por What is the flag of Cyprus?
The cyprus flag is the main flag of this island nation of the eastern Mediterranean, and represents it internationally and nationally. It has a 3:2 ratio and is white in color. In its central part there is a map of Cyprus in yellow. He is accompanied by two green olive branches at the bottom.
The map in yellow or copper color represents the nation’s resources. The intertwined green olive branches symbolize the union between the citizens. The entire set of the banner seeks to bring peace between the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots who cohabit on the island.
Throughout its history, Cyprus has been under the rule of the Venetian Republic, the Ottoman Empire and the British Empire, until it gained independence and adopted its own flag.
However, the northern half of the island is still under Turkish rule, so they use another insignia.
History of the flag
During the 15th century, the Kingdom of Cyprus was a Crusader State, ruled by the French House of Lusignan. During the period between 1192 and 1489, a banner containing the arms of the Kingdoms of Jerusalem, Cyprus and Armenia was used.
In 1489, Venice took the Crusader state of Cyprus. The objective of the Republic of Venice was to block the power of the Ottoman Empire, which was gradually expanding. In 1570, the Ottoman Empire began to invade the territory of Cyprus.
A year later, the Venetians completely abandoned the island. From 1489 to 1571, being part of the territory of the Republic of Venice, Cyprus was identified with the flag of this republic.
Cyprus under the Ottoman Empire
Starting in 1571, the Ottoman Empire exercised its rule over the Mediterranean island. Citizens were classified according to the Millet system. He exercised a separation according to his religion. The Ottoman occupation of the island lasted until 1878.
As Cyprus became part of the territory of the Ottoman Empire, it was represented under its flags. The complexity of the Ottoman Empire meant that there was not a single national flag throughout the territory.
However, from very early on, the crescent and the star were the favorite symbols. Although initially it was used on a green background, the color of Islam, it was replaced by red.
Flag of the Ottoman Empire of 1844
After 1844, the Ottoman Empire adopted a new national flag. This was done through the reforms, or Tanzimatand was in force in Cyprus until the Ottoman Empire lost control of the island.
The flag consisted of a red flag with a white crescent and a star located in the center.
In 1878, the Russo-Turkish War ended with Ottoman control of Cyprus. This conflict, also known as the Eastern War, originated to gain access to the Mediterranean Sea in favor of the Russian Empire, in addition to freeing the Balkan and Mediterranean peoples from Turkish rule. The conflict lasted from 1877 to 1878.
under the british empire
Cyprus became part of the British Empire, according to the Cyprus Convention. This was a secret agreement made on June 4, 1878 between the United Kingdom and the Ottoman Empire. In it, power over Cyprus was granted to Great Britain on the condition that Britain supported the Ottomans during the Congress of Berlin.
Despite this, the Ottoman Empire exercised sovereignty over the island. Britain unilaterally annexed Cyprus to its power in 1914. This led to a war between the two empires and the suspension of the Cyprus Convention during World War I.
During this period, Cyprus was identified under the flag of the United Kingdom: a blue flag with the Union Jack in its left canton. To the right side of the flag was a white sphere with the letters «CHC».
After the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, Cyprus became a British Crown Colony. Because of that change, a new flag was created. This remained in force until 1960.
It was similar to that of the previous period, only instead of the white sphere it had two red lions.
Republic of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots clashed in the colonial period. Turkish Cypriots founded the Turkish Resistance Organization (TMT). The TMT was intended to prevent union with Greece. For this they supported the division of the island between Turkey and Greece (taksim).
The situation ended in a fight led by the National Organization of Cypriot Wrestlers. The Archbishop and Primate of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Cyprus, Makarios III, led this organization, which expressed its support for British rule.
The colonial situation cost a lot of money and lives, so the UK urged Greece and Turkey to find a solution.
This led them to finalize the Zurich Agreement in 1958 and the London Agreement in 1959. Then, the Cypriot independence movement increased and in 1960 Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom agreed on the island’s independence.
