Main Events

Greek Revolution

In 1814 a secret organization called the Filiki Eteria was formed to liberate Greece from centuries of Ottoman rule. The revolution began in early 1821, with rebellions in Moldavia and Wallachia (which were ruled by Greek princes). By March the revolution had spread to Greece itself, where Greek nationalists gained control of most of the country by the end of the year.

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From Ottoman to British Cyprus

An agreement was made between Britain and the Ottoman Empire in 1878. Britain gained administrative control of Cyprus in exchange for protecting the Ottomans from Russia. The island was important to Britain as a military base. Britain annexed Cyprus in 1914, ending the Convention.

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World War I

World War I, also known as the Great War, was a devastating global conflict that raged from 1914 to 1918. It pitted the Allied Powers, led by Britain, France, Russia, and the United States, against the Central Powers, including Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. New military technologies like machine guns and tanks resulted in horrific trench warfare, with millions of casualties on both sides. The war reshaped the world map, led to the fall of empires, and planted the seeds for the even deadlier World War II.

Cyprus October Revolt

A revolt against British rule in Cyprus, known as the October Events, took place in 1931. It was driven by the desire of Greek Cypriots to unite with Greece. It was led by Greek Cypriots and supported by the Church of Cyprus. The British response was harsh and included suppressing the church and communist organizations. The period of British rule following the revolt is known as Palmerocracy.

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World War II begins

World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a global conflict between two alliances: the Allies and the Axis powers.

OHEN Foundation

The Orthodox Christian Youth Union (ΟHΕΝ) was founded in its original form in October 1939 in Limassol by the initiative of the priest Solomon Panagides and in 1945 had 241 members. It took its current form on August 20, 1946 in Makedonitissa, Nicosia, starting its operation as a regular organization in 1947, while the following year it expanded throughout the island.

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Enosis Referendum

An unofficial referendum on enosis (reunification) with Greece was held in Cyprus between 15 and 22 January 1950. Mainly Greek Cypriots voted, and the proposal was approved by 95.71% of those taking part.

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Committee of 12 in Athens

On March 7, 1953, at the home of professor Gerasimos Konidaris, the Committee was formed with the participation of: Arch. Makariou, G. Stratou, Ger. Konidaris, Savva Loizidis, Sokrati Loizidis, G. Grivas, Ant. Avikou, D. Vezani, Nik. Papadopoulos, Ilias Chatombrou, Dim. Stavropoulou, Ilia Alexopoulou. All of them together swear on the holy gospel: "I swear in the name of the Holy and Co-uniform and Indivisible Trinity to preserve, sacrificing my own life, I suffer the most cruel sufferings, secret everything that I know and want to hear for the cause of the Union of Cyprus, I will blindly obey the respective orders given to me from time to time."

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Never

In 1954, speaking about Cyprus, Harry Hopkinson, Britain’s minister of state for colonial affairs, told MPs: ‘There are certain territories in the Commonwealth which, owing to their particular circumstances, can never expect to be fully independent.’ To that bald declaration could now perhaps be added: ‘And certain divided territories can never expect to be reunited.’

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Georgios Grivas arrival with Siren boat

On 10th November 1954, Georgios Grivas arrived with Siren boat.

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E.O.K.A.

The name 'E.O.K.A' and the announcement for 1st of April were decided in Agios Mamas Limassol.

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Arms shipment arrival with Saint George boat

Seven Cypriot patriots planned a major uprising against British rule and awaited a second shipment of weapons on the boat "St. George" at Rodafinia coast. However, their plan was foiled when the British warship HMS Comet intercepted the boat and arrested the rebels, including those who were already unloading the weapons on the shore. The arrested individuals were later convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

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First hero Panteli

He died on the night of March 31 to April 1, 1955 from an electric shock, while on EOKA ordered duty.

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Kyrenia Castle escape

The Kyrenia Castle Escape took place early in the Cyprus Emergency. A number of the EOKA were being held prisoner at Kyrenia Castle and on 23 September 1955, sixteen of them escaped by climbing down sheets tied to be a rope.

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Harding gets appointed as governor

On 25 September 1955, Harding was assigned the post of Governor of the British colony of Cyprus.

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Harding arrives to Cyprus

He arrived in Cyprus on 3 October 1955.

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Spilia Battle

In December 1955, a small EOKA force in Cyprus fought a British encirclement attempt. Despite being outnumbered, EOKA's clever tactics and foggy conditions led to British confusion and gunfire amongst themselves. Though EOKA escaped, the battle's outcome prevented a decisive British victory and extended the EOKA campaign for Cypriot independence.

