Written by Nasa Patapiou *
From the work done by Kontarini, as he presented it before the Venetian authorities, we learn interesting facts about Cyprus in 1518.
A prominent Venetian, Bartholomew Contarini, had served in Cyprus in the early 16th century as a general forerunner. Contarini had distinguished himself in other high positions in the Republic of Venice. In 1495 he was consul in Alexandria and in 1502 in Syria, in 1512 he served as captain in Crema and later was elected a member of the Council of Ten. In 1516, together with Alvise Motsenigo, he was sent as a representative to Sultan Selim. Before returning to Venice, he was appointed general foreman in Cyprus on April 14, 1518. In 1525 he was also elected leader of the Council of Ten and died in 1527 while serving in Ravenna as general foreman.
Kontarini had arrived in Cyprus from Damietta to arrange for the payment of the servitude tax, which Cyprus now paid to the Ottomans, after the subjugation of Egypt to their rule. After his arrival he headed to Nicosia where the seat of the Venetian placeholder was. Fantin Michiel and his advisers were then serving in that capacity. The placekeeper promised Kontarini that he would give him ten thousand ducats for the payment of the servitude tax, but advised him that there would be no security to send the money by any other means, so he agreed to send it with his own galley. Meanwhile the sultan sent a slave demanding that instead of money they send him wheat, barley and sugar. Kontarini himself had gone to Cairo to settle the servitude tax, but on his return he was informed that the placeholder had died. He was then instructed by the Venetian Senate to assume the duties of general adviser and lieutenant, due to the death of Fantin Michiel. With his assumption of office, Bartholomew Kontarini faced difficulties, because he found great disorder in the Public Fund of Cyprus.
Many problems had arisen with the death of the placeholder, as Kontarini states in his report on Cyprus. Sebastian Badoer, for example, who served as a consultant, wanted to take over as a lieutenant, but this could not be done since the Senate had already appointed Kontarinis, not only as the general adviser but also as the viceroy of Cyprus. The forerunner in his report on his service on the mainland praised the work of the accountant (camerlingo) Alvise Benetto, who had really put the colonial finances in order in his day. He also referred to the "Minutes", ie the detailed record of the property and the inhabitants of each village that belonged to the State, and reminded that "Minutes" had not been carried out since 1503. This record must have been made and he had pointed out the bad administration which existed in relation to the inhabitants. The forerunner pointed out that it was detrimental that lands were given to the children of the members of the light cavalry, without actually offering service to the Republic, so in his view it was imperative that they should serve as stradioti. According to Kontarinis, great damage had also been done to the finances of Cyprus with the release of eight hundred and eleven residents who had been approved by Chancellor Antonios Corona, with only two or even three ducats. This event allowed five hundred residents to leave Cyprus for Rhodes, but also in other neighboring countries. The forerunner also took care to increase the cavalry. It could even be reinforced with frangomatos, Turkish children and the children of members of the light cavalry (stradioti), in order to increase its number to a thousand horsemen.
During his tenure, the foreman had inspected, as he had an obligation and duty, the corps of infantry in Famagusta and praised the commanders Giacometto da Novello, Marin Corso and Taso da Bagnacavallo. Also, the leader of the light cavalry, Andreas Mavresis, had been characterized by the foreman Kontarinis as very capable and that he had performed a very important task, both in organizing the stradioti and in dealing with pirate and enemy raids against Cyprus. Kontarini had, among other things, made a relevant report on the products of Cyprus when he presented to the Venetian authorities the work he had performed as a forerunner. As he analyzed, the production of Cyprus in cotton annually amounted to 2.300 sacks, and the ships that arrived in the colony returned to Venice carrying sugar, sesame, wheat, barley and salt.
For Famagusta
Kontarini for Famagusta perhaps expressed the warmest praise, after calling it a city very strong and invincible (fortissima ed inespugnabile) and that one could, according to him, compare it with Rhodes since it is reinforced with bombs and weapons, but also soldiers guarding it. He also referred to the works carried out in the city by Vincenzo Cappello, when he served there as its captain. Among other things, Kontarini gave information about the walls of the city of Famagusta and especially about the post-bastions and the bastions. The city, as it claimed, was very strong and its fortifications were constantly being strengthened. Concluding, the forerunner stated the following important things about the city: "Whoever rules Famagusta controls the whole kingdom (… e chi tien Famagosta tien quel regno)".
Kontarini also mentioned the rocky islet which is located in front of the port of Famagusta, which he calls Cambella. This is a very interesting information, since essentially this name must definitely be the corrupt name Kamila, as the name of the rocky islet is known by the inhabitants of Famagusta. Let us remember here that the captain of Famagusta Vincenzo Cappello, whom Kontarini praises for the works he carried out in Famagusta, as we have already mentioned, is none other than the brave winner of the Ottomans in Risano who died in 1541. His homeland was honored with a statue located in the church of Santa Maria Formosa.
Kontarini submitted a request to the Venetian authorities to arrange for various types of weapons to be sent to be placed in the towers of the fortifications of Famagusta. The general foreman did not fail to mention the fortress of Kyrenia, which he described as very important and that it is about sixty miles from Karamania. The soldiers guarding the castle of Kyrenia, as the forerunner informed, numbered sixty, while the settlement (borgo) was in ruins. The fortress of Kyrenia had to be strengthened because if it fell into the hands of the enemy, Kontarini claimed, it would be a great loss for Cyprus. The location of Kyrenia was, according to Kontarinis, really beautiful. Regarding Paphos, Kontarini did not make any mention, but expressed his views on the three neglected fortresses of the Pentadactylus, namely that of Kantara, Voufavento and that of Agios Hilarion. The fortress of Kandara, as he mentioned, is located on the Karpasso peninsula (nel Carpasso) and is only two miles from the sea. This fact enabled him in case of attack to be easily defeated, because unfortunately he did not have a guard while in his opinion he had to.
Regarding the Public Fund of Cyprus, it imposed some regulations for its proper administration, but they had to be observed even after his resignation from the position of the provider of Cyprus. He added that he had too much to say about Cyprus, and if the Senate wanted it could be expanded, but acknowledged that the Council was already tired.
The forerunner's report had been made orally, which is why he felt that he must have tired the listeners. It should be noted that until 1524 the Venetian officials orally presented before the doge and the Senate the work they had performed in the colonies of Galinotati. In the days of Doge Andreas Gritti, a decision of 15 November 1524 was the starting point for the institution of the now written report of the Venetian officials to the Venetian authorities, after the end of their two-year term.
Finally, after Bartholomew Kontarini completed his exhibition, he received the praise of the doge for all the work he had done and especially what he accomplished in Cyprus. The doge described him as a great man who could undertake and carry out any task…
CAPTION: The foreman Kontarini praises Vincenzo Cappello in his report for the work he had done in Famagusta, when he served as the city's captain. In the photo, the statue of Cappello above the main door of the church of Santa Maria Formosa, in Venice.
* Nasa Patapiou
Dr. Nasa Patapiou was born in Rizokarpaso, Famagusta. He studied Byzantine and Modern Greek Philology, History and Archeology, Byzantine and Italian Paleography, Theater, Choreography and holds a PhD in History from the University of Athens. She is a poet and works at the Center for Scientific Research as a historian-researcher with a field of research on Frankish rule and especially the times of Venetian rule in Cyprus. He has written numerous studies, participated in local and international conferences and has brought to light unknown facts about the history of Cyprus during the 16th century. As a poet she has been honored with the First State Poetry Prize by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus and as a historian with the Prize of the Academy of Athens.