Person

Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus

c. 1155–1196 · 12th century · Also known as Isaac Comnenus of Cyprus

Isaac Komnenos was a Byzantine aristocrat and great-nephew of Emperor Manuel I who seized Cyprus in 1184 and ruled it as a self-proclaimed emperor. His harsh rule ended when Richard the Lionheart, on his way to the Third Crusade, conquered the island in 1191. Richard sold Cyprus to the Templars and then to Guy of Lusignan.

Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus
Image: UnknownUnknown / Photography: CNG coins · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 4 state histories

Arab-Byzantine Condominium of CyprusCyprus under Isaac KomnenosTemplar CyprusKingdom of Cyprus

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/isaac-komnenos-of-cyprus
MLA
“Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/isaac-komnenos-of-cyprus. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/isaac-komnenos-of-cyprus.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Isaac Komnenos of Cyprus’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/isaac-komnenos-of-cyprus (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