Cyprus under the Lusignans (1192–1474) in Late Medieval Castilian Travel Accounts
Abstract
This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the landscape of the Latin Kingdom of Cyprus (1192–1474) as depicted in late medieval Castilian travel accounts. Governed by the French Lusignan dynasty, Cyprus became a strategically vital hub in the eastern Mediterranean, blending Western European, Byzantine, and Muslim influences. It served as a crucial stopping point for travellers en route to Palestine or Egypt. Among the various accounts, the narrative of Pero Tafur, a traveller from Castilia who visited the island in 1437, stands out for its detailed depiction of Cypriot political life. His observations offer valuable insights into the Kingdom of Cyprus during that period. Additionally, Cypriot themes appear in other works which were an imaginary form of travel accounts. Castilian travellers and chroniclers produced accounts that, though not without errors, provide reliable descriptions of life in Cyprus. The study of these Castilian travel accounts, known as libros de viajes, enhances our understanding of the role of the Latin Kingdom of Cyprus in medieval Europe and highlights the influence of these travel experiences on the development of humanism in the Kingdom of Castile and León.
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