In 1468, James II the Bastard, became King of Cyprus. In 1473 he chose Caterina Cornaro for a wife and Queen of the Kingdom of Cyprus. The King's choice was extremely pleasing to the Republic of Venice as it could henceforth secure the commercial rights and other privileges of Venice in Cyprus.
James died soon after the wedding due to a sudden illness (or by poison), and according to his will, Caterina, who at the time was pregnant, acted as regent. She became Queen when their infant son James III died in August, 1474 before his first birthday, under suspicious circumstances.
The kingdom had long since declined, and had been a tributary state of the Mameluks since 1426. Under Caterina, who ruled the island from 1474 to 1489, the island was controlled by Venetian merchants, and in 1489 she was forced to abdicate and to cede the administration of the country to the Republic of Venice.
WI Charles I of Savoy claimed the title by force? He had a higher claim than Venice and ties with the Lusignans being the nephew of Charlotte de De Lusignan... He could petition Pope Innocent VIII (who was Genoese and Genoa had interests in Cyprus) to declare James II and Caterina Cornaro usurpers (because of James's illegitimacy) and be crowned as King of Cyprus... Thus leading to a War between Venice and Savoy/Genoa over the crown of Cyprus...
James died soon after the wedding due to a sudden illness (or by poison), and according to his will, Caterina, who at the time was pregnant, acted as regent. She became Queen when their infant son James III died in August, 1474 before his first birthday, under suspicious circumstances.
The kingdom had long since declined, and had been a tributary state of the Mameluks since 1426. Under Caterina, who ruled the island from 1474 to 1489, the island was controlled by Venetian merchants, and in 1489 she was forced to abdicate and to cede the administration of the country to the Republic of Venice.
WI Charles I of Savoy claimed the title by force? He had a higher claim than Venice and ties with the Lusignans being the nephew of Charlotte de De Lusignan... He could petition Pope Innocent VIII (who was Genoese and Genoa had interests in Cyprus) to declare James II and Caterina Cornaro usurpers (because of James's illegitimacy) and be crowned as King of Cyprus... Thus leading to a War between Venice and Savoy/Genoa over the crown of Cyprus...