‘Cyprus.’ [‎14r] (27/184)

HISTOHY OF CYPRUS.
21
Hostilities were commenced in February 1570, when an army Commencc-
was sent into Epirus, and to the frontiers of Dalmatia to overrun “^ g of hos '
Venetian territory, and to attract the attention of the Eepublic
away from Cyprus ; and further, in the middle of April, a fleet of
80 galleys and 30 galliots, under Piall Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , was sent to sea to
prevent aid being despatched from Venice to Cyprus, and to secure
the uninterruption of the invasion of the Island. Lala Moustapha
was given command of the expedition against Cyprus, and on the
26th May, 1570, he, accompanied by Haly Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , sailed from Con
stantinople ; at Rhodes he was joined by Piall Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , and the
combined fleets amounted to 200 galleys, with numerous galliots,
horse transports, &c.,
On the 1st July, this fleet cast anchor in the roadstead of Invasion of
Limasol, and the disembarkation of the troops was, owing to the T ^k!Tand ' C
negligence and incapacity of Nicholas Dandalo, who commanded capture of
the Venetian force on the spot, effected without opposition or loss; Limassol,
the fort of Leftari, near Limasol, also surrendered at the first
summons. The Turkish army now entrenched itself, and a council
of war was held to determine whether Famagusta or Nicosia should
be the next object of attack. The great heat, and the unhealthy
situation of the former town at this time of year, caused the
decision to be in favour of an advance against Nicosia, which was
the capital of the island, and centrally situated.
Nicosia was then strongly fortified ; the old defences had been
only recently demolished by the Venetians; new and strong walls,
having a circuit of three miles, had just been constructed, and the
place converted into a regular fortress with eleven bastions and
three gates ; the walls were defended by 250 pieces of artillery *
The garrison appears to have consisted of from 8,000 to 10,000
men ; of which number, 3,000 were Venetians, 2,500 native militia,
1,500 Italians, 1,000 nobles of Nicosia, together with Albanians
and others.f
On the 22nd July, Lala Moustapha reached the neighbourhood Siege of Ni-
of Nicosia, and encamped his army within one and a half miles of C08la •
the walls. It is reported that he had with him 2,500 cavalry,
and 50,000 infantry, with which force he commenced a regular
siege of the fortress, the troops constructing trenches and batteries
with the greatest activity. The operations of this siege, which
lasted seven weeks, are well described by Knolles in his “ General
History of the Turks,” page 848. At the beginning of September,
the investing army received a reinforcement of 20,000 sailors and
marines, sent by Piall Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. from the Turkish fleet, and on the
9th of that month an assault was ordered, the attack being chiefly
directed upon the Podocataro, Costanza and Tripoli bastions.
The struggle was long and sanguinary, but in the end the Capture °f
superior numbers of the besiegers prevailed, and the gallant
defenders were forced back from the walls; the Turks then
entered the city, and for eight days murder and pillage reigned
supreme. It is said that 14,866 of the garrison and inhabitants
* The fortifications of Nicosia are further described in Chapter III.
t See Yon Hanmer, French edition, vol. vi, page 103.