Tag: Cyprus

An image of the Ibelin coat of arms

A Medieval Marriage That Never Was

The idea that noble medieval families' marriages were all political is neither new nor surprising. It's rare to see situations where the wife-to-be is the one who ended up benefiting as much as her husband. This article is about Cypriot Alice of Ibelin, her bethrotal and marriage.
A photo of Icelandic Prime Minister Benediktsson at the 1968 NATO ministerial meeting - Reykjavik, Iceland

The Icelandic anomaly

In geopolitical terms, Iceland is a bit of an anomaly. It gained independence from Denmark, but found itself unable to defend itself. It joined NATO even though it doesn't have a standing army of its own. It's crucial to North Atlantic security but is it that crucial? This article examines Iceland before NATO, and how it, and NATO, evolved together.
A photo of Selimiye mosque - Nicosia, TRNC

The lost Cathedral of St Sophia

In occupied Cyprus, across the demilitarised zone in Nicosia, the French gothic cathedral of St Sophia is now Selimiye mosque. The building was at the heart of Cypriot crusader history, with many stories in its past. Today, tourists wonder at something that looks like European architecture is a mosque. This article explains the cathedral history, its significance and the current mosque.

Who would rule Italy?

In 1024, Italy tired of German rule and wondered if French nobility would like to be the King of Italy. Would this have been good for France, or would it have been a bad idea?