Editing Limassol (section)

== History ==

=== Ancient ===
[[File:Limestone sarcophagus- the Amathus sarcophagus MET DT352.jpg|left|thumb|180x180px|[[Limestone]] [[sarcophagus]] found in [[Amathus]], dating to the 5th century BC<ref>{{Cite web |title=Limestone sarcophagus: the Amathus sarcophagus {{!}} Cypriot {{!}} Archaic |url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/242006 |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=The Metropolitan Museum of Art |language=en}}</ref>]]
[[File:Episkopi 01-2017 img03 Kourion.jpg|thumb|[[Kourion]] [[Kourion#Theatre|Theatre]]|left|180x180px]]Limassol is situated between the ancient city-kingdoms of [[Amathus]], founded around 1100 BC by Greek settlers, and [[Kourion]], founded around the same time. Settlements in the modern area of Limassol were most likely founded after the decline and destruction of Amathus, around the 7th century AD. The area around Limassol shows evidence of human activity dating back to the Neolithic period (around 7000 BC). Sites like [[Khirokitia|Chirokitia]], although not directly in Limassol, indicate the presence of early farming communities. During the Bronze Age, the region saw the development of more complex societies, with evidence of trade and cultural exchanges with neighbouring regions. These early settlements and city-kingdoms laid the foundation for Limassol’s development, contributing to its rich historical and cultural heritage. Ancient writers and geographers mention nothing about the foundation of the town.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=History of Limassol |url=https://www.limassol.org.cy/en/history |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=www.limassol.org.cy |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=allaboutlimassol.com |title=Allaboutlimassol.com - Ancient Times |url=https://allaboutlimassol.com/en/ancient-times/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=allaboutlimassol.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=cyprustravellerguide.com |date=2024-06-30 |title=A BRIEF HISTORY OF LIMASSOL |url=https://cyprustravellerguide.com/a-brief-history-of-limassol/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=CYPRUS TRAVELLER GUIDE |language=en-GB}}</ref>

According to the [[Council of Chalcedon]] which took place in 451, the local bishop as well as the bishops of Amathus and Arsinoe were involved in the foundation of the city, which would be known by the names of '''Theodosiana''' and '''Neapolis'''.<ref>''The acts of the Council of Chalcedon'' by Council of Chalcedon, Richard Price, Michael Gaddis 2006 {{ISBN|0-85323-039-0}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=6IUaOOT1G3UC&dq=Chalcedon+catholic+anglican+eastern&pg=PA94]</ref> Bishop [[Leontios of Neapolis]] was an important church writer in the 7th century. The records of the 7th Synod (757) refer to it as the bishop's see. The town was known as '''Lemesos''' by the 10th century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Limassol |url=https://www.limassol.org.cy/en/history |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=www.limassol.org.cy |language=en}}</ref>

===Medieval===
[[File:Kolossi Castle 01.JPG|thumb|View of [[Kolossi Castle]] built in 1210 by the Frankish military.|left|180x180px]]
The history of Limassol is largely known by the events associated with the [[Third Crusade]]. The king of England, [[Richard the Lionheart]], was travelling to the [[Holy Land]] in 1190.<ref name="CyprusHistory">{{cite web |url=http://www.cypnet.co.uk/ncyprus/history/17.htm |title=Cyprus History: Cyprus under Richard I – cypnet.co.uk |last=Cypnet.co.uk |work=cypnet.co.uk |year=2011 |access-date=5 July 2011}}</ref> His fiancée, [[Berengaria of Navarre|Berengaria]], and his sister, [[Joan of England, Queen of Sicily|Joan]], were also travelling there, but on a different ship. Due to a storm, the women's ship arrived in Limassol.<ref name="CyprusHistory"/> [[Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus|Isaac Komnenos]], the renegade Byzantine governor of Cyprus, invited the noblewomen ashore, with the intention of holding them for ransom, but they refused. So he refused them fresh water and they had to put out to sea again or yield to capture. When Richard arrived in Limassol and met Isaac Komnenos, he asked him to contribute to the crusade for the liberation of the [[Holy Land]].<ref name="CyprusHistory"/> At the beginning Isaac agreed but later on refused. Richard took him captive; the entire island was therefore taken over by the [[Anglo-Normans]], bringing the long Byzantine dominion of Cyprus to an end.<ref>Wolff and Hazard, pp. 63–64</ref> Richard celebrated his marriage with Berengaria who had received the crown as queen of England in Cyprus. Richard destroyed Amathus and the inhabitants were transferred to Limassol.<ref name="CyprusHistory"/>

