Ottoman Rule in Cyprus

The Ottoman rule in Cyprus began with the Turkish troops conquering Cyprus after capturing Lefkosia and then Ammochostos. The venetian commander Marc Antonio Bragadin put up a brave fight but he finally lost to the Ottomans. Cyprus came under the control of the Ottoman commander Lala Mustafa.

Lala Mustafa ordered Bragadin to be flayed and killed all the other Venetians. He then established Ottoman rule in Cyprus. The Ottoman period of Cyprus marked the expulsion of Catholicism and introduction of Islam in Cyprus. The Greek Orthodox Church was re-established and the Archbishop became its leader. He became the representative of the people of Cyprus to the Sultan.

The Ottoman rule in Cyprus witnessed various major changes with respect to social set up, administration, religion etc.. The previous feudal system was ruled out and in its place was established the millets which were religious communities. This system resulted in the Church of Cyprus regaining authority.

The Ottoman rule of Cyprus was largely dependent on the temperament of the Turkish sultans and rulers. The economy of Cyprus suffered a severe backlog during the Ottoman rule of Cyprus. After 16th century the military powers of the Ottoman empire fell and authority came to be vested in the grand vizier, the chief minister of the Sultan. The grand viziers gradually gained a huge amount of power by the 19th century.

In 1821when the Greek war of independence took place, a number of well known people of Cyprus including the Archbishop of Cyprus , three bishops, Kyprianos etc were thrown out from the island. During the Ottoman period the Muslims, who were the minorities in Cyprus, achieved a Cypriot identity.