Turkish Cypriot enclavesThe Turkish Cypriotenclaves were inhabited by Turkish Cypriots between the intercommunal violence of 1963–64 and the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Events leading to the creation of the enclavesIn December 1963 the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios, citing Turkish Cypriot tactics aimed at obstructing the normal functioning of government, proposed several amendments to the post-colonial constitution of 1960.
Turkish Resistance OrganisationThe Turkish Resistance Organisation (Turkish: Türk Mukavemet Teşkilatı, TMT) was a Turkish Cypriot pro-taksim paramilitary resistance organisation formed by Rauf Denktaş and TAF officer Rıza Vuruşkan in 1958 as an guerilla organisation to counter the Greek Cypriot fighters organization EOKA. The name of the organization was changed twice. In 1967 to Mücahit (Mujahideen), and became the Security Forces Command in 1976.
Turkish invasion of Cyprus1974 military conflictBelligerentsTurkeyTurkish Resistance OrganisationCypriot Junta (until July 23)Cyprus (after July 23)EOKA BGreece (until July 24)Commanders and leadersFahri KorutürkBülent EcevitNecmettin ErbakanRauf DenktaşNikos SampsonGlafcos CleridesAthanasios SklavenitisDimitrios IoannidisPhaedon GizikisStrengthTurkey:40,000 troops160–180 M47 and M48 tanksTurkish Cypriot enclaves:11,000–13,500 men, up to 20,000 under full mobilisationTotal: 60,000Cyprus:12,000Small number of T-34 tanksGreece:1,800–2,000Total: 14,000Casualties and losses 1,500–3,500 casualties (estimated) (military and civilian) including 568 KIA (498 TAF, 70 Resistance)2,000 wounded270 civilians killed803 civilians missing (official number in 1974) 4,500–6,000 casualties (estimated) (military and civilian) including 309 (Cyprus) and 105 (Greece) military deaths1,000–1,100 missing (as of 2015)UNFICYP:9 killed65 woundedTurkey invaded Cyprus on 20 July 1974 in an operation that progressed in two phases over the following month.
Ottoman CyprusToday part ofCyprusAkrotiri and DhekeliaThe Eyalet of Cyprus (Ottoman Turkish: ایالت قبريس, Eyālet-i Ḳıbrıs) was an eyalet/province of the Ottoman Empire made up of the island of Cyprus, which was annexed into the Empire in 1571. The Ottomans changed the way they administered Cyprus multiple times.
Bloody Christmas (1963)Bloody Christmas (Turkish: Kanlı Noel) refers to intercommunal violence between Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot populations during the Cyprus crisis of 1963–64, on the night of 20–21 December 1963 and the subsequent period of island-wide violence amounting to civil war. This initial episode of violence lasted until 31 December and was somewhat subdued with the start of peace talks at the , but outbursts of violence continued thereafter.
LatchiLatchi (Greek: Λατσί), also spelled Lachi, Latsi or Lakki, is a small fishing village within Polis, a municipality in Cyprus. It is known for its small marina, fresh seafood tavernas, and close proximity to the Akamas Peninsula National Park and the Blue Lagoon.
AkamasAkamas (Greek: Ακάμας, Turkish: Akama), is a promontory and cape at the northwest extremity of Cyprus with an area of 230 square kilometres. Ptolemy described it as a thickly wooded headland, divided into two by summits (a mountain range) rising towards the north. The peninsula is named after Akamas, a son of Theseus, hero of the Trojan War and founder of the city-kingdom of Soli.
Turkish languageTurkic languageTurkish (Türkçe, Türk dili, also known as Türkiye Türkçesi 'Turkish of Turkey') is the most widely spoken of the Turkic languages, with around 90 million speakers. It is the national language of Turkey and one of two official languages of Cyprus. Significant smaller groups of Turkish speakers also exist in Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Greece, other parts of Europe, the South Caucasus, and some parts of Central Asia, Iraq, and Syria.
CyprusCyprus, officially the Republic of Cyprus, is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, located off the coast of the Levant mainland in West Asia. The island of Cyprus, which is the third largest and third most populous island in the Mediterranean, is divided along the United Nations Buffer Zone between the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Turkey.
Greek languageGreek (Modern Greek: ελληνικά, romanized: elliniká; Ancient Greek: ἑλληνική, romanized: hellēnikḗ) is an Indo-European language, constituting an independent Hellenic branch within the Indo-European language family. It is native to the territories that have had populations of Greeks since antiquity: Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Turkey, Italy (in Calabria and Salento), southern Albania, and other regions of the Balkans, Caucasus, the Black Sea coast, and the .
Greek CypriotsGreek Cypriots (Greek: Ελληνοκύπριοι, romanized: Ellinokýprioi) are the ethnic Greek population of Cyprus, forming the island's largest ethnolinguistic community. According to the 2023 census, 719,252 respondents recorded their ethnicity as Greek, forming almost 99% of the 737,196 Cypriot citizens and over 77.9% of the 923,381 total residents of the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.
Turkish CypriotsTurkish Cypriots or Cypriot Turks (Turkish: Kıbrıs Türkleri or Kıbrıslı Türkler; Greek: Τουρκοκύπριοι, romanized: Tourkokýprioi) are ethnic Turks originating from Cyprus. Following the Ottoman conquest of the island in 1571, about 30,000 Turkish settlers were given land once they arrived in Cyprus. Additionally, many of the island's local Christians converted to Islam during the early years of Ottoman rule.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.