Cyprus 74

How Cyprus came to be divided

Since 1974 the island has been split in two, with a UN buffer zone running through its capital. This is the history behind that line, from the first farming villages to the talks still going on today, with both communities' views set side by side.

Start with the timeline

Map of Cyprus showing the island's divisionThe north is administered by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the south by the Republic of Cyprus. A UN buffer zone, the Green Line, runs between them and through Nicosia. Two British Sovereign Base Areas lie on the south coast.NicosiaKyreniaFamagustaLarnacaLimassolPaphosMorphouUN buffer zone
North
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey
South
Republic of Cyprus, the internationally recognised state and an EU member
Green Line
UN buffer zone, about 180 km long, patrolled since 1974
Bases
Akrotiri and Dhekelia, British Sovereign Base Areas
1974
Year the island was divided
1964
UN peacekeepers on the island since
9
Crossing points open on the Green Line
About 2,000
Missing persons cases from both communities

Timeline

Fifty seven moments in the island's history. Select any event to read the full story and why it mattered.

Show earlier history, 8200 BCE to 1570Hide earlier history

Ancient Cyprus

8200 to 334 BCE

Farming villages, copper mines and city kingdoms, with the island paying tribute to whichever empire was strongest.

  1. c. 8200 to 7000 BCE

    First Neolithic Settlements

    The earliest known permanent settlements appear in Cyprus, marking the beginning of agricultural civilisation on the island.

  2. c. 3000 to 2500 BCE

    Bronze Age Copper Mining

    Cyprus becomes a major source of copper in the ancient world, giving the metal (and possibly the island) its name.

  3. c. 1200 BCE

    Greek Mycenaean Settlement

    Mycenaean Greeks establish settlements across Cyprus, introducing Greek language and culture that would define the island for millennia.

  4. 709 BCE

    Assyrian Conquest

    Cyprus comes under Assyrian rule but maintains local kingdom structure with tribute payments.

  5. 545 BCE

    Persian Rule Begins

    Cyprus becomes part of the Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great, maintaining the kingdom system while paying tribute.

Hellenistic and Roman

333 BCE to 329 CE

Alexander, the Ptolemies and then Rome. Christianity arrives with Paul and Barnabas.

  1. 333 BCE

    Alexander the Great's Conquest

    Alexander the Great conquers Cyprus during his campaign against the Persian Empire, bringing Hellenistic influence.

  2. 294 BCE

    Ptolemaic Egypt Takes Control

    Cyprus becomes part of Ptolemaic Egypt, ending the ancient kingdom system and establishing centralised rule.

  3. 58 BCE

    Roman Annexation

    Rome annexes Cyprus, incorporating it into the Roman Empire as part of the province of Cilicia.

  4. 45 to 47 CE

    Paul and Barnabas Mission

    Apostles Paul and Barnabas bring Christianity to Cyprus, converting the Roman governor and establishing the island's Christian identity.

Byzantine

330 to 1190

Seven centuries as part of the Eastern Roman Empire, interrupted by Arab raids and a long shared rule.

  1. 330 CE

    Byzantine Empire Established

    Cyprus becomes part of the Byzantine Empire following the founding of Constantinople, strengthening Greek Orthodox Christianity.

  2. 488 CE

    Church of Cyprus Gains Autocephaly

    Emperor Zeno grants the Church of Cyprus independence (autocephaly), making the Archbishop of Cyprus autonomous from Antioch.

  3. 649 CE

    First Arab Raids

    Arab Muslim forces begin raiding Cyprus, initiating centuries of conflict between Muslims and Byzantines over the island.

  4. 965 CE

    Byzantine Recovery Under Nicephorus Phocas

    Emperor Nicephorus Phocas reconquers Cyprus, ending Arab occupation and restoring full Byzantine control.

Crusader and Venetian

1191 to 1570

Richard the Lionheart, the Lusignan kings and finally Venice, which fortified Nicosia and Famagusta.

  1. 6 May 1191

    Richard the Lionheart Conquers Cyprus

    During the Third Crusade, Richard I of England conquers Cyprus from Byzantine ruler Isaac Komnenos, ending Byzantine rule.

  2. 1192

    Lusignan Dynasty Established

    Guy de Lusignan becomes King of Cyprus, establishing a Frankish dynasty that would rule for three centuries.

  3. 1197

    Papal Recognition of Cyprus Kingdom

    Pope Celestine III recognises the Kingdom of Cyprus, legitimising Lusignan rule and establishing formal ties with Rome.

  4. 1291

    Fall of Acre - Cyprus Becomes Crusader Base

    After the fall of Acre, Cyprus becomes the primary base for crusader activities and receives thousands of refugees from the Holy Land.

