Ottoman Decorative Arts in Cyprus

Abstract

Ottoman Decorative Arts in Cyprus Netice Yıldız *

Cyprus first came into contact with Turkish culture in 1570/71 after the conquest of the island by the Ottomans during the reign of Selim II. Following the conquest some 1000 janissaries and a force of 2779 cannoneers and various unmarried volunteers garrisoned the island's five castles. Married men were encouraged to bring their families to the island, while the region of Canik was ordered to provide Muslim Turkish brides for unmarried Ottoman soldiers. 1 An imperial order encouraged people from the provinces of Konya, Larende, Kayseriye and Ni ğ de to settle on the island. These settlers would be exempted from taxes for the period of three years, while those liable to join the army would be given gedik. 2 Forced population transfers from various parts of the Ottoman Empire followed this voluntary settlement. Imperial firmans were sent to Anatolian provinces such as Karaman, Rum and Zulkadiriye ordering one out of every ten households from all towns and villages in these provinces to be deported to Cyprus. Families who owned unfertile, rocky land would be given priority. Brigands and other evildoers had to be exiled to the island, while men not listed in the last provincial census together with their sons, immigrants from other areas and subjects who did not own farms, were also to be included in the list. In addition craftsmen and artisans such as pabuççu (shoemakers), ba ş makc õ

(makers of coarse shoes), derzi (tailors), takyeci (hatmakers), kemhac õ (weavers), mutaf (spinners of goat hair), hallaç (wool-carders), kazzaz (silk manufacturers), a ş ç õ

(cooks), ba ş c õ (cooks of sheep's head), mumcu (candlemakers), semerci (packsaddle makers), demirci (blacksmith's), dülger (carpenters), ta ş c õ (stonemasons), kuyumcu (goldsmiths or silversmiths), kazanc õ (copper-smiths) etc. were recruited.