Cyprus’ Struggle for Freedom

Enosis and EOKA

In less than 100 years Cyprus has come from rags to riches. From being the invaded or controlled by the Romans, the Crusaders, the Venetians; then suffering three hundred years of Ottoman rule the island came under British protection in 1878. Today the country is an equal partner in the European Union – what was the turning point?

It’s impossible to consider Cyprus’ change in fortune without mentioning EOKA and Enosis. To put things in perspective, in the early years of the last century, Greece was still building a state as it reclaimed territory from Turkish rule.

Turkey’s rule was not a happy one for the Greeks. To cite an example education was forbidden for Greek people but was conducted clandestinely by Greek Orthodox priests. As island after island returned to the mother country, in a process known as Enosis, many among the predominately Greek population of Cyprus believed that they too should be part of the process.

This might have been easily facilitated as Britain, in 1915 offered Cyprus to Greece if it would join the WW1 against Germany by aiding Serbia. Unfortunately after agreeing, King Constantine who just happened to be married to the Kaiser’s sister, changed his mind. When he was temporarily deposed, Greece did enter the war on the side of the allies but as it was 1918 and all over bar the shouting, Lloyd George said it was a little too late to warrant the prize of Cyprus.

In 1923 Turkey and Greece recognised Britain’s annexation of Cyprus. And in 1925 it became a Crown Colony crushing hopes for Enosis. A Cypriot delegation in London in the 1930s was rudely rebuffed. When Taxes were raised riots broke out on the island and the Governor’s house was burned down. Troops were sent from British bases in Egypt to crush the Nationalistic movement.

It was a heavy-handed response and one that Britain came to regret. After WWll colonies everywhere that had joined the fight against Fascism where asking for independence. But when Prime Minister Atlee offered Cyprus self-government in 1948 it was declined because it did not offer self-determination.

From then on Britain faced an ongoing struggle on two fronts – acts of insurgency commanded by the battle hardened General Grivas, and the political skill of a priest, Michael Mouskos, who at his ordination took the name of Makarios.

Makarios studied in Athens and in Boston where, some say, he met Greek Nationalists and resolved to break from British control.