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EspañolJAMES II OF CYPRUS
'James II (the Bastard) of Cyprus' (c.1440 – July 10 1473), was the illegitimate son of John II of Cyprus and Marietta of Patras.
James was a great favourite of his father, and in 1456, at the age of 16, he was appointed to the archbishopric of Nicosia. After murdering the royal chamberlain (1457), he was deprived of the archbishopric and fled to Rhodes on a ship of the Catalan Juan Tafures. He was pardoned by his father, and the archbishopric was returned to him.
In 1458 his father died, and his half-sister Charlotte became Queen of Cyprus. In 1460, James challenged her right to the throne, blockading her and her husband in the castle of Kyrenia for three years. When Charlotte fled to Rome in 1463, James was crowned King. In gratitude, he made his friend and supporter Juan Tafures master of his household and count of Tripoli.
In July 1468, seeking political support, he married a 14-year old Venetian, Caterina Cornaro, by proxy. She finally travelled to Cyprus in November 1472. James died a few months later, amidst some suspicion that he might have been poisoned by agents of Venice, possibly by Caterina's uncles. According to his will, Caterina, who was pregnant, became regent. The couple's son James died under suspicious circumstances in 1474 before his first birthday, leaving Caterina as Queen of Cyprus. During her reign the island was controlled by Venetian merchants. In 1489 Venice forced her to abdicate, and Cyprus became a colony of the Republic of Venice until it was captured by the Ottomans in 1571.
The civil war between James II and Charlotte of Cyprus forms the historical background to the events of Dorothy Dunnett's novel ''Race of Scorpions''.
| Contents |
| Archbishop of Nicosia |
| King of Cyprus |
| Marriage, Death and Succession |
| Literary Note |
Archbishop of Nicosia
James was a great favourite of his father, and in 1456, at the age of 16, he was appointed to the archbishopric of Nicosia. After murdering the royal chamberlain (1457), he was deprived of the archbishopric and fled to Rhodes on a ship of the Catalan Juan Tafures. He was pardoned by his father, and the archbishopric was returned to him.
King of Cyprus
In 1458 his father died, and his half-sister Charlotte became Queen of Cyprus. In 1460, James challenged her right to the throne, blockading her and her husband in the castle of Kyrenia for three years. When Charlotte fled to Rome in 1463, James was crowned King. In gratitude, he made his friend and supporter Juan Tafures master of his household and count of Tripoli.
Marriage, Death and Succession
In July 1468, seeking political support, he married a 14-year old Venetian, Caterina Cornaro, by proxy. She finally travelled to Cyprus in November 1472. James died a few months later, amidst some suspicion that he might have been poisoned by agents of Venice, possibly by Caterina's uncles. According to his will, Caterina, who was pregnant, became regent. The couple's son James died under suspicious circumstances in 1474 before his first birthday, leaving Caterina as Queen of Cyprus. During her reign the island was controlled by Venetian merchants. In 1489 Venice forced her to abdicate, and Cyprus became a colony of the Republic of Venice until it was captured by the Ottomans in 1571.
Literary Note
The civil war between James II and Charlotte of Cyprus forms the historical background to the events of Dorothy Dunnett's novel ''Race of Scorpions''.
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