Αμμόχωστος: Η ιστορία της πόλης μας

Ottoman rule

A. The twelve month Ottoman siege 1570-1571

The siege of Famagusta lasted a whole year. Numerous accounts and narrations report in detail the harsh and tragic fall of the city. From literary and historical sources, as well as from maps related to the siege of the city, it has become clear that Famagusta resisted to the merciless Ottoman attack up until the very last minute. The Venetian Governor-General Marcantonio Bragadino fought with all his might and bravery and despite repeated calls to reach truce with the Turks, Bragadino only accepted to negotiate the terms of a capitulation with Mustapha Pasha at the very end when all ammunitions and food had finished. He negotiated the terms of what seemed to be an honourable agreement that would allow Christian Greeks to remain in the city that would henceforth fall under Ottoman administration.

However, Mustapha Pasha did not live up to his promise and the terms of the treaty were broken. The Ottomans unleashed an unprecedented man slaughter, looting and destroying everything they found before them. They tortured and skinned Bragadino and other brave defenders of the city. Very few Westerners managed to flee and return to Venice , whilst the Greeks fled southwards and took refuge in orchards and fields and founded the New Famagusta.

The Siege of Famagusta, a topographical map that shows the Turkish army camping
outside the mediaeval city. From the book of Rosaccio, Franco “Viaggio da Venetia”, 1610.
Courtesy by the Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus

The Ottoman siege 1570-1571, (click on thumbnails or captions to see enlarged photographs)

Map of Cyprus by Balthasar Jenichen, Nuremberg 1571. Courtesy by the Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus	The book “The History of the War of Cyprus” London, 1687. Courtesy by the Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus	Detail from the Siege of Famagusta by B. Jenichen. Mikis and Agni Michaelides Collection. Courtesy by the Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus	Map of the Siege of Famagusta by Simon Pinargenti from his book “Isole che son da Venetia…” Venice 1573. Collection of Michalakis Colokassides. From the wall calender “Maps of Famagusta” by the Lordos Organization, 1990
The Siege of Famagusta by Balthazar Jenichen, Nuremberg 1571. Collection of Mikis and Agni Michaelides. Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus	Miniature of the 15th century from the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul. From the catalogue of the exhibition “Famagusta, 36 Centuries of Civilisation 1600B.C-1974 A.D”	The martyrdom of Marc Antony Bragadin, woodcarving, 1685. Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus

B. Ottoman Rule 1571-1878

From 1571 when the Ottoman occupation began, no Christian subject was allowed to live within the walls. Neither could Christian ships approach the harbour. This situation led to the city’s desertion and inevitable decline. The ruins and desolation of the city is described by many travellers who visited Cyprus at the time. Mariti recalls “Who would have imagined such abandonment, that only 200 souls remain in the city? Ancient homes are being sold and their buyers are tearing them apart in order to get all the wooden furniture they can. However, they are not allowed to take stones. That is why there are so many stones everywhere. Outside the walls of the city, south of Famagusta and along the coastline there are gardens and orchards full of citrus fruit. And next to these orchards is the village of Varosha where one can find numerous Orthodox churches. Expelled from their forbidden city, the Greeks constructed new lives, southwards, outside the city walls.”

Ottoman Rule 1571-1878 (click on thumbnails or captions to see enlarged photographs)

Famagusta by Olfert Dapper	The city of Famagusta	Famagosta Harbour
Ancient town Famagusta	View of Famagusta	General View of Famagusta
Famagusta City	Old Lusignan Palace Famagusta