- Original name:
- Mikhail Khristodolou Mouskos
- Born:
- August 13, 1913, Pano Panayia, Paphos, Cyprus
- Died:
- August 3, 1977, Nicosia (aged 63)
- Title / Office:
- president (1959-1977), Cyprus
Makarios III
-
Who was Makarios III?
Makarios III (1913–1977) was the archbishop and primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, playing a pivotal role in the struggle for enosis (union) with Greece during the British occupation after World War II. From 1959 until his death in 1977, he served as the first president of independent Cyprus.
As archbishop, Makarios championed Greek interests but later sought integration between Greek and Turkish communities, facing resistance from Turkish Cypriots. In July 1974, a coup led by the Greek Cypriot National Guard forced him to flee, leading to a Turkish invasion and the proclamation of a separate Turkish Cypriot state in the north. Makarios returned to Cyprus in December, determined to resist the island's partition.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What two important roles did Makarios III have in Cyprus?
Makarios III held two significant roles in Cyprus. As archbishop and primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, he traditionally played an important political role as ethnarch, or head of the Greek Christian community. Furthermore, he served as the president of independent Cyprus from 1959 until 1977. During the British occupation, he was a leader in the struggle for enosis (union) with Greece. His administration faced challenges, including fighting between Greeks and Turks. Although he once championed Greek interests, he later sought integration between the two communities.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What was Makarios III’s role in the church?
Makarios III was the archbishop and primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. Ordained in 1946, he became bishop of Kition in 1948 and archbishop in 1950. During this time, he became identified with the movement for enosis, since the archbishop of Cyprus traditionally played an important political role as ethnarch, or head of the Greek Christian community. In 1972 and 1973, other Cypriot bishops called for Makarios to resign, but he was returned unopposed for a third term as head of state in 1973.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How did Makarios III become president of Cyprus?
Makarios III, archbishop and primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, became the first president of independent Cyprus in 1959. As archbishop, Makarios traditionally played an important political role as ethnarch, the head of the Greek Christian community.
Makarios advocated for enosis, the union with Greece, gaining support from the Greek prime minister in 1954. The British suspected him of being a leader in the EOKA, an armed nationalist movement, but he favored political bargaining. After being exiled for sedition in 1956, he accepted a compromise in February 1959 that resulted in independence for Cyprus. On December 13, 1959, he was elected president.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What important events happened in Cyprus during Makarios III’s presidency?
During Makarios III's presidency (1959-1977), Cyprus faced significant events:
* In 1960, Cyprus became a republic with Makarios as president and joined the UN.
* Conflict between Greek and Turkish Cypriots intensified, leading to Turkish Cypriot enclaves and the division of Nicosia by the Green Line.
* In 1964, the UN Security Council sent a peacekeeping force to Cyprus.
* In 1974, a coup attempt to achieve enosis (union with Greece) led to a Turkish invasion and the proclamation of a separate Turkish Cypriot state in the north.
* Despite communal strife, Makarios was reelected in 1968 and 1973.
* In 1977, Makarios and Denktash agreed on guidelines for a bizonal federation.2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How did Makarios III influence the history and independence of Cyprus?
Makarios III significantly shaped Cyprus's history and independence. As archbishop and ethnarch, he championed enosis (union with Greece) during British rule, gaining Greek support in 1954. Despite initial preference for political solutions, the EOKA, a nationalist movement, intensified its campaign, leading to Makarios's exile in 1956.
Released in 1957, he accepted a compromise in 1959, resulting in Cyprus's independence, and was elected president. His administration faced Greek-Turkish fighting, and Turkish intervention. Although he once supported Greek interests, he later sought integration, which Turks resisted. After a coup attempt in 1974, planned by the Greek junta, Makarios fled but vowed to resist partition, returning to Cyprus in December 1974.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Makarios III (born August 13, 1913, Pano Panayia, Paphos, Cyprus—died August 3, 1977, Nicosia) was the archbishop and primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. He was a leader in the struggle for enosis (union) with Greece during the postwar British occupation, and, from 1959 until his death in 1977, he was the president of independent Cyprus.
Mouskos, the son of a poor shepherd, studied in Cyprus and at the University of Athens and later at the School of Theology of Boston University. He was ordained in 1946, became bishop of Kition (Larnaca) in 1948, and on October 18, 1950, was made archbishop.
During that time Makarios became identified with the movement for enosis, the archbishop of Cyprus having traditionally played an important political role during the Turkish occupation as ethnarch, or head of the Greek Christian community. Opposing the British government’s proposals for independence or Commonwealth status, as well as Turkish pressures for partition in order to safeguard the island’s sizable Turkish population, Makarios met with the Greek prime minister, Alexandros Papagos, in February 1954 and gained Greek support for enosis. The British soon suspected him of being a leading figure in the EOKA, an armed nationalist movement led by Col. Georgios Grivas. Makarios, however, preferred political bargaining to force and negotiated with the British governor in 1955–56. When these talks proved fruitless and Makarios was arrested for sedition in March 1956 and exiled to the Seychelles, the EOKA intensified its violent campaign. In March 1957 Makarios was released from detention in exile; not immediately permitted to return to the country, however, Makarios traveled to Athens before his arrival in Cyprus the following year. In February 1959 Makarios accepted a compromise that resulted in independence for Cyprus. He was elected president of the new republic on December 13, 1959, with a Turkish vice president.
Makarios’s administration was marred by fighting between Greeks and Turks, particularly after December 1963, and the active intervention of both Greece and Turkey. Previously a champion of exclusively Greek interests, he now worked for integration of the two communities, measures the Turks repeatedly resisted. In December 1967 he was obliged to accept a Turkish Cypriot Provisional Administration, which managed Turkish minority affairs outside the jurisdiction of the central government. Despite communal strife, he was elected president for a second term in February 1968. Talks between the two communities remained deadlocked over the question of local autonomy. In 1972 and 1973 other Cypriot bishops called for Makarios to resign, but he was returned unopposed for a third term as head of state in 1973.
In July 1974 the Greek Cypriot National Guard, whose officers were mainland Greeks, attempted a coup, planned by the ruling military junta in Athens, to achieve enosis. Makarios fled to Malta and then to London, and Turkey invaded Cyprus and proclaimed a separate state for Turkish Cypriots in the north. Makarios, vowing to resist partition of the island, returned to Cyprus in December, after the fall of the mainland Greek military junta.