Relations between mamluk state and cyprus

Abstract

Mamluks, certainly one of the most important political bodies in the Mediterranean, left much influence on the local and external elements through their political existence and regional dominion. Not only their internal structure but also the complex relations they were in ascribe great curiosity regarding the Mamluks, and their relations with the crusaders within this web of connections stand forth. When the Mamluk State was founded, right after a crusade, it found itself in the lap of this web of relations which had risen long before. So Mamluks shared a long historical adventure with the crusaders and local Christians. The relations of the Mamluks with Cyprus, which constitute the scope of this article, developed amidst this tense political process. This superordinate historical process updated itself and the mentioned relations took place. As a result the accumulation led to a blast, and a final blow triggered conflict, and periodical conflicts were experienced. The relations between the Mamluks and Cyprus followed a route of ups and downs starting in the reign of Sultan Baybars right to the fall of the State. The relations got tense when Cyprus became a crusader base and raids were launched from there to Anatolian, Syrian, and Egyptian coasts and merchants. The breaking point was when Pierre I, the king of Cyprus, attacked and destroyed Alexandria in 1365. Mamluks could never forget this assault and finally conquered the island in 1426 following three campaigns in the reign of Sultan Barsbay. After this date the island became a client under Mamluk sovereignty and this lasted so until 1489 when the Venetians took over from the Lusignans. After the Ottoman conquest of the Mamluk State, this relation between the Ottomans and Cyprus continued in the same level until the Ottoman conquest of the island in 1571.