TRENDEFRARAtlas of the Sultans · Cities and countries

When was Cyprus under Ottoman rule?

2 cities

Cyprus was taken from Venice in the campaign of 1570–1571 and remained Ottoman until it was handed over to British administration in 1878.

Under Selim II, the army commanded by Lala Mustafa Pasha took Nicosia in 1570 and, after a long siege, Famagusta in 1571. The island remained under Ottoman rule for more than three centuries, and its Turkish population settled there in this period. In 1878 the administration of the island was handed to Britain by treaty.

First Ottoman year1570Last Ottoman year1878Longest Ottoman period308 years
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NicosiaNicosiaFamagusta Open the map in 1571

Cities in this country

Nicosia308 years1570 – 1878 Famagusta307 years1571 – 1878

Chronology

  1. 1570
    Became Ottoman · Nicosia

    In the Cyprus campaign Nicosia was conquered on 9 September 1570; the conquest of the island was completed with Famagusta on 1 August 1571.

  2. 1571
    Became Ottoman · Famagusta

    In the Cyprus campaign the Ottomans took Famagusta eleven months after Nicosia, on 1 August 1571, after a hard siege.

  3. 1878
    Left Ottoman rule · Nicosia

    Cyprus was handed over to British administration.

  4. 1878
    Left Ottoman rule · Famagusta

    The British took over the administration of Cyprus.

  5. 1914
    Note · Nicosia

    When the Ottomans entered the war Britain formally annexed Cyprus on 5 November 1914.

Source: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, article “KIBRIS” (in Turkish) and the atlas's city pages. Present-day borders are used.