Siege of Famagusta

IN In 1570 The Ottoman Empire began the conquest of Cyprus.

After the fall of Nicosia Famagusta remained the last major Venetian centre that continued to resist.

Bragadin led the defense. He distributed supplies, maintained discipline, organized repairs to the fortifications, and prepared the city for assault.

The Ottoman army besieged Famagusta for almost year.

But the defenders continued to hold out.

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When there is nothing left

Eventually, supplies ran out. Continuing the defense became virtually impossible.

Bragadin agreed to negotiate with the Ottoman commander Lala Mustafa Pasha.

The terms of the capitulation provided for the safety of the population and the defenders of the city.

August 1, 1571 the capitulation was signed.

It seemed that after almost a year of siege, the worst was already behind us.

But that was just the beginning.

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A capitulation that became a trap

After the surrender of the city, Bragadin was taken into custody.

He was brutally mutilated and then locked in a small cage for twelve days in the blazing sun, with almost no food or water.

On the fourth day he was offered freedom in exchange for accepting Islam.

Bragadin refused.

On August 17, 1571, he was executed.

The following details are among the most brutal pages in the history of the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus.

Bragadin was tortured, paraded through the streets of Famagusta, and then tied to an ancient column.

He was killed and his body was dismembered.

His skin was removed and used as political trophy.

Bragadin's remains were stuffed, dressed in a Venetian officer's uniform, and displayed for several days in Famagusta as a symbol of victory.

This trophy was later sent to Constantinople.

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History that returned to Venice

But Bragadin's story did not end there.

IN In 1580 Bragadin's skin was stolen from the Constantinople arsenal by Geronimo Polidori, a young barber from Verona.

He delivered her to Venice.

At first, the relic was kept in the church San Gregorio.

And in In 1596 transferred to the basilica Santi Giovanni e Paolo.

There she remains today.

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Why did Bragadin become a symbol?

His fame is not only associated with his tragic death.

First of all - with defense of Famagusta.

The city, which was in extremely difficult circumstances, managed to resist the huge Ottoman army for almost a year.

This required considerable effort and time from the Ottomans. And Famagusta's resistance had consequences far beyond Cyprus.

While the city held out, the Christian states had time to prepare their fleets.

Soon it took place Battle of Lepanto — one of the largest naval battles of the 16th century, in which the fleet of the Holy League inflicted a heavy defeat on the Ottoman fleet.

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455 years later

Marcantonio Bragadin died in In 1571.

More than four and a half centuries have passed.

Venice has changed.

The Venetian Republic disappeared.

States, borders, armies and the very way of waging war have changed.

But Bragadin's name remained.

Not because he won.

He didn't win.

Famagusta has fallen.

But it showed that even a doomed city can resist much longer than expected.

Sometimes history doesn't remember those who won.

And those, who didn't break.

That's why, when you enter Santi Giovanni e Paolo in Venice, it's worth remembering more than just the name on the memorial plaque.

Behind him stands a man who defended a remote Venetian city in Cyprus for almost a year – and then paid a terrible price for his loyalty.

Famagusta is a thing of the past.

And Bragadin remained in Venice.