[ QUIZ-8 ] St Hilarion: why did the Venetians blow up the castle..?

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
15/02/2010 22:07

1 : The first poster with the right answer in this thread wins a free ticket for the next Medieval Cyprus Fellowship lecture: "The Secrets of St Hilarion Castle!" (Wednesday, February 24, 2.30 pm, doors open 2 pm, venue: Denizhan Bar & Restaurant, Alsancak).

2 : Photograph here (click link): http://www.allcrusades.com/BB_pics/190.jpg

3 : Quiz question-7: The Venetians (ruling in Cyprus between 1489-1571) had three reasons to blow up St. Hilarion castle. Name all three of them...

4 : Hint-1 (may follow...): "-"



5 : Answers before 8 pm, Tuesday, February 16, 2010.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
15/02/2010 22:42

Sorry, it's Quiz-Question-8 not nr. 7.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
16/02/2010 08:59

Hint-1 for Quiz-Question-8: The invention/introduction of powder...

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
16/02/2010 11:09

Hint-2 for Quiz-Question-8: The "Most Serene Republic of Venice" had a pragmatic military view on the old mountain castles...

Hatty


Joined: 13/07/2008
Posts: 260

Message Posted:
16/02/2010 11:56

I think this could well be another point to you

mamachina


Joined: 22/11/2008
Posts: 730

Message Posted:
16/02/2010 15:39

I can only think of one good reason, they blew them up etc to stop the invading Turks in 1570 having nice readily available bases to lodge in and continue the fight. Not that it did any good as the Turks won!

darrener2


Joined: 30/12/2008
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
16/02/2010 15:49

It was no longer militarily as important as before

It cost too much to maintain

and

They needed somewhere to test their gunpowder lol

Hatty


Joined: 13/07/2008
Posts: 260

Message Posted:
16/02/2010 19:02

I don't suppose it was anything to do with a GC demolition order?

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
16/02/2010 19:36

Answer to Quiz-Question-8: When the Venetians forced the widowed Cyprus Queen Caterina Cornaro ("The Daughter of Venice"), married to the poisoned, last King of Cyprus, James II, to abdicate and hence obtained full power (1489-1571) on the island, they realised that:

1 : The newly introduced cannons/gun powder made the Byzantine/Lusignan mountain castles militarily useless.

2 : It was very expensive to maintain garrisons in the castles.

3 : The castles could be occupied by invaders/local enemies of the Venetians.

So. Kantara, Buffavento and St Hilarion were demolished (with explosives).

Following this the Venetians concentrated on reinforcing the coastal fortresses of Kyrenia, Famagusta and Paphos (including the capital Nicosia).

No winners in this quiz imo, although Darrener2 deserves 2/3 pt - does everybody and Bill agree?

Previous winners: Hatty: 2x, Clarissa2: 1x, No1Doyen: 1x (Darrener2: 2/3 pt, thomarge: 1/3 pt).

karakum5c



Joined: 18/03/2008
Posts: 1021

Message Posted:
16/02/2010 19:36

The Venetians were trying to reduce their running costs and went about it in a fairly effective manner.