On 9 July, Cyprus remembers a little-known yet powerful legacy: the contribution of the Cypriot phalanx to the Greek War of Independence. Roughly 1,000 Cypriots fought in the revolution, many sacrificing their lives on the battlefield, while hundreds more perished in brutal Ottoman reprisals back home.
Although Cyprus was not designated a primary uprising region by the Filiki Eteria, the island’s spiritual leader, Archbishop Kyprianos, pledged money, supplies and manpower to the cause. His commitment is documented in the 15th article of the society’s “General Plan,” which envisioned Cyprus as a supply hub for Greek forces.
A letter from Alexander Ypsilantis to Kyprianos in 1820, disguised as thanks for a “Peloponnesian school,” further proves this clandestine collaboration. By 1821, Admiral Kanaris had sailed to Cyprus to collect funds, provisions and volunteers for the uprising. Greek ships frequently travelled between the mainland and Cyprus during the war.
The most iconic of these contributions was the Cypriot phalanx: a battalion of volunteer fighters led by General Hatzipetros, known for their discipline and bravery. Their flag- white with a blue cross and the words “Greek Flag, Homeland Cyprus”- is preserved today in the National Historical Museum in Athens. Historical records estimate that 130 Cypriots died in the Battle of Athens alone, and many more fell at Messolonghi. A monument in the Holy City of Messolonghi honours their memory.
General Hatzipetros once pointed to his medals and said, “These were given to me by the heroism and valour of the Cypriot phalangites.” The phalanx would later be reformed in 1853 to fight again in Thessaly.
But the price of their involvement was steep. On 9 July 1821, Ottoman forces in Cyprus executed Archbishop Kyprianos and senior clergy in Nicosia, including the metropolitans of Paphos, Kyrenia and Kition. It was the beginning of a wave of repression. Thousands of troops arrived from Syria or Egypt, executing at least 470 Cypriots by hanging or beheading within days. The total death toll during the uprising exceeded 2,000.
The atrocities were immortalised by national poet Vasilis Michaelides in his epic poem The 9th of July 1821 in Nicosia, Cyprus, written in Cypriot dialect. His verses capture both the Archbishop’s patriotism and the brutality of the Ottoman crackdown.
Despite the risk, hundreds of Cypriots continued to join the revolution. Many sold their land or possessions to fund the effort. Some, like Ioannis Stavrianis, stayed in Greece and built new lives. Others, such as Haralambos Malis, became government officials or teachers. Archival records cite at least 580 Cypriots by name, though the real number may have been far higher.
Today, Cyprus honours not just a historical event, but a legacy of courage, resilience and sacrifice. The Cypriot phalanx may be lesser known, but its place in Greek history is deeply earned.
Also read: Εάλω η Πόλις- The City has fallen
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