Byzantine Cyprus.

Could the Byzantines have reconquered Cyprus from the Latins? I'm thinking of when they were in exile at Nicea of shortly after the re-occupation of Constantinople in 1261, when they were still comparatively strong.
 
Could the Byzantines have reconquered Cyprus from the Latins? I'm thinking of when they were in exile at Nicea of shortly after the re-occupation of Constantinople in 1261, when they were still comparatively strong.

Hmm. It would have been very difficult to do logistically for starters.

Strategically, the Palaeologan Empire was a state with enemies on all sides: Bulgaria in the north, the Serbs to the northwest, the Normans in the west and the Seljuks to the east. The fact that they chose to ignore the eastern frontier, and allowed the gradual infiltration of Turkish groups into its frontier zone, shows their sense of priorities. For rulers in Constantinople, the Bulgarians and Normans were THE enemies they needed to keep an eye on.

Meanwhile, the distant eastern island of Cyprus, well-run by its Latin rulers, and with compact, efficient, military forces, would have been quite a challenge to attack. If Michael VIII Palaelogus tried when he had a relatively big navy, Western Europe would have been in uproar straight away - and since Michael VIII based so much of his policies on keeping the West sweet, this seems deeply unlikely.

One way I think the Palaeologan Empire could have become involved in Cyprus is through some sort of marriage alliance, which gives the Empire a stake (and supporters) on the island.

The other way is if Michael VIII falls and some historical figure unknown to our timeline (i.e. one you make up!) comes to power after 1261 (possibly someone known to the circle around Patriarch Gregory of Cyprus, who was head of the Orthodox Church from 1283-89 IOTL) and who is maybe a Cypriot and interested in that island. But if he did come to power, or influence in court, and pursued his Cyprus policies, the Empire's enemies in the north and west should have alot of success - unless this character can play them off against each other with truly Byzantine diplomacy...:)

Are you thinking of starting a thread on this? I'd be happy to contribute if so.
 
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Cyprus.

Interesting response. I was thinking of the earlier period, before the Lusignans became too strongly established. I'm sure that the Greek Cypriot peasants would have strongly supported a Byzantine attack on the island. The earlier Cypriot kings were involved in the affairs of Latin Syria, and not that strong at the time (early 1200s). .
 
Interesting response. I was thinking of the earlier period, before the Lusignans became too strongly established. I'm sure that the Greek Cypriot peasants would have strongly supported a Byzantine attack on the island. The earlier Cypriot kings were involved in the affairs of Latin Syria, and not that strong at the time (early 1200s). .

What period exactly? After the fall of the governor Isaac Comnenus of Cyprus (the one who declared himself Emperor and attacked King Richard the Lion-Heart) in 1191, Cyprus was always heavily involved in the Crusader establishments in the Levant. It provided aid to the Crusader states; it provided a staging post for attacks on nearby Muslim powers, e.g. the Fifth Crusade (1213-1221); and its later Kings combined the actual Royal Titles of the lost Crusader/Christian lands in the East with the Cypriot Royal title, e.g. the Kingships of Jerusalem and Armenia after those countries fell again to the Muslims.

The Latin Kings of Cyprus were rich and powerful in this age. Their court was acknowledged in the West as one of the richest and most splendid - and Cyprus made lots of money from sitting on top of trade and pilgrim routes between West and East.

Would the Greek-Cypriot population support a Byzantine restoration? Probably. But there were many Greeks who benefited greatly from Cyprus being an independent state in its own right. Many of those (relatively few) great Greek landowners under Lusignan rule would have been rather unsympathetic to a Byzantine restoration (and the prospect of the island becoming a distant, tribute-giving, and neglected province) unless there would be something big 'in it' for them.

Besides, many talented Greek-Cypriots upped sticks and went to Byzantium to serve (like Patriarch Gregory of Cyprus himself); those who stayed behind mostly made their peace with the Latin authorities (and some of those became rich under their rule).
 
Cyprus

I recall that by the time of Hugh IV, Cyprus was indeed quite rich and renowned. But he reigned from 1324-1359. I was thinking of the earlier period, from about 1200-1260 or so, when the Latin settlement was still quite small. My understanding is that there was a really big influx of Latin settlers after the fall of Acre in 1291. Greeks really did'nt start to get any political recognition until Peter I's reign (1359-1360), when a few were actually appointed to the royal government.
 
I recall that by the time of Hugh IV, Cyprus was indeed quite rich and renowned. But he reigned from 1324-1359. I was thinking of the earlier period, from about 1200-1260 or so, when the Latin settlement was still quite small. My understanding is that there was a really big influx of Latin settlers after the fall of Acre in 1291. Greeks really did'nt start to get any political recognition until Peter I's reign (1359-1360), when a few were actually appointed to the royal government.

Good stuff this. :)

Granted, the 'medieval splendour' phase was the late 13th and 14th centuries up to the Genoese capture of Famagusta, but the point about Cyprus' wealth still stands: those trade routes bringing spices, perfumes and other luxuries from the east passed by the island just as much in the early 13th centuries as they did in the late 14th. But did you also know that the wine produced near Limassol in Cyprus became famed (and was exported) throughout Europe as the 'wine of kings' from Richard the Lion-Heart's day? It was something akin to the champagne of the day (have a look at this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commandaria)

And yes, a big influx of Latins came after 1291; and Greeks were second-class citizens for most of the Lusignan period. But equally, there must have been enough Latins on the island from quite early days - clearly there were enough to both hold the island down militarily, and to exploit its riches (and the Knights Hospitaller were a big part of that early Latin demographic).

However, here is a tidbit for you: in 1261 apparently Pope Urban IV warned the Latin government of Cyprus that the Byzantines, with Genoese help, were plotting to launch an invasion which would link up with an expected revolt of Cypriots. Nothing of course came of this - and it's unknown whether it was a credible threat, or just more scurrilous rumour designed to keep the Latins treading hard on the Cypriots and to prevent them being tempted to be nice to the Orthodox Church - but you can certainly make some hay with that in a new thread of yours. Happy to provide references if you're interested.
 
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