A year later, in 1191 Cyprus was sold for the sum of 100,000 [[bezant]]s to the [[Templars]], rich monks and soldiers whose aim was the protection of the [[Holy Sepulchre]] in [[Jerusalem]].<ref name="CyprusHistory"/>

The knights enforced high taxes, in order to get back the money that had been given for the purchase of Cyprus. This led to the revolt of the Cypriots, who wished to get rid of the bond of the promise. Richard accepted their request and a new purchaser was found: [[Guy of Lusignan]], a [[Roman Catholic]] from [[Poitou]]. Cyprus was therefore handed over to the French dynasty of the house of [[Lusignan]], thus establishing the medieval [[Kingdom of Cyprus]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bozkurtoğlu |first=Özge |date=2018-01-01 |title=A Multi-lingual Island in the Middle Ages: Cyprus of the Lusignan Dynasty |url=https://www.academia.edu/39786867 |journal=A Multi-lingual Island in the Middle Ages: Cyprus of the Lusignan Dynasty}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Nicholson |first=Helen |title=Remembering the crusaders in Cyprus: the Lusignans, the Hospitallers and the 1191 conquest of Cyprus in Jean d'Arras' Mélusine |date=2018-01-18 |pages=158–172 |editor-last=Parsons |editor-first=Simon Thomas |url=https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/108535/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |place=Woodbridge, Suffolk |publisher=D. S. Brewer |isbn=978-1-84384-458-7 |editor2-last=Paterson |editor2-first=Linda M.}}</ref>

For a period of about three centuries (1192–1489), Limassol enjoyed remarkable prosperity. Cyprus was characterised by its great number of Latin bishops. This lasted until the occupation of Cyprus by the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] in 1570. Latin battalions which established monasteries were settled down there. The settlement of merchants in Cyprus and particularly in Limassol in the 13th century led to the financial welfare of its inhabitants. Its harbour as a centre of transportation and commerce, contributed greatly to the financial and [[cultural development]].<ref name=":1" />

===Venetian rule===
Cyprus was sold in 1489 to [[Venice]] by the Cypriot Queen [[Catherine Cornaro]].<ref name="ChurchillDavenport1900">{{cite book|last1=Churchill|first1=Lady Randolph Spencer|last2=Davenport|first2=Cyril James Humphries|title=The Anglo-Saxon Review|url=https://archive.org/details/anglosaxonrevie08churgoog|access-date=13 March 2013|year=1900|publisher=John Lane|pages=[https://archive.org/details/anglosaxonrevie08churgoog/page/n261 215]–22}}</ref> The Venetians were not interested in Cyprus. They  only wanted to receive taxes and exploit the island’s sources. All the inhabitants were enslaved by the Venetians, and were obliged to give a third of their income, whether this was part of their products of the land. Travelers who visited Cyprus in the 16th century commented on the poor condition of the local population in the towns of the island.<ref name=":1" />

In 1538 the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] captured the city and the [[Limassol Castle|Limassol castle]]. The Venetian governor of Cyprus, after recapturing the castle, decided to demolish it in order to avoid its possible seizure. This destruction was completed in 1567-68. Two years later the Ottomans captured the city.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Τμήμα Αρχαιοτήτων - Αρχική Σελίδα |url=http://www.culture.gov.cy/dmculture/da/da.nsf/DMLindex_gr/DMLindex_gr?OpenDocument |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=www.culture.gov.cy}}</ref>

