A
Short History of Cyprus
(part 2/7)
From: Newman, P., (1940),
Longmans, Green & Co.,
London
|
sources,
see: Bibliography,
Cyprus |
|
|
395 AD - 1191
Cyprus becomes part of Byzantine Empire
1191 - 1192
Rule by Richard the Lionheart of England
1192 - 1489
Rule by the Frankish Lusignan dynasty
1489 - 1570
Venetian domination of the island
1571 - 1878
Conquest of Cyprus by the Ottoman Empire
Cyprus becomes part of Byzantine Empire
1191 - 1192
Rule by Richard the Lionheart of England
1192 - 1489
Rule by the Frankish Lusignan dynasty
1489 - 1570
Venetian domination of the island
1571 - 1878
Conquest of Cyprus by the Ottoman Empire
CONSTITUTION
The constitution of Cyprus was modelled on that of the kingdom of Jerusalem and was regulated by the same code, called the Assizes of Jerusalem, though this code had not yet been reduced to writing. It was a limited monarchy, and the royal powers were restricted to the exercise of military authority. Guy himself was never crowned king of Cyprus, and, though he had held the crown of Jerusalem, his title was lord of Cyprus.
Public matters were administered by two courts, called the High Court and the court of Burgesses. The High Court, presided over by the king and composed of the nobility, the holders of fiefs and the chief civil ministers of the kingdom, dealt with all the important affairs of state. Without its consent no laws or customs, as they were called, could be passed. The Lower Court, or the Court of Burgesses, took charge, as its name implies, of all matters affecting the burgesses, and was under the presidency of an official called the viscount. It was an organisation of tribunals of justice and local government, and had no legislative powers.
The Assizes of Jerusalem, although forming the common law of the kingdom of Cyprus, as far as the Franks were concerned, cannot be regarded as an authoritative code for the whole population. The Cypriots had laws and customs of their own, which they were allowed to retain in so far as they were not opposed to the feudal law. Within the feudal system custom was more dominant than law, and the lords of great fiefs did not accept even the rules of the High Court as binding unless they had themselves consented to them.
AMAURY
Guy de Lusignan died in 1194 after only two years in Cyprus, and the possession of the island passed to his brother Amaury, who had been constable of Cyprus and Jerusalem and was therefore in command of the Lusignan forces. He obtained recognition from the Holy Roman emperor, Henry VI, and in 1197 was crowned first king of Cyprus by the imperial chancellor in Nicosia.
On the application of the king the Pope, Celestine III, sent two commissioners to Cyprus with the object of introducing a Roman hierarchy and for the conversion of the Orthodox Cypriots to the Roman communion. As a result of this commission, a Latin archbishop was established at Nicosia, with bishops at Limassol, Paphos and Famagusta, all of whom were endowed with the funds which had hitherto belonged to the Orthodox church.
The Orthodox clergy and laity were naturally indignant at the establishment of the Latin church in the island and at the spoliation of their ecclesiastical revenues. King Amaury, on the eve of his departure to Palestine to assume the crown of Jerusalem, assembled the heads of the two communions and endeavoured to persuade them to live at peace and to devote themselves to the welfare of their respective flocks.
On his departure, however, a rebellion of Orthodox population broke out under the leadership of a Cypriot named Kanakes, who attacked the property of the Franks. Driven from the island, he took refuge on the mainland, and from there with an armed galley made raids upon the coasts of Cyprus. Emboldened by success, he made a descent upon the village of Paradisi, near Famagusta, and carried off the Queen, Eschiva d'Ibelin, and her family. It was only through the intervention of Leo, king of Armenia, that the royal family were returned to the king, who came to the harbour of Courico with a fleet to rescue them.