ST. HILARION CASTLE

part 2
Sources: see Bibliography (Cyprus). Text was also taken from the St. Hilarion Castle Visitor's Guide published by the Antiguities Department of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Available with your ticket at the entrance.
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HISTORY - The actual history of St. Hilarion Castle begins in 1228, when Giovanni (Jean) d'lbelin, Regent of the Kingdom of Cyprus, converted the then existing Orthodox monastery to the purpose of a fortified retreat where the young King Henry I., his family, and partizans could take refuge from their opponents the supporters of the Imperial pretensions of the great Frederick II. But the following year the Imperialists obtained possession of the newlybuilt castle, and Giovanni d'Ibelin found himself constrained to lay siege to his own buildings. On this occasion the plam was defended by the celebrated Phlippe Chinard, a native of Cyprus of French parents, who afterwards became famous as the builder of some of Frederick II's Apulian Castles. | Plan of the St. Hilarion castle with Legenda |
In 1230 the Castle, then in Imperialist hands, was besieged by the Royalists, with whom was the famous Philippo di Novara, soldier, poet, and writer of philosophical works.

On this occasion occurred the incident, recorded in 'Les Gestes des Chiprois' (one of his works), of his lying wounded by an arrow, on the rocks facing the Castle, and improvising satires and verses very much to the annoyance of the garrison on the walls.

In 1232 the Castle, which had been secured by the Royalists, became the residence of the sisters of Henry I., and was once more besieged by the Imperialists under the command of Count Filangeri.

The young king who was absent in Beyrout hurried back with a Syrian army provided by d'lbelin, ...




FREDERICK II

1194–1250
... and attacking the Imperialists in the pass of St. Catherine routed them completely and thus secured the future integrity of his kingdom (15 June, 1232). In 1348, King Hugh IV. retired to Hilarion to avoid the pest then raging in the island.

The next time the Castle figures in history is a few years later when again it afforded a refuge to the representatives of royalty suffering from the Genoese invasion. Prince John of Antioch, uncle of the young King Peter II., who here took up his abode in 1373 proved however to be a madman, and after murdering his faithful Bulgarian mercenaries in the Castle, he himself was murdered on his return to Nicosia by his sister-in-law, Queen Eleanor.

Holy Roman emperor (1220–50), German king (1212–20), king of Sicily (1197–1250), king of Jerusalem (1229–50), son of Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI
With the changed manner of warfare, and other circumstances of the times, the mountain Castles of Hilarion, Buffavento and Kantara, fell into disuse and they cease to be recorded in the chronicles after the XIVth eentury; a hundred years later they were deemed a danger to the kingdom by the possibility of their falling into the hands of watchful enemies of the opposite coast.

The dismantling and destruction of the Castle of Hilarion, as well as the other medieval fortresses of the kingdom, is attributed to the parsimony of the first Venetian proveditore of the island, Francesco di Priuli (c. 1489) (by Jauna*, who moreover accuses him of selling the fiefs of the Crown to persons of low condition and 'roturiers'.) The noble family of De Nores however bought Strovilo and its dependencies, the family of Scinclitico became Counts of Rochas, and the Podocataro bought the barony of Kiti. 'Le Sénateur Priuli qui songeoit plus au profit qu à la magnificence voulant épargner l'entretien des garnisons nécessaires fit abattre les Chateaux Hilarion, et ceux de Cantara, Buffavento, Cave, Pothamia et Siguri." (Jauna's 'Histoire', p. 1049).

*The history of Cyprus is documented in Dominique Jauna's History of Cyprus (housed in a beautiful 18th century binding and estimated at Euro 14.850,00 - 22.265,00 (US 15.650,00 - 23500,00 or £10,000 - 15,000) before an auction in 2002, Sotheby's, London!).