Turks have been on Cyprus since the Ottoman conquest in 1571.
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Turks have been on Cyprus since the Ottoman conquest in 1571, when the island was captured from Venetian rule. The Ottoman Empire established a presence on the island with the initial purpose of using it as a military base. The Turkish Cypriot population developed over centuries of Ottoman rule and grew as a result of migration from Anatolia.
According to Cypriot historian Polycarpou Constantinides, the first wave of Turkish Cypriot immigrants to Cyprus occurred during the 17th century. “The Turkish Cypriots were not immigrants but rather people born and raised locally”, he added.
In 1960, Cyprus gained independence from Britain and the Republic of Cyprus was established, with Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots sharing power as co-founders of the new state. However, tension between the two communities escalated into violence in 1963, leading to the displacement of thousands of Turkish Cypriots. This eventually led to the Turkish military intervention in 1974, resulting in the division of the island into the Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north.
Today, there are an estimated 300,000 Turkish Cypriots living on the island, mainly in the north. They have their own government, flag, and currency, but their state is only recognized by Turkey. The UN continues to facilitate negotiations between the two communities for reunification.
Interesting facts about Turkish Cypriots:
- Turkish Cypriots make up approximately 18% of the island’s population.
- Turkish Cypriot cuisine includes dishes such as kebab, gözleme and şeftali kebabı.
- Former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, launched a plan for reunification of the island in 2004, but it was rejected by the Greek Cypriot community in a referendum.
- Turkish Cypriot newspapers include Kıbrıs Postası and Kıbrıs Gazetesi.
- Turkish Cypriots celebrate Bayram and Kurban Bayramı, two Islamic festivals.
A table summarizing the history of Turkish presence on Cyprus:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1571 | Ottoman conquest of Cyprus |
| 1960 | Cyprus gains independence |
| 1963 | Tension between communities resulting in displacement |
| 1974 | Turkish military intervention and division of the island |
| present | Turkish Cypriots have their own government in the north of the island |
As Nobel Prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk wrote in his book “Istanbul: Memories and the City”: “Turkish Cypriots share something of the easygoing Mediterranean and Balkan way of life, but also something of the formality and reserve of the Turks.”
Here are some additional responses to your query
Cyprus has been occupied by different suzerains throughout its history, but it never came under Greek rule. The Ottomans conquered Cyprus in 1571 and ruled it until 1878. Turkish people have inhabited the island since the 12th century. The last colonial power to occupy the island was Britain in 1878. Northern Cyprus has been occupied by Turkey for 45 years.
Cyprus lies 40 miles from the coast of Turkey, and Turkish people have inhabited the island since the 12th century. The Island is 250 miles from the nearest Greek island (Rhodes), and Athens is 460 miles away. The Greek and Turkish Cypriots lived relatively peacefully until Greece gained its independence from the Ottomans in 1821.
Cyprus which was ruled by different suzerains, but which never in its entire history came under Greek rule, was conquered by the Ottomans in 1571 and ruled by them until 1878.
The last colonial power to occupy the island was Britain in 1878, succeeding the Ottoman Empire which had conquered Cyprus in 1571, a year marking the first presence of Turkish inhabitants on the island and the beginning of the creation of the Turkish-Cypriot community.
For 45 years, Cypriots have had to endure a Turkish occupation of 37 percent of northern Cyprus while the western nations looked the other way.
Response video to “How long have Turks been on Cyprus?”
The video “1974: Turkish Invasion of Cyprus Captured Up Close” shows footage of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. The Turks are warned to find underground shelter before the Turkish airborne invasion commences, and paratroopers land in waves with 60 paratroopers per aircraft. The Greek-controlled national guard does not respond. Turkish troops carrying light weapons make their way towards Gonielli and the airfield as Turkish jet fighters appear, dive-bombing positions close to Nicosia. There is a significant helicopter assault in the afternoon. Over a thousand Turkish troops are observed landing on the plains around Gonielli, less than two miles from Nicosia, and they quickly establish strategic positions around the city.
I am confident you will be intrigued
Also asked, What happened to Cyprus after the Turkish invasion? As a response to this: The Turkish invasion ended in the partition of Cyprus along the UN-monitored Green Line, which still divides Cyprus, and the formation of a de facto Autonomous Turkish Cypriot Administration in the north. In 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) declared independence, although Turkey is the only country that recognises it.
Why did the Turkish Cypriots move to the north? Facing threats of a renewed Turkish offensive as well as threats to ethnically cleanse the enclaved Greek Cypriots the Cyprus government and the United Nations consented to the transfer of the remainder of the 51,000 Turkish Cypriots that had not left their homes in the south to settle in the north, if they wished to do so.
Besides, How many Turkish Cypriots disappeared in Tochni? As a response to this: The missing persons list of the Republic of Cyprus confirms that 83 Turkish Cypriots disappeared in Tochni on 14 August 1974. Also, as a result of the invasion, over 2000 Greek-Cypriot prisoners of war were taken to Turkey and detained in Turkish prisons.
Likewise, How did Cypriot Turkish differ from Ottoman Turkish?
Response to this: The Cypriot Turkish dialect maintained features of the respective local varieties of the Ottoman settlers who mostly came from the Konya-Antalya-Adana region; furthermore, Cypriot Turkish was also influenced by Cypriot Greek.
Beside this, How many Turkish Cypriots live in Northern Cyprus? As a response to this: The second census, carried out in 2006, revealed the population of Northern Cyprus to be 265,100, of which majority is composed of indigenous Turkish Cypriots (including refugees from Southern Cyprus) and settlers from Turkey. Of the 178,000 Turkish Cypriot citizens, 82% are native Cypriots (145,000).
In this manner, What happened to Cyprus after the Turkish invasion? The Turkish invasion ended in the partition of Cyprus along the UN-monitored Green Line, which still divides Cyprus, and the formation of a de facto Autonomous Turkish Cypriot Administration in the north. In 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) declared independence, although Turkey is the only country that recognises it.
Secondly, What happened to the 11 Turkish Cypriot workers in a bus?
The reply will be: The film tells the story of eleven Turkish Cypriot workers who left their homes in a bus in 1964 that never came back. Their remains were found in a well in Cyprus in October 2006. Theatre in Northern Cyprus is mostly carried out by the Turkish Cypriot State Theatre, municipal theatres and a number of private theatrical companies.
Is Cyprus still divided? Response: NPR’s Peter Kenyon reports that, for now, those prospects remain dim. PETER KENYON, BYLINE: Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when a Greek-inspired coup toppled the sitting Cypriot president and Turkey quickly invaded, with the military winding up in control of about a third of the island.