Chronology
1571-1878 Three centuries of Turkish rule under
the Ottomans. Only resistance offered by Venentian strongholds of
Nicosia and Famagusta. Islanders themselves glad to see end of oppressive
Venetian rule. Orthodox church recognised again and Archbishopric
restored. Feudal system abolished, but heavy taxes imposed, using
church as tax collectors.
1625-1700 Great depopulation of Cyprus. Plague
wipes out over half of the population
1821 Greek Cypriots side with Greece in revolt
against Turkish rule. Island's leading churchmen executed in punishment.
1869 Suez Canal opens.
1878-1960 British occupation. British take on administration
of the island, ceded from the Ottomans, for its strategic value,
to protect their sea route to India via the Suez Canal. In exchange,
Britain agrees to help Turkey should Russia attack again.
1914 Cyprus annexed by Britain when Turkey join
with Germany and Austro-Hungary in World War I.
1925 Cyprus becomes British Crown Colony.
1931 First serious riots of Greek Cypriots demanding
Enosis, union with Greece
1939 Greek Cypriots fight with British in World
War II, but remain set on Enosis after war is over. Turkish Cypriots
however want British rule to continue.
1950 Archbishop Makarios III elected political
and spiritual leader. Makarios became the head of the autocephalous
Cypriot Orthodox Church. Heads the campaign for Enosis with support
of Greece.
1955 Series of bomb attacks, start of violent campaign
for Enosis by EOKA (National Organisoation of Cypriot Fighters)
led by George Grivas, ex-colonel in Greek army, born in Cyprus.
Grivas takes name of Dighenis, legendary Cypriot hero and conducts
guerrilla warfare from secret hideout in Trodos Mountains. Estimated
to have 300 men maximum, yet successfully plagues 20,000 British
troops and 4,500 police.
1956 Britain deports Makarios to Seychelles in
attempt to quell revolt. Turkish Cypriots used as auxiliaries of
British Security Forces, allegedly torturing EOKA captives during
British cross-examinations.
1957 Field Marshal Sir John Harding replaced by
civilian governor Sir Hugh Foot in conciliatory move.
1958 Turkish Cypriots alarmed by British conciliation
and begin demands for partition. Inter-communal clashes and attacks
on British.
1960 British, Greek and Turkish governments sign
Treaty of Guarantee to provide for an independent Cypriot state
within the Commonwealth and allowing for the retention of two Sovereign
Base Areas of Dhekelia and Akrotiri. Under the treaty, each power
has the right to take military action in the face of any threat
to the constitution. Cyprus truly independent for the first time.
Archbishop Makarios (Greek Cypriot) is first President, Dr Kutchuk
(Turkish Cypriot) Vice- President. Both have right of veto. Turkish
Cypriots, who form 18% of the population, given 30% of places in
government and administration, 40% in the army and separate municipal
services in the five major towns.
1963-1973 Greek Cypriots view the constitution
as unworkable and propose changes which was rejected by Turkish
Cypriots and Turkish government. Inter-communal fighting escalates
and UN Peace Keeping Force sent in, but powerless to prevent incidents.
Thousands of Turkish Cypriots are 'ethnically cleansed' by the Greeks,
Turkish villages isolated for month.
1974 - 1976 Military government (junta) in Greece
supports coup by Greek National guard to overthrow Makarios. Makarios
forced to flee. Puppet regime imposed under Nicos Sampson, former
EOKA fighter. Rauf Denktash, Turkish Cypriot leader, calls for joint
military action by the UK and Turkey, as guarantors of Cypriot independence,
to prevent Greece imposing Enosis. The Turkish prime minister travels
to London to persuade the UK to intervene jointly with Turkey, but
fails, so Turkey exercises her right under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee
and lands 40,000 troops on the north coast of Cyprus. Turkey describes
this as 'a peace operation to restore constitutional order and protect
the Turkish Cypriot community'. UN talks break down and Turkish
forces are left in control of 37% of the island. Refugees from both
communities cross to respective sides of the de facto border. Turks
announce Federated State in the north with Denktash as leader. UN
Forces stay as buffer between the two zones. Some 20,000 mainland
Turks and Kurds, mainly subsistence farmers, often from the areas
inundated by the Euphrates-dam, are brought in to settle and work
the under-populated land. Those that stay more than five years are
given citizenship of North Cyprus. On the Karpaz, a Greek-speaking
minority stayed behind and is still under UN-supervision.
1977 Makarios dies, having been restored as President
of Greek Cyprus after 1974. Succeeded by the Spyros Kyprianou.
1983 Turkish Federated State declares itself independent,
as Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC), still with Denktash
as President. New state is not recognised by any country except
Turkey.
1992-1995 UN sponsored talks between the two sides
run into the sand, but with a commitment to resume.
2003 As Cyprus wants to join the European Community,
there are renewed negotiations about the status of the Islands.
In December, the borders between the two parts of Cyprus are partly
opened, numerous Greek Cypriots visit the North, there is labour
migration of Turkish-speaking Cypriots to the south (especially
in Levkosa/Nikosia). |