  5. 1372 to 1464

    Genoese Occupation of Famagusta

    Genoa occupies Famagusta, Cyprus's main port, severely damaging the island's economy and royal authority.

  6. 7 July 1426

    Mamluk Invasion of Cyprus

    The Mamluk Sultanate invades Cyprus, capturing King Janus and forcing the kingdom to pay tribute to Cairo.

  7. 1473

    Caterina Cornaro Becomes Queen

    Caterina Cornaro, a Venetian noblewoman, becomes Queen of Cyprus through marriage, beginning Venetian influence over the island.

  8. 26 February 1489

    Venetian Annexation

    Queen Caterina Cornaro abdicates in favour of Venice, ending the Kingdom of Cyprus and beginning Venetian rule.

  9. 1540 to 1550

    Venetian Fortification Programme

    Venice begins massive fortification of Nicosia and Famagusta to defend against the growing Ottoman threat.

Ottoman rule

1571 to 1877

The Ottoman conquest brings Turkish settlement and the millet system, which shaped the two communities that exist today.

  1. 1571

    Ottoman Conquest of Cyprus

    The Ottoman Empire conquers Cyprus from the Venetians after a year-long siege. This begins over 300 years of Ottoman rule.

British rule

1878 to 1959

From administration to annexation to Crown colony, ending in an armed campaign for union with Greece and a Turkish Cypriot response.

  1. 4 June 1878

    British Occupation Begins

    Britain occupies Cyprus following the Congress of Berlin, though the island remains nominally under Ottoman sovereignty.

  2. 5 November 1914

    British Annexation

    Britain formally annexes Cyprus when the Ottoman Empire enters World War I on the side of Germany.

  3. 1 May 1925

    Cyprus Becomes Crown Colony

    Cyprus officially becomes a British Crown Colony under the Treaty of Lausanne.

  4. 21 October 1931

    October Uprising

    Major Greek Cypriot uprising in Nicosia where 5,000 protesters riot and burn down Government House, demanding union with Greece (Enosis).

  5. 1 April 1955

    EOKA Campaign Begins

    The National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (EOKA) launches guerrilla warfare against British rule, seeking Enosis (union with Greece).

  6. 9 March 1956

    Makarios Exiled

    Archbishop Makarios, leader of the Enosis movement, is deported to the Seychelles by British authorities.

  7. 1957

    Turkish Resistance Movement (TMT) Founded

    Turkish Cypriots establish TMT (Türk Mukavemet Teşkilatı) to counter EOKA and advocate for partition (Taksim).

Independence

1959 to 1960

The Zurich and London agreements create a bicommunal republic with Britain, Greece and Turkey as guarantors.

  1. 19 February 1959

    Zurich-London Agreements

    Britain, Greece, and Turkey agree on Cyprus independence with power-sharing arrangements between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

  2. 1 March 1959

    Makarios Returns

    Archbishop Makarios returns from exile and is elected as the first President of the Republic of Cyprus.

  3. 16 August 1960

    Cyprus Independence

    Cyprus gains independence with a constitution providing power-sharing between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Britain retains sovereignty over two military bases.

Breakdown and 1974

1963 to 1974

The constitution collapses, intercommunal violence follows, and in 1974 a coup and a military intervention divide the island.

  1. 30 November 1963

    Constitutional Crisis

    President Makarios proposes 13 constitutional amendments that Turkish Cypriots reject, leading to their withdrawal from government.

  2. 21 December 1963

    Bloody Christmas

    Intercommunal violence erupts across Cyprus, leading to casualties on both sides and the beginning of ethnic segregation.

  3. 4 March 1964

    UN Peacekeeping Force Deployed

    The United Nations deploys UNFICYP peacekeeping forces to Cyprus to prevent further intercommunal violence.

  4. August 1964

    Battle of Kokkina

    Turkish Air Force intervenes to support besieged Turkish Cypriot enclave, marking Turkey's direct military involvement.

  5. 15 November 1967

    Kophinou Incident

    Fighting between Greek and Turkish Cypriots threatens to escalate into war between Greece and Turkey.

  6. 15 July 1974

    Greek Military Coup

    Greek military junta orchestrates coup against President Makarios, installing Nikos Sampson as president to achieve Enosis.

  7. 20 July 1974

    Turkish Military Intervention Begins

    Turkey launches Operation Attila (known in Turkey as the Peace Operation), landing troops on the northern coast of Cyprus.

  8. 23 July 1974

    Greek Junta Collapses

    The military coup in Cyprus triggers the fall of the Greek military junta and restoration of civilian government in Athens.

  9. 14 to 16 August 1974

    Second Turkish Offensive

    Turkey launches second phase of military operation, extending control to 37% of Cyprus territory.

