plan-of-the-abbey-txt-1

Bellapais (Bella Paise) Abbey, Turkish Rep. of Northern Cyprus

It should be observed that the Abbey is built on the spur or side of a hill, which on the north side of the buildings forms a cliff about 100 feet (30 metres) high. On the south side towards the hill an artificial moat or dry fosse was doubtless cut in such a way as to prevent any access to the Abbey except across the drawbridge under its machicolated gateway. This dry fosse has subsequently been filled up, and only very few if any traces of it remain at its west end.

The ruins of the Abbey now extend over about half the area which was covered by the original buildings; all the western side of the premises including the Abbot's House, Infirmary, Kitchens, Stores, etc., having been pulled down centuries ago, and part of the cleared site covered over with a modern house (a restaurant). Under this latter some medieval vaulting survives.

The historical records of the Abbey are of the scantiest; no documents seem to have been preserved in Europe in the way in which deeds and charters sometimes have survived from the middle ages. In the 'Annales' of the Order of Premontré by Charles Hugo, Abbot of Estival (1729) are some references to the Abbey of the B.V.M. in Cyprus, and the burial there of King Hugh III, whose body was brought for the purpose from Tyre, where he died in 1284.*

In 1305, Haiton, an Armenian Prince, became a friar of Bella Paise (Bellapais), and in 1309, Guy d'Ibelin, son of the Seneschal of Cyprus was buried within the Abbey. At this period the foundation seems to have been known as 'Episcopiam', and there appears to have been a branch convent at Paphos. During the later middle ages the Abbot and his monks continually displayed a rebellious spirit towards their 'Ordinary', the Archbishop of Nicosia, and with the decline of the Latin Church in the island a complete decay and ruin of the institution and its estates took place.

* "Hugh III, son of Isabella sister of Henry I, and wife of the Prince of Taranto and Antioch, as nearest heir succeeded to the kingdom on the death of Hugh II, his cousin. This Hugh abandoned the family name of his father for that of his mother in order to continue the House of Lusignan; he did many illustrious things and received the title of 'the Great'; to him St. Thomas Aquinus dedicated his book 'De regimine Principum'. He built the Abbey of the 'Humiliati', called 'De la Pais', and gave it many privileges: amongst others, that the Abbot should, like other Abbots, be mitred, and when riding abroad should wear the gilded sword and spurs like the knights and feudatories. Hugh died after a reign of 17 years, leaving sons and daughters, whom he married to kings, princes and seigneurs. He himself was buried in the said Abbey of the 'Humiliati'." - ("Lusignano's Chorograffia", page 55)


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		Built on the spur or side of a 30 metres high cliff... GENERAL PLAN
Bellapais (Bella Paise) Abbey, Turkish Rep. of Northern Cyprus It should be observed that the Abbey is built on the spur or side of a hill, which on the north side of the buildings forms a cliff about 100 feet (30 metres) high. On the south side towards the hill an artificial moat or dry fosse was doubtless cut in such a way as to prevent any access to the Abbey except across the drawbridge under its machicolated gateway. This dry fosse has subsequently been filled up, and only very few if any traces of it remain at its west end. The ruins of the Abbey now extend over about half the area which was covered by the original buildings; all the western side of the premises including the Abbot's House, Infirmary, Kitchens, Stores, etc., having been pulled down centuries ago, and part of the cleared site covered over with a modern house (a restaurant). Under this latter some medieval vaulting survives. The historical records of the Abbey are of the scantiest; no documents seem to have been preserved in Europe in the way in which deeds and charters sometimes have survived from the middle ages. In the 'Annales' of the Order of Premontré by Charles Hugo, Abbot of Estival (1729) are some references to the Abbey of the B.V.M. in Cyprus, and the burial there of King Hugh III, whose body was brought for the purpose from Tyre, where he died in 1284.* In 1305, Haiton, an Armenian Prince, became a friar of Bella Paise (Bellapais), and in 1309, Guy d'Ibelin, son of the Seneschal of Cyprus was buried within the Abbey. At this period the foundation seems to have been known as 'Episcopiam', and there appears to have been a branch convent at Paphos. During the later middle ages the Abbot and his monks continually displayed a rebellious spirit towards their 'Ordinary', the Archbishop of Nicosia, and with the decline of the Latin Church in the island a complete decay and ruin of the institution and its estates took place. * "Hugh III, son of Isabella sister of Henry I, and wife of the Prince of Taranto and Antioch, as nearest heir succeeded to the kingdom on the death of Hugh II, his cousin. This Hugh abandoned the family name of his father for that of his mother in order to continue the House of Lusignan; he did many illustrious things and received the title of 'the Great'; to him St. Thomas Aquinus dedicated his book 'De regimine Principum'. He built the Abbey of the 'Humiliati', called 'De la Pais', and gave it many privileges: amongst others, that the Abbot should, like other Abbots, be mitred, and when riding abroad should wear the gilded sword and spurs like the knights and feudatories. Hugh died after a reign of 17 years, leaving sons and daughters, whom he married to kings, princes and seigneurs. He himself was buried in the said Abbey of the 'Humiliati'." - ("Lusignano's Chorograffia", page 55)

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