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Students uprising (Limassol, Nicosia etc)

14 December 1955, Limassol The brutal British occupiers brutally cracked down the peacefully protesting students. After the uprising, the occupiers closed the school till September 1956. 26 January 1956, Nicosia Students of the Pancypriot Gymnasium, on the occasion of the arrest of some of their fellow students from previous incidents, climbed on the roof of the library to fight off the British soldiers.

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First hangings / Athens protests

The newly appointed occupation governer Harding wanted to break the Greek resistance by executing 2 young men. 23-year-old Michalakis Karaolis and 22-year-old Andreas Dimitriou were taken to the prison gallows on May 10, 1956, despite large demonstrations in Greece and Cyprus. The day before the executions took place, blood was also spilled in Athens during a cruel crackdown on pro-ENOSIS protesters. Approximate balance was 4 killed (three protesters, one police officer) and a total of 265 people injured.

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Battle of Nicosia Hospital

The Battle of Nicosia Hospital was a military engagement during the Cyprus Emergency. The EOKA planned a raid to rescue Polycarpos Georkadjis, an EOKA prisoner who had been transferred to prison. The escape was successful although the team suffered casualties.

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First torture victim

The British occupier refused to recognize the result of the democratic referendum in 1950. Therefore the Greek people of Cyprus was forced to take their freedom by force. The British occupier reacted with repression and violence. Frustrated by the glorious victories of EOKA, the British installed detention camps as they were experienced to do in other colonies.

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Battle of Machairas

The Battle of Machairas was fought between March 2 and March 3, 1957, during the EOKA struggle against the British. It took place in the Troodos mountains near the monastery of Machairas.

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Evagoras Pallikaridis the last hero to be hanged

He was hanged in the early hours of March 14, 1957, in the Central Prisons of Nicosia. He is the last to climb the gallows.

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Founding of Turkish radical 'TMT'

End of 1957, foundation of the Turkish-Cypriot extremist TMT

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Turkish radicals burn Olympiakos Nicosia office

A bomb targeting the Turkish Consulate in Nicosia on June 7, 1958 led to violence between Greeks and Turks. Greek Cypriots defended themselves from attacks by Turkish mobs who vandalized property and injured people. Despite intervention by British troops, two Greek Cypriots were killed and many others injured.

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Kioneli massacre

The Kioneli massacre was committed by Turkish Cypriot extremists, with the help of the British colonialists, in the fields between the villages of Kioneli and Horta Kiogiou on June 12, 1958, where 8 Greek Cypriots from the village of Kontemenos were massacred in cold blood.

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Kourdali Accident

A deadly accident occured on 20 June, 1958 in Kourdali while four EOKA fighters, Panagiotis Georgiadis, Alekos Konstantinou, Andreas Patsalidis and Costas Anaxagorou, were preparing a pressure mine. The device detonated unexpectedly, leveling the house and scattering the bodies of the men around the property. People from nearby villages rushed to the scene in an attempt to help. Thankfully, Andreas Patsalidis' wife, Maria, had moved their young daughter to another room before the explosion, saving their lives.

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Bombing of Anorthosis office

The clubhouse that was found at the Hadjimichael building in Ermou street since 1931 was bombed on 8th July 1958 by the British.

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Liopetri barn battle

On 2 September 1958 at the Barn at Liopetri EOKA fought one of its most epic battles. Andreas Karyos, Elias Papakyriakou, Photis Pittas and Christos Samaras, who were on a training mission in Liopetri, find themselves surrounded by British troops. They take refuge in a barn, enduring a day of interrogation, skirmishes, and torture of the barn's owner. Despite putting up a valiant fight, they are all killed when the British set the barn on fire. Their heroism becomes a national symbol in Cyprus.

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The last hero Savvas Rotsides

On November 25, 1958, Rotsides went to a spring with his competitor Rogeros Shipillis, to get water at their hideout, in the "Skouri" area of ​​Agros. There they fell into an ambush by the English, who violated the existing truce. Rotsides was killed and his competitor managed to escape with serious injuries. Rotsides is the last rebel dead during the Struggle. His parents dressed him in a wedding suit at the Kyperounta Sanatorium, from where they received him after his death and, receiving into their house the multitude of people who had gathered from all over Cyprus to bid him farewell, they ordered the bells to ring incessantly.

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London and Zürich Agreements

The London and Zürich Agreements for the constitution of Cyprus started with an agreement on 19 February 1959 in Lancaster House, London, between Turkey, Greece, the United Kingdom and Cypriot community leaders (Archbishop Makarios III for Greek Cypriots and Dr. Fazıl Küçük for Turkish Cypriots). On that basis, a constitution was drafted and agreed together with two prior Treaties of Alliance and Guarantee in Zürich on 11 February 1959. Cyprus was accordingly proclaimed an independent state on 16 August 1960.