View PDF version of this page

than ten months, until the heroic garrison was reduced by sickness and starvation. During this time an extraordinary apathy was exhibited by Venice, which should at all hazards have determined upon the relief of this important position. On 23rd January, 1571, the only effective expedition entered Famagousta with 1600 men, provisions and ammunition, with a squadron commanded by the Venetian Marc Antonius Ouirini ; but on the ist August following, the provisions and ammunition having been completely expended, it became absolutely necessary to negotiate the terms of capitulation. A detailed description of this interesting siege is given in the work of Richard Knolles, The General History of the Turks, published in London in 1638. The conditions of surrender stipulated that " The garrison should march out with five guns and the horses of the commanders, and should be conveyed to Candia in the ships and at the expense of the Turks ; that the inhabitants should be free to quit the town and take their property, and that those who preferred to remain should be unmolested both as regards their persons and their goods. " 1 General di Cesnola writes, page 39 :— " These conditions were eagerly accepted by the treacherous Mustafa ; hostages were exchanged ; Turkish vessels, as stipulated, entered the port of Famagousta, and took on board all those who wished to leave the island ; nothing remained but the formality of delivering the keys of the city to the victor. " On 5th August General Bragadino, accompanied by his lieutenants Baglioni, Martinengo, and Quirini, went to the Turkish camp, and was politely received by Mustafa. After the delivery of the keys, and 1 Captain Savile's Cyprus, p. 22.

View PDF version of this page