=== Ottoman rule ===
[[File:Ottomans conquering the Limassol Castle.png|right|thumb|272x272px|[[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] conquering the [[Limassol Castle]] in 1570]]The [[Ottoman Empire]] [[Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573)|invaded Cyprus]] in 1570–1577 and occupied it.<ref name="Turnbull57">Turnbull (2000), p. 57</ref><ref name="Abulafia447">Abulafia (2012), p. 447</ref> Limassol was conquered in July 1570 without any resistance. After the [[Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–73)|Ottoman acquisition of Cyprus]] in 1576, the remains or parts of the remains of the Limassol castle were incorporated in the new Ottoman fort, completed in 1590, which was considerably strengthened. The underground chamber and the first floor were transformed into prison cells and remained in use until 1950.<ref name=":2" />

Some neighbourhoods, primarily to the east of the city, were predominantly Greek, while those to the west were mainly Turkish, with a mixed area around the castle. Christians lived in small, low houses that required one to bend to enter, a deliberate design to prevent Turks from riding horses into the homes. During the period of Turkish rule, Cyprus experienced a general decline. The Turks did not contribute to any development, and Greeks and Turks lived in separate neighbourhoods. The intellectual standards of Cypriots declined due to the lack of interest from the conquerors, oppression, and high taxation, which hindered the intellectual development of children.<ref name=":1" />

The church played an important role in the education of Greeks during the years 1754–1821. During those years, many new schools were established all over the island, most notable in Limassol being the [[Laniteio Lyceum|Greek School]] (modern-day Laniteio Lyceum). [[History of Greece|Greek history]], Turkish and French were taught at schools.<ref name=":1" />

===British colony===
[[File:Limassol Old Town 19.JPG|thumb|Limassol Old Town with British colonial architecture|right]]
In 1878, the [[British Empire|British]] had administrative control over Cyprus after the [[Cyprus Convention|Cyprus convention]]. The first British governor of Limassol was Colonel Warren.<ref name="Daedalus">{{cite web|url=http://www.daedalus.gr/prdinformatics/HOC/britishoccupationofcyprusAEn.htm |title=The History of Cyprus – The British occupation |last=Daedalus Informatics |work=daedalus.gr |year=2006 |access-date=9 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402085458/http://www.daedalus.gr/prdinformatics/HOC/britishoccupationofcyprusAEn.htm |archive-date=April 2, 2012 }}</ref> He showed a particular interest in Limassol and even from the first days the condition of the town showed an improvement. The roads were cleaned, the animals were removed from the centre, roads were fixed, trees were planted and docks were constructed for the loading and unloading of those ships that were anchored off-shore. Lanterns for the lighting of the central areas were also installed in the 1880s. In 1912, electricity replaced the old lanterns.<ref name="Daedalus"/>

From the first years of the British occupation, a [[post office]], a telegraph office and a hospital began to operate.<ref name= Daedalus/> In 1880, the first [[printing press]] started working. It was in this printing press that the newspapers ''Alithia'' and ''Anagennisis'' were published in 1897. The newspaper ''Salpinx'' was published at the same time.

At the end of the 19th century, the first hotels began to operate. Among these were Europe and Amathus. These changes that the British brought about contributed to the development of an intellectual and artistic life. Schools, theatres, clubs, [[art museum|art galleries]], [[music hall]]s, sport societies, [[football team|football clubs]] etc. were all set up and meant a great deal to the cultural life of Limassol.<ref name=":1" />

=== Modern day ===
Due to the [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus|Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974]] the [[Turkish Cypriots|Turkish Cypriot]] inhabitants of Limassol were transferred to the north of Cyprus. Accordingly, many [[Greek Cypriots]] refugees who were uprooted from their homes in the north, fled, and settled down in the city. When [[Famagusta]] was occupied by Turkish troops, Limassol experienced rapid growth fuelled by the large population increase and the need for housing. Many luxury hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues were built, making Limassol the new commerce centre of Cyprus, the role which had been filled by Famagusta.<ref name=":1" />

Today, Limassol is the second largest city in Cyprus and hosts the island’s main port. It is renowned for its extravagant annual events, attracting numerous visitors, such as the regarded [[Forsen|Hans Eli Sebastian Fors]], from around the globe.<ref name=":3" />