The 297-year Lusignan period of Cyprus was strangely divided into two for the city of Famagusta, with a 92-year Genoese period in between. Among the series of events that started this period, one in particular is the strangest. According to Lusignan tradition, the coronation of the new king took place in two cities; Nicosia for the crown of the Kingdom of Cyprus and Famagusta for the crown of the Kingdom of Jerusalem. When Peter II rode his horse to St Nicholas Cathedral in 1372 to be crowned at the ceremony in Famagusta, he was accompanied by two people on either side of him as per protocol. One of these privileged persons was the Genoese consul and the other was the Venetian consul. However, there was a mishap in the protocol that day. The Venetians were trying to seize the right side, which belonged to the Genoese. The Genoese did not want to lose their privilege. The king sided with the Venetians, which led to fatal clashes and the capture of Famagusta by the Genoese. Thus, a Genoese parenthesis to the Lusignan period was opened and closed in Famagusta. A parenthesis that would last for 92 years.  

Compiled by Aliye Ummanel 

Engraving Source: https://shorturl.at/fjmoL