Greek Cypriot Orthodox Archbishop Makarios III was the first president, power he shared with a Turkish Cypriot vice-president. This generated an ungovernability that was transferred to Cypriot society.
Flag of the Republic of Cyprus
The origin of the current flag of Cyprus was the result of a contest that took place in 1960. According to what was established in the constitution, the flag should not include the color blue or red, since they were used by the flags of Greece and Turkey. .
Nor could it include a cross or a crescent moon. These indications were granted to build a neutral flag.
The winning design was the one proposed by İsmet Güney, a Turkish Cypriot art professor. President Makarios III, along with First Vice President Fazil Küçük, chose the winner.
Between April 6 and August 16, 1960, a flag showing only the outline of the map of Cyprus was used. The inside of the map was white. In the lower part, two olive branches were incorporated, one towards each side.
Starting in August of that year, the map was modified. Since then, the copper color, identified with Pantone 144-C, has filled the entire map. In addition, the color of the olive branches was specifically established. These were Pantone 336-C.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
The conflict with the Turkish Cypriots increased considerably in Cyprus. In 1974, the dictatorship of the Colonels in Greece organized a coup that deposed the Cypriot consensus government.
This motivated the invasion of Turkey with more than 30,000 soldiers in the so-called Operation Attila.
Since then, Türkiye has occupied and claimed the north of the island. In that year, the independence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was declared. This country is only recognized by Turkey itself and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided into two halves. The Republic of Cyprus, although it is recognized as the only country on the island, only occupies the southern half.
The new republic formed by Turkey adopted a flag very similar to the Turkish banner. The white and red colors are reversed, being a white pavilion with a crescent moon and a red five-pointed star.
Near the upper and lower edges are red horizontal stripes. These stripes are not found in the design of the Turkish flag.
Modification in 2006
In April 2006 the flag of the Republic of Cyprus was changed again. The tone of the olive branches was slightly altered. as its color was changed to Pantone 574.
The copper color of the map was changed to Pantone 1385. Also, the aspect ratio of the flag was changed to 3:2.
Meaning of the flag
The Cypriot flag was born with the goal of concord between the Greeks and the Turks. In the center of the flag is the entire map of the island in yellow or copper.
Yellow symbolizes the island’s copper possessions. This is also noticeable in the name of the country, since «Cypre» derives from a Greek word meaning copper.
The crossed olive branches in green represent the union and peaceful coexistence between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The olive tree is a world symbol of peace, and since Ancient Greece it has been used to represent victory.
The most important color of the Cyprus flag is white. In the same tune as the olive branches, the white color represents the peace of the country, especially between the two majority national groups.
Proposal for a new flag
Under the terms of the rejected Annan Plan referendum for Cyprus, a proposal by the United Nations Secretary-General to end the divisive conflict, a new national flag would have been adopted by a Confederal Republic of Cyprus.
This was one of the most serious attempts to reunify the country.
When it was put to a referendum, the Turkish Cypriot side approved it, but the Greek Cypriot side did not. This caused the Republic of Cyprus to enter the European Union alone and the country remains divided to this day. If the referendum had been accepted, the flag would have been adopted on April 20, 2004.
The proposed version incorporated blue, which represents Greece, and red, which represents Turkey. In addition, it included a large yellow ribbon representing Cyprus. The small white stripes between the larger ones symbolize peace.
References
Algora, M. (nd). The Cyprus conflict in historical perspective. University of the Rioja. Retrieved from dialnet.unirioja.es.
Borowiec, A. (2000). Cyprus: A Troubled Island. London. Praeger. Retrieved from books.google.co.ve.
DK Publishing (2008). C.Complete Flags of the World. New York. Retrieved from books.google.co.ve.
Hill, G. (2010). A History of Cyprus, Volume 4. New York. University Press. Retrieved from books.google.co.ve.
Mallinson, W. (2009). Cyprus: A Modern History. New York. IB Tauris & Co Ltd. Retrieved from books.google.co.ve.
Smith, W. (2011). Flag of Cyprus. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.. Recovered from britannica.com.