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SIR SAMUEL WHITE BAKER
CYPRUS AS I SAW IT IN 1879
page 280 View PDF version of this page of the chivalrous Guy de Lusignan, ex-king of
Jerusalem, accompanied by the Princes of Antioch
and Tripoli. The marriage of Richard with Beren
garia took place at Limasol ; she was there crowned
Queen of England by the Bishops of York and
Evreux. Richard, who did not prolong his honey
moon when an opportunity of fighting was at hand,
immediately collected his forces, and, together with Guy
.de Lusignan, marched for the interior, where Isaac Comnenus had re-organised his army. Guy de Lusignan with a division of the troops marched upon Famagousta, which surrendered without resistance, while Richard attacked- the Greek army under Isaac Comnenus in the plain of Messaria. Owing to the disparity of force the battle was for some time doubtful, and at length the two leaders engaged in personal encounter, resulting in the capture of Isaac Comnenus and the total discomfiture of his army. The city of Lefkosia at once threw open its gates to the victorious Richard. The next disembarkation of troops at Limasol, on ιst July, 1570, under the Turkish general Lala Mustafa, was upon a much larger scale, as the expedition comprised 70,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, and 200 cannon. With this force Lefkosia was assaulted, and taken after a few weeks' siege ; and the inhabitants were subjected to inconceivable atrocities, 20,000 of both sexes being mercilessly butchered during the sack which followed the capture of the town. The Turkish forces then marched upon the great stronghold of Cyprus, Famagousta. This powerful fortress was invested by land and sea, and although defended by only 7000 Venetian troops, under their gallant commandant, General Bragadino, it sustained a vigorous siege for more
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