Nikos Sampson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nikos Sampson
Νίκος Σαμψών
De facto President of Cyprus Acting
In office 15 July 1974 – 23 July 1974
Preceded by	Makarios III
Succeeded by	Glafcos Clerides (acting)
Member of the Cypriot House of Representatives
In office 1970–1974
Personal details
Born	Nikolaos Georgiadis (Νικόλαος Γεωργιάδης) 16 December 1935 Famagusta, British Cyprus (now disputed)
Died	9 May 2001 (aged 65) Nicosia, Cyprus
Political party	Progressive Party (1969–1970) Progressive Front (1970–1974)
Spouse	Veronica Sampson
Children	2 including Sotirios Sampson
Occupation	Revolutionary Politician
Military service
Allegiance	Kingdom of Greece
Branch/service	EOKA

Nikos Sampson (born Nikolaos Georgiadis; 16 December 1935 – 9 May 2001) was a Cypriot journalist and politician. He briefly served as the acting President of Cyprus in 1974 after a sudden takeover of the government, known as a coup.

Before becoming a politician, Sampson was a journalist and a member of EOKA, a group that fought for Cyprus's independence from British rule. He was later pardoned for his actions. In 1960, he was elected to the Cypriot House of Representatives. He strongly supported the idea of Enosis, which means Cyprus joining with Greece.

In July 1974, Sampson was made president by the leaders of the coup. However, his time in office was very short. Just eight days later, the Turkish invasion of Cyprus began, and he had to step down. After the original government returned, Turkish troops stayed, which led to the division of Cyprus. Sampson was later sent to prison for using his power unfairly during the coup. He is the only person to have been found guilty for what happened during those events. After his release, he went back to working in the media.

Early Life and Beginnings

Nikos Sampson was born in the port city of Famagusta, Cyprus, on December 16, 1935. His parents were Sampson Georgiadis and Theano Liasidou.

When he was a teenager, Nikos enjoyed playing football. He was a right back for the second team of Anorthosis Famagusta, a local club. He started his career working at a newspaper in Cyprus called The Cyprus Times. His birth name was Nikos Georgiadis, but he later decided to use his father's first name, Sampson, as his own last name.

Fighting for Cyprus's Independence

During the time known as the Cyprus Emergency (1955-1959), a Greek-Cypriot group called EOKA fought against British colonial rule in Cyprus. Nikos Sampson joined EOKA and used the secret name "Atrotos," which means "Invulnerable."

Sampson was part of a special team within EOKA. He was involved in several actions against British soldiers and police officers. In May 1957, he was put on trial for one of these incidents. He admitted to it but was found not guilty because the court thought his confession might have been forced.

A month later, he was arrested again for having weapons, which was a serious crime at the time. He was sentenced to life in prison and sent to the United Kingdom. However, he was released about a year and a half later as part of a general pardon from the 1959 Zürich and London Agreement. He stayed in Greece until Cyprus became officially independent in August 1960, then he returned home.

After Cyprus Became Independent

After Cyprus gained its independence, Nikos Sampson went back to working with newspapers. In 1960, he started his own newspaper called Makhi, which means "Battle" or "Struggle." In his newspaper, he wrote articles about his experiences during the EOKA campaign against British rule.

Sampson was also involved in clashes between Greek and Turkish communities in December 1963. These conflicts spread, and Sampson led armed groups in battles.

The 1974 Coup and Its Aftermath

In 1969, Sampson started the Progressive Party, which later joined with the Progressive Front. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1970. Sampson always held strong nationalist views, supporting the idea of Cyprus uniting with Greece.

On July 15, 1974, the president of Cyprus, Makarios, was removed from power by a military coup. This coup was led by Greek officers who were part of the Cyprus National Guard.

Nikos Sampson was chosen to be the temporary president by the coup leaders. This was a quick decision made to avoid a power vacuum, meaning a time when no one was in charge. However, his presidency lasted only eight days. On July 23, 1974, he was forced to resign. The original Greek Cypriot government was then restored.

Later Life and Legacy

After the events of 1974, Sampson was put on trial. In 1976, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for using his power unfairly.

However, in 1979, after only three years in prison, he was allowed to go to France for medical reasons. He lived there for many years, supported by friends. He returned to Cyprus in June 1990 to finish his prison sentence.

After being released from Nicosia Central Prison in 1992, he returned to the newspaper business. Nikos Sampson passed away from cancer on May 9, 2001, in Nicosia, at the age of 65.

He was survived by his wife, Vera, and their two children. His son, Sotiris Sampson, also became a politician and was elected to the House of Representatives of Cyprus for three terms.

Nikos Sampson's legacy is seen differently by various people in Cyprus. Some people see him as a hero who fought for Cyprus's independence from British rule. Others, however, believe he was a traitor to the Republic of Cyprus because of his involvement in the 1974 coup. They also point out that his actions played a part in the island becoming divided.

See also

In Spanish: Nikos Sampson para niños