The Multifaceted Role of the Cypriot Élite in the Defense of Cyprus before and during the Venetian–Ottoman War (1570–1571)

Cyprus constituted a Venetian base of geostrategic importance in the Levant and its most profitable possession in the Stato da Mar. For these reasons, during the last years of its dominion over the island, Venice tried – though not with any particular success, as later events would demonstrate – to implement a program of organizing defenses against Ottoman expansionist aspirations; this involved the construction of new fortifications and the strengthening of already existing fortresses, the consolidation of local military forces and their reinforcement with specialized officials and additional units. The present study investigates the prominent economic and political role of the local élite (feudal lords, noblemen, and wealthy bourgeois of Nicosia), firstly, in the aforementioned pre-war activities and, secondly, during the War of Cyprus (1570–1571). Given the fact that its members maintained their luxury mansions and resided in the Cypriot capital, their interest focused on the latter and drastically affected the decisions of the Venetian administration as well as the outcome of the military operations during the Siege of Nicosia by the Ottoman troops.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC

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