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European Knights in Cyprus. Polish Research Station Invites to Meet in Paphos
What role did European knights play in the history of Cyprus and what traces did they leave on the island? This will be discussed on Friday, September 11, during a meeting organized in Paphos by the Research Station of the Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw.
The lecture, "European Knighthood: The Trace on Cyprus," will begin at 7:00 PM at the PCMA UW Research Centre in Cyprus at Georgiou Christoforou 46. The event will be held in a hybrid format – it will also be possible to participate online via the Zoom platform.
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European knights in Cyprus
Cyprus occupied a special place in the history of the Crusades and the military orders operating in the eastern Mediterranean.
One of the most important periods in the island's medieval history was the rule of the French Lusignan dynasty. Beginning in the late 12th century, it strongly influenced Cypriot politics, architecture, and culture for centuries to come.
Friday's meeting will be devoted to the presence of European knights on the island and the traces that can still be found here today.
The speakers will talk about the emergence and development of European knighthood, the role of military orders and the circumstances of the arrival of knights in Cyprus.
From Knightly Orders to European Fencing
The meeting will not be limited to political history and the activities of religious orders.
One part of the lecture will focus on the origins of European fencing traditions. Speakers will present the oldest known fencing manuals, selected techniques, and the weapons and equipment used by knights.
They will perform in Paphos Sergei Dumbadze and Igor Bobrovsky.
Dumbadze works in communications and cultural studies. He also directs the Museum of the Templar Ages, located in Pano Arodes, Paphos. Bobrovsky is an independent researcher.
Polish research station in Paphos
The event is organised by the Research Station of the Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology of the University of Warsaw operating in Paphos.
The facility officially opened in June 2025, but the history of Polish archaeological research in the city goes back much further. Scientists affiliated with the University of Warsaw have been conducting work in Nea Paphos since 1965.
The station provides scientific and logistical support for Polish teams conducting research in Cyprus. It is also intended to be a platform for collaboration, education, and international dialogue.
The lecture on European knighthood is therefore part of the institution's broader activities, which are not limited solely to conducting excavations.
A meeting for lovers of Cypriot history
The event is of interest not only to archaeologists and historians, but also to those living in the Paphos region who want to learn more about the island's medieval history.
Cyprus is most often associated with its ancient monuments, but traces of the Crusader and Lusignan eras remain an important part of its heritage, found in preserved castles, churches, and Gothic architecture.
Friday's lecture will allow us to look at this history through the prism of knighthood, orders, weaponry and the martial traditions developing in medieval Europe.
Sources: PCMA UW Research Center in Cyprus, Polish Center of Mediterranean Archeology UW, SigmaLive, Paphos Press.
