyprus, but it also had a foothold on the Anatolian mainland.
Like Jerusalem, Cyprus had a Haute Cour (High Court), although it was less powerful than it had been in Jerusalem. The island was richer and more feudal than Jerusalem, so the king had more personal wealth and could afford to ignore the Haute Cour. The most important vassal family was the multi-branch House of Ibelin.
By the 14th century, Cyprus had become the center of European trade with Africa and Asia, and as a result, the king became impressively wealthy and powerful. But the king was in frequent conflict with the Italian merchants. Because of this, Cyprus sided with the Avignon Papacy in the Great Schism of 1378, in the hope that the French would be able to drive out the Italians. The Mameluks made the kingdom a tributary state in 1426 and the remaining monarchs gradually lost almost all independence. Finally, in 1489, Catherine Cornaro, the last Queen of Cyprus, was forced to sell the island to Venice.
Notable | Born | Died | Title | Reign | Photo | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catherine Cornaro | 1454 | 1510 | Last reigning Queen of Cyprus | 1474-1489 | ![]() | Connected |
Cypriot Notables
Notable | Born | Died | Claim to Fame | Photo | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Georgius Grivas | 1897 | 1974 | Military Leader of the Cypriot Independence Movement | ![]() | Not Connected |
Makarios III | 1813 | 1977 | First President of Cyprus | ![]() | Not Connected |
Michael Cacoyannis | 1922 | 2011 | Film Director - Zorba the Greek | ![]() | Not Connected |
Anna Vissi | 1957 | LIVING | Singer | ![]() | Not Connected |
Michael Bisping | 1978 | LIVING | UFC mixed martial artist, sports analyst, commentator and actor | ![]() | Connected |
For additional Cypriot notables, see: Category: Cyprus, Notables
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