# Timeline of Nicosia

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Nicosia, Cyprus.

## Prior to 14th century

* 7th C. BCE - City-kingdom called "Ledra."
* 280 BCE - Leucos, son of Ptolemy I Soter restored it and "changed its name to Leuteon, Leucotheon or Levcosia".
* 4th C. CE - Bishopric established.
* 10th C. CE - City becomes capital of island (approximate date); city called "Lefkosia."
* 1187 - Nicosia besieged by forces of Richard I of England.
* 1192
** 11 April: Uprising against Knights Templar.
** City becomes capital of the Kingdom of Cyprus under the French Lusignans.
* 1211 - Royal Palace of the Lusignans rebuilt.

## 14th–18th centuries

* 1308 - Notre Dame de Tyre rebuilt.
* 1326 - Agia Sofia Cathedral inaugurated.
* 1330 - 10 November: Flood.
* 1372 - City walls built.
* 1489 - Venetians in power.
* 1491 - Earthquake.
* 1567 - Area of city reduced; Venetian walls and Kyrenia Gate built.
* 1570
** 9 September: City besieged; Turks in power.
** 15 September: Selimiye Mosque established.
* 1572 - Büyük Han built.
* 1573 - Great Madrasah (school) built.
* 1665 - Saint John's Cathedral built.
* 1793 - Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios Mansion built.

## 19th century

* 1812
** Ethnographic Museum of Cyprus founded.
** Hellenic School of Nicosia founded.
* 1857 - Faneromeni School established.
* 1859 - 29 October: Flood.
* 1863 - Rüşdiye (school) opens.
* 1872 - Faneromeni Church built.
* 1878 - City becomes capital of British Cyprus per Cyprus Convention.
* 1882 - Christodoulos Severis becomes mayor of Nicosia Municipality.
* 1883 - Cyprus Museum established.
* 1885 - Population: 11,513.
* 1892 - Sourp Boghos (chapel) built.

## 20th century

* 1901 - Population: 14,752.
* 1912 - Population: 16,400.
* 1915 - Venetian Column installed in Sarayonu Square.
* 1926 - Football Club of Greeks of Nicosia formed.
* 1927 - Public Library of Nicosia established.
* 1931
** Greek Cypriot Enosis unrest.
** Olympiakos Nicosia football club formed.
* 1933 - Criminal Museum founded.
* 1937
** Cyprus Folk Museum founded.
** Government House rebuilt.
* 1939 - Nicosia General Hospital inaugurated.
* 1945 - Cyprus Mail English-language newspaper begins publication.
* 1946 - Population: 34,485.
* 1948 - Athletic Club Omonia Nicosia (football club) formed.
* 1949
** Ledra Palace Hotel in business.
** Neos dēmokratēs newspaper begins publication.
** Nicosia Airport terminal building opens.
* 1955 - National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters attack British properties.
* 1956
** Archbishop's Palace built.
** Fence erected between Greek and Turkish communities.
* 1958 - Nicosia Turkish Municipality established.
* 1959 - Diomedes Skettos becomes mayor.

### 1960s–1970s

* 1960
** City becomes capital of Republic of Cyprus.
** Makhi newspaper begins publication.
** Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios Mansion (museum) opens.
* 1963
** City divided by the Green Line.
** Central Bank of Cyprus headquartered in city.
* 1967
** Nicosia Municipal Theatre opens.
** 20 April: Airplane crash.
* 1969
** Nicosia municipal gardens laid out.
** Cyprus Popular Bank branch opens.
* 1970 - Theatrical Organization of Cyprus established.
* 1971 - Lellos Demetriades becomes mayor.
* 1974
** 15 July: 1974 Cypriot coup d'état at Presidential Palace.
** 20 July: Turkish invasion.
** Battle of Nicosia Airport
** 14 August: Turks in power in northern quarter of Nicosia.
** 16 August: Tank battle in northern quarter of Nicosia.
** United Nations Buffer Zone established.
** United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus headquartered in Lakatamia.
** Christoforos Kithreotis becomes mayor, succeeded by Lellos Demetriades.
* 1975 - North Nicosia becomes capital of de facto Turkish Federated State of Cyprus.
* 1977
** Nicosia International Airport commercial flights end.
** Presidential Palace rebuilt.
* 1978 - Makario Stadium opens.

### 1980s–1990s

* 1980
** Lefkotheo sports arena and Pantheon Cineplex open.
** University of Nicosia established.
* 1982 - Population: 180,000 (estimate).
* 1983 - North Nicosia becomes capital of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
* 1984 - Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia established.
* 1985 - State Library of Cyprus opens.
* 1989 - University of Cyprus established.
* 1994 - Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre inaugurated.
* 1995 - Museum of the History of Cypriot Coinage established.
* 1996
** Cyprus Stock Exchange headquartered in city.
** Cyprus Museum of Natural History inaugurated.
** Shacolas Tower built.
* 1999 - GSP Stadium opens.

## 21st century

* 2001
** Nicosia Master Plan enacted (urban planning).
** Population: 254,032 (estimate: 206,200 Greek side; 47,832 Turkish side).
* 2002 - Kutlay Erk becomes mayor of North Nicosia.
* 2003 - 23 April: Green Line checkpoint at Ledra Palace established.
* 2004
** Cyprus International Film Festival begins.
** 1 May: Cyprus becomes part of the European Union.
* 2005 - Hamam Omerye Baths restored.
* 2006
** Cemal Metin Bulutoğluları becomes mayor of North Nicosia.
** Population: 398,293.
* 2008
** 3 April: Ledra Street crossing reopens.
** Intercultural Centre Nicosia established.
* 2011 - 15 October: Occupy Buffer Zone protest begins.
* 2012 - 2 January: Constantinos Yiorkadjis becomes mayor.