Bishop Makarios III

Makarios III was elected Archbishop of Cyprus, becoming the ethnarch of the Greek Cypriot community. His religious authority combined with political leadership made him the central figure in the movement for enosis (union with Greece).

Makarios was exiled by British colonial authorities to the Seychelles for his alleged support of EOKA, a Greek Cypriot guerrilla group fighting for enosis. His exile lasted one year and galvanized international support for Cypriot independence.

Makarios signed the London-Zurich Agreements, which established the independence of Cyprus from British rule. The agreements created a power-sharing constitution between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, but tensions remained.

Makarios was elected as the first President of the Republic of Cyprus, leading the newly independent state. His presidency aimed to maintain unity between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, but intercommunal violence erupted in 1963.

Makarios survived an assassination attempt when his helicopter was fired upon by Greek Cypriot extremists opposed to his policies. The attack highlighted divisions within the Greek Cypriot community over the direction of the republic.

Makarios was overthrown in a coup d'

Makarios returned to Cyprus after the Turkish invasion and resumed his presidency, but he governed only the Greek Cypriot south. He spent his remaining years seeking a negotiated settlement to the Cyprus problem, but died in 1977 without achieving reunification.