Janus, King of Cyprus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Janus
King Janus and Queen Charlotte in Chartres cathedral
King of Cyprus
Reign	9 September 1398 – 29 June 1432
Predecessor	James I
Successor	John II
Born	1375 Genoa
Died	29 June 1432(1432-06-29) (aged 56–57) Nicosia
Spouse	Anglesia Visconti (1401–1407) Charlotte de Bourbon (1411–1422)
Issue	John II, King of Cyprus Anne, Duchess of Savoy
House	Poitiers-Lusignan
Father	James I of Cyprus
Mother	Helvis of Brunswick-Grubenhagen

Janus (born 1375 – died 29 June 1432) was the King of Cyprus. He also held the titles of King of Armenian Cilicia and King of Jerusalem from 1398 to 1432. He ruled for many years, facing challenges like trying to regain lost cities and defending his kingdom from attacks.

Early Life and Freedom

Janus was born in Genoa, a city in Italy. At the time, his father, James I of Cyprus, was held captive there. Janus's mother, Helvis of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, named him after the Roman god Janus. This god was believed to be the founder of Genoa in ancient stories.

When his father became king, he made a deal with the Genoese people. This deal allowed him to return to Cyprus. However, as part of the agreement, Janus had to stay in Genoa as a hostage. His father sent a noble, John Babin, to look after him.

King James I then created a special tax for everyone in Cyprus. This tax helped collect money to free Janus. In October 1392, when Janus was 18 years old, he was finally released from Genoa.

Becoming King of Cyprus

After his father, King James I, passed away on 9 September 1398, Janus became the new King of Cyprus. He was crowned in Nicosia at the Saint Sophia Cathedral on 11 November 1398.

Efforts to Regain Famagusta

As king, Janus wanted to take back the city of Famagusta. This important city was controlled by the Genoese. In 1402, Janus tried to secretly get the city back. He worked with a priest who was close to the Genoese administrator of Famagusta, Antonio de Karko.

The plan involved making secret keys to the city gates. Janus's soldiers would then enter and take over. However, the plan was discovered at the last moment. Many people involved were arrested, and 28 of them were executed. Famagusta remained under Genoese control.

Janus continued his efforts to reclaim Famagusta and the nearby area of Kyrenia. In 1403, he tried to negotiate with the Genoese governor, but the cities stayed in Genoese hands. He then raised taxes to gather an army and siege machines. He besieged Famagusta for three years, but it was connected to the sea, making it hard to cut off supplies. The siege ended in 1406 without success. The Genoese then tried to take Limassol but were defeated.

Challenges and Disasters

Cyprus faced many difficulties during Janus's reign. In 1408, a widespread disease affected the island. At the same time, many locusts invaded, destroying crops and causing famine.

Another serious disease outbreak happened in 1419–1420. This epidemic likely caused the death of Janus's second wife, Charlotte, on 15 January 1422. King Janus was very sad about her death. Her funeral was held away from the palace so he would not see her body.

Battles with the Mamluks

Cyprus was often used as a base by pirates and adventurers. These groups would launch raids from the Cypriot coast. King Janus tried to stop these raids by talking with the Sultan of Egypt's representatives. However, he couldn't stop them completely. Some Cypriot nobles even joined in the raids.

Because of these pirate attacks, Barsbay, the Mamluk Sultan of Egypt, sent his army to Cyprus several times. Around 1424, a small Mamluk force attacked Limassol. In 1425, the Egyptian army attacked Famagusta. They then looted Larnaca and nearby areas like Kiti and Dromolaxia. After Larnaca, they moved to Limassol, which was also plundered.

The Battle of Chirokitia

In the summer of 1426, the Egyptian Mamluks launched a much larger attack. Their army had over 3,000 soldiers, including Mamluks, Circassians, Kurds, and Arabs. They arrived with 180 ships near Avdimou. Limassol was quickly taken.

Janus gathered his army and moved from Nicosia to Limassol. He asked for help from Christian forces in Europe, but no one came to his aid. The Genoese were his enemies, and others didn't want to upset the Egyptian Sultan.

On 7 July 1426, the Battle of Chirokitia took place. King Janus's forces fought the Mamluks but were defeated. King Janus himself was captured by the Egyptian army.

Captivity and Ransom

After their victory, the Mamluks looted Larnaca again. They then attacked Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus. The royal family managed to escape to the fortified city of Kyrenia. The invaders took a lot of treasure and captives before leaving the island.

King Janus was taken to Cairo as a prisoner. He was humiliated there, forced to kneel before the Sultan. He was held captive for ten months. During this time, his brother, Hugh of Lusignan, the Archbishop of Nicosia, took charge of Cyprus.

Europeans helped collect money to pay the ransom for Janus's release. Cyprus also had to agree to pay the Sultan an annual tax of 5,000 duchies. This tax continued for many years, even after Frankish rule ended in Cyprus. Some other captives were also able to buy their freedom, while others remained slaves.

The Alexis Rebellion

The disasters, wars, epidemics, and locust invasions caused great hardship for the Cypriot serfs (poor farmers). They lived in extreme poverty and decided to revolt. A man named Alexis became their leader and was declared "king" in Lefkoniko. The rebellion grew large, with people supporting it and electing their own leaders in many parts of Cyprus.

While Janus was still a prisoner, the nobles and royal family in Cyprus worked to put down Alexis's rebellion. They also tried to secure Janus's release. With help from Europe, the rebellion was stopped after 10 months. Alexis, the rebel leader, was arrested, tortured, and executed in Nicosia on 12 May 1427. On that very same day, King Janus arrived back in Paphos from Cairo.

The coat-of-arms of the House of Lusignan, who ruled Cyprus, Jerusalem, and Lesser Armenia.

Family Life

Janus had nine children. His first marriage was to Anglesia Visconti in 1401. She was the daughter of Bernabò Visconti, a lord from Milan. However, this marriage was ended in 1407 or 1408, and they had no children together.

In 1411, Janus married Charlotte de Bourbon in Nicosia. She was born in 1388 and sadly died from the plague on 15 January 1422. She was buried in Nicosia. They had six children:

• John II or III of Lusignan (1414–1458)
• James of Lusignan (died around 1426)
• Anne of Lusignan, Princess of Cyprus (born 1418 or 1419 – died 1462). She married Louis of Savoy.
• Mary of Lusignan (died 1437)
• Hugo of Lusignan, who became a Cardinal (born 1415)
• Phebus or Philip of Lusignan, who was the sire of Sidon (born 1415)

Janus also had three other children born outside of his marriages:

• Aloysius of Lusignan (born 1408 – lived after 1421)
• Guy of Lusignan (1410–1470), whose birth was officially recognized by Pope Martin V in 1428.
• A daughter, whose name is not widely known. She married Garceran Suarez de los Cernadilla, who was the Admiral of Cyprus, in 1427.