Wi:The Knights Templar retained control of Cyprus?

Would this lead to their survival? Or would the Muslims conquer the island much earlier?What would be their relationship with the Italian city states be?
 
Personally,I think that the island would be much more militarized than under the de Lusignans,considering the amount of resources they could draw from Europe(I don’t think they will be purged).This militarization,coupled with possible piracy will likely provoke a strong response from the Mamelukes,possibly much more determined than the OTL Mameluke siege of Rhodes. This Templar state will most likely be less vulnerable to the predations of the Italian city states however.
 
Would this lead to their survival? Or would the Muslims conquer the island much earlier?What would be their relationship with the Italian city states be?

It would definitely save them from their OTL fate and by the time they lose Cyprus (which would most probably happen) they'd be probably offered an alternative like the Knights Hospitaliers after loss of Rhodes.
 
You would see possibly all the Knights Templar exiled there from France, which would result in overall boost of the Catholic population. The multicultural cities of Nicosia, Kyrenia and Famagusta may be in contrast with the rather Greek homogeneous southeast.
The society may be organized somewhat like the Teutonic Order State, yet the Greeks would have to have gotten a better place in the government.
It also depends on the attitude between Cyprus and Byzantium.

Nevertheless, I do not see Cyprus remaining Templar post 1500s.
The question is, what will the Catholic population do? Will they quit, or stay? Because it may lead to having soem 10-15%being Catholic, and another 10-15% could be Oriental Christian refugees from the Levant
 
Being ruled by the Templars is really wanting the Mamluks or Ottomans to invade the island. The Mamluks could be held off but the Ottomans with Mehmed II will not let Cyprus remain too much in Templar hands.
 
Being ruled by the Templars is really wanting the Mamluks or Ottomans to invade the island. The Mamluks could be held off but the Ottomans with Mehmed II will not let Cyprus remain too much in Templar hands.
Well that’s presuming that the rise of the Ottoman isn’t put off by this POD,which is possible if for example the Templars go and assist the ERE. But I think that the Mamelukes will be much more eager to conquer the island than OTL. The Templars are a much serious threat than the Kingdom of Cyprus. I think a lot of the Mamelukes trade routes are vulnerable to the Templars,especially if they start raiding like the Hospitallers.
 
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