The Lusignans: 300 years of Frankish Rule - Before we proceed into this part of the history of Cyprus, it is surely interesting to generally survey the conditions on the island at the point of time when the rule of the Frankish nobility began, as well as the changes which were occurring during this period.

At the outset of the Frankish rule the largest population group was without any doubt, the 'Greek-Orthodox'. The 'Arabs', who in the preceding centuries had often attacked the island, had left no traces behind as far as the population is concerned. The 'Syrians' who had settled at different times on the island, were, as far as language, religion and customs were concerned, largely assimilated by the Greek-Orthodox population. Under the Lusignans they enjoyed a seperate jurisdiction until the late 15th century, which however, essentially only affected newcomers.

An 'Armenian' community, which never gave up its national identity, settled on the island as of the 6th century AD. The growing strength of the Armenian state in Cilicia in the 11th century on the coast of Asia Minor opposite Cyprus, led to a wave of further immigration to Cyprus. The main settlement place of the Armenians was Nicosia, where they inhabited a whole quarter next to the Paphos gate, known as "Armenia". By the middle of the 16th century they had their own bishop in Nicosia and in Famagusta. As we shall see later they played an important role in the conquest of Nicosia by the troops of Lala Mustafa Pasha in 1570.

The 'Maronites' were without any doubt the most numerous Christian group after the Greek-Orthodox. It is however doubtful, whether they were on the island already in Byzantine times. The earliest proof of their presence in Cyprus dates from the 12th century, when in 1121 and in 1141 the abbots of the Chrysostomos monastery near Göngül (Greek: Koutzoventi) were appointed by Maronite patriarchs. Caused by the shrinking of the Crusader states, there was a large immigration wave especially from Syria in the 12th and 13th century. These immigrants normally did not settle in the cities, but preferred the mountain chain north of Nicosia. Their main centre Tal or Attalia in the Karpaz area has not been found until today. By the end of the Lusignan dynasty's rule they must have numbered around 7-8.000, distributed in about thirty villages.

The 'Nestorians', who like the 'Jacobites', had to submit to the Latin Church of Cyprus by a decree of Pope Honorius III. (1222), played a role worth mentioning in the 14th century, when they distinguished themselves first of all by building churches.

Left: Pope Honorius III blesses Franciscus of Assisi, the founder of the Ordre of the Franciscans. Wood carving, Florence, Italy.

Right: Franciscus of Assisi. (Markus VI, 8)

There is proof that the 'Jews' had also settled on the island in considerable numbers. But many other people and languages besides were present on the island, as a considerable number of pilgrims and traders stopped over on the island.