A divided island

1975 to today

Two administrations, a UN buffer zone and five decades of talks that have not yet produced a settlement.

  1. 13 February 1975

    Turkish Federated State Declared

    Turkish Cypriots establish the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus with Rauf Denktash as president.

  2. 3 August 1977

    Makarios Dies

    Archbishop Makarios dies and is succeeded by Spyros Kyprianou as President of Cyprus.

  3. 15 November 1983

    TRNC Independence Declaration

    Turkish Cypriots declare independence as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey.

  4. 4 July 1990

    Cyprus Applies for EU Membership

    The Republic of Cyprus submits its application to join the European Community (later EU).

  5. 23 April 2003

    Green Line Crossings Open

    Turkish Cypriot authorities open crossing points, allowing people to cross the Green Line for the first time in 30 years.

  6. 24 April 2004

    Annan Plan Referendums

    Simultaneous referendums on UN reunification plan: Turkish Cypriots approve 65%-35%, Greek Cypriots reject 76%-24%.

  7. 1 May 2004

    Cyprus Joins European Union

    Cyprus becomes EU member as a divided island, with EU law suspended in the northern part.

  8. 21 March 2008

    New Reunification Talks Begin

    Presidents Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat begin intensive negotiations for reunification.

  9. June to July 2017

    Crans-Montana Conference Fails

    International conference in Switzerland ends without agreement on key issues including security guarantees and troop presence.

  10. 8 October 2020

    Varosha Partially Reopened

    Turkey and TRNC announce partial reopening of abandoned Varosha quarter of Famagusta for settlement.

  11. 11 October 2020

    Ersin Tatar Elected

    Ersin Tatar wins Turkish Cypriot presidential election, advocating for 'two-state solution' based on sovereign equality.

  12. 27 to 29 April 2021

    UN Geneva Talks

    Informal five-party meeting confirms lack of common ground; Turkish side insists on 'sovereign equality' for future talks.

  13. 28 February 2023

    Nikos Christodoulides Elected

    Nikos Christodoulides wins Cyprus presidential election, pledging renewed effort for reunification talks.

  14. July 2024

    50 Years of Division

    Cyprus marks five decades since the 1974 events that led to the island's division, with no resolution in sight.

  15. 19 October 2025

    Tufan Erhürman Elected

    Tufan Erhürman defeats Ersin Tatar in the Turkish Cypriot leadership election, winning around 63% of the vote.

The key issues

Six questions sit at the heart of every round of talks. Here is what each is about, and where each community has generally stood.

IssueGreek Cypriot positionTurkish Cypriot position
Governance and power sharingHow a reunited state would be run: a federation with a strong centre, or a looser arrangement between two equal parts.A single federal state with a strong central government.Political equality and effective participation in every institution.
Security and guaranteesWhether Turkish troops stay on the island and whether the 1960 guarantee system survives.Withdrawal of all foreign troops and an end to guarantor rights.Keep security guarantees and a Turkish presence as protection.
TerritoryWhere the internal boundary would run, including whether Famagusta and other areas are returned.Significant territorial adjustments, including the return of Famagusta.A territory large enough to sustain a viable Turkish Cypriot state.
PropertyWhat happens to homes and land left behind in 1974, whether by return, restitution or compensation.The right of return and full restitution of property.Practical limits on return, with compensation and exchange.
EconomyMerging two economies with different currencies, laws and relationships with the EU.Full EU integration and a single economic space.Gradual integration with safeguards for the smaller economy.
International statusWho holds sovereignty and how a settled Cyprus, or two states, would be recognised.A single sovereignty, continuing the existing Republic of Cyprus.Recognition of the sovereign equality of both sides.

A divided capital

Nicosia is the last divided capital in Europe. The buffer zone runs through the old walled city, and in places is only a few metres wide.

One of the UN's longest missions

UN peacekeepers have been in Cyprus since 1964, ten years before the division, making it one of the longest running peacekeeping operations in the world.

Decades of talks

Negotiations have come close more than once, most notably with the Annan Plan in 2004 and at Crans Montana in 2017. Neither produced a settlement.

Cyprus today

The island remains divided along the UN monitored Green Line. The Republic of Cyprus, which controls the south, has been an EU member since 2004. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognised only by Turkey. Crossings between the two sides have been open since 2003, and people now move between them every day.

Recent developments

  1. 2020Part of the fenced off town of Varosha is reopened to visitors, drawing UN criticism.
  2. 2021Informal UN talks in Geneva end without agreement, as the Turkish Cypriot side proposes a two state solution.
  3. 2024Fifty years pass since the events of 1974.
  4. 2025Informal UN meetings resume, and in October Tufan Erhürman is elected Turkish Cypriot leader, pledging to return to talks.