The Swedish theologian and traveler Michael Ennemann traveled to the East in the early 18th century, recording valuable observations from Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Cyprus and Constantinople. His work Resan till Orienten (“Journey to the East”, 1711-1712) is one of the first Swedish testimonies about the Ottoman world, offering important information about the life of Christian communities, the Turkish administration and the daily life of the Greeks of Cyprus.
Enneman's journey to Cyprus (1713)
Eneman arrived in Cyprus on 4 February 1713, after an illness in Tripoli, Lebanon. In his notes he describes the Turkish administration as arbitrary, unjust and cruel towards the locals. One of the incidents he records is the uprising of a Greek resident of Nicosia, who had suffered grave injustice from the Muslim governor (musoulimi) and, after finding no redress in Constantinople or the Pasha of Cyprus, decided to take revenge.
This Greek gathered around him villagers and men from the surrounding villages, many of whom were poor farmers who had also suffered from taxes and abuses by the authorities. With them was a small group of Levantines who boarded a ship and arrived at night in Nicosia. There they launched an attack on the streets of the city, broke into the house of a Muslim, snatched him from the bed and tied him hand and foot. Then they moved against the houses of wealthy Turkish officials, looting and causing panic.
The rebellion was soon crushed, however. The Muslim called for reinforcements from Famagusta and the countryside, and the Greek's men were surrounded by hundreds of armed Turks. They tried to escape from Cape St. Andrew by boat, but were betrayed by the captain. The Greek leader, along with one of his companions and several villagers who had participated in the rebellion, were arrested and publicly hanged as an exemplary punishment. The remaining peasants who had supported the rebellion were tortured or killed in various villages on the island.
This violent event had occurred shortly before Eneman's arrival in Cyprus. As he writes, the affair had caused terror and suspicion among the Turkish authorities, who feared a new uprising.
When Eneman disembarked in Larnaca and traveled to Nicosia, he was considered a suspicious foreigner. He was interrogated by the Muslim and ordered to return to Larnaca accompanied by janissaries. He notes that he was spared thanks to his Swedish identity, as the Turks did not know much about Sweden and did not consider it an enemy power.
In Larnaca, Eneman observed lively trade between European and Greek merchants. The main products exported from the island were silk, cotton and storax resin.
He stayed in Cyprus for weeks, until on March 1, 1713, he departed by ship, passing through Kastellorizo, Chios and Smyrna, and arrived in Constantinople on June 20, 1713. His return journey began on June 28.
source / photos https://ypervorioi.blogspot.com/2025/10/mikael-eneman.html
The news republished in Cypriot media
