The "Cypriot Chronicle" by Georgios Boustronios

Abstract

The Chronicle of George Boustron (Λεοντίου Μαχαιρά Χρονικόν Κύπρου αρχείου – από την εποχή του Χριστού) is one of the most important sources on the medieval history of Cyprus in the second half of the 15th century. It serves as a continuation of the chronicle of Leontios Machairas and covers the period from 1456 to 1501.

George Boustron was a Cypriot Frank of the old French Boustron family. He was a loyal friend and companion of the King of Cyprus, James II (1460-1473).

The chronicle contains information about the end of the reign of John II of Lusignan, the accession and short reign of Charlotte of Lusignan (1458-1460), as well as the reigns of James II and Catherine Cornaro (1473-1489). It also includes some data on the history of Cyprus up to 1501.

In his chronicle, George Boustron describes the dynastic struggles and conflicts among different aristocratic factions, which were to some extent influenced by the interventions of foreign powers (the Kingdom of Naples, the Republic of Venice, the Sultanate of Cairo). After a complex political game, the Venetians forced Catherine Cornaro to abdicate in 1489, thereby taking control of the island of Cyprus.

As a contemporary and participant in these events, George Boustron was well-informed. His chronicle is rich in factual material and serves as a fundamental source on the history of the Kingdom of Cyprus under the last Lusignan rulers. It reflects the power struggles among the aristocracy, driven by ambition and material interests, as well as the moral decline of the feudal class that dominated the kingdom in the late 15th century.

Although not as remarkable and original a figure as his predecessor, George Boustron left behind a work written with greater impartiality compared to Leontios Machairas’ chronicle. His style is calm and unpretentious, and his descriptions of human relationships are natural and vivid. Despite some stylistic and linguistic flaws, reminiscent of Machairas’ chronicle, his narrative is clearer and more coherent.

George Boustron wrote his chronicle in the Cypriot vernacular dialect, characterized by its simplicity. The text contains numerous words of French and Italian origin, which had evidently become widely adopted in the Greek language of Cyprus at the time, possibly influenced by the author's own French heritage.

This translation was made based on the edition of K. Sathas (Mnemeia Ellenikes Istorias), vol. II, Venice, 1873, pp. 411-543. For clarity, the translator has divided the text into sections with titles. The aim was to provide a literal and scholarly translation, maintaining a light linguistic form without altering the content.

The explanatory notes contain the most essential and concise information about events, people, and names, without any claim to exhaustiveness.

At the end of the translation, a chronological list of the rulers from the Lusignan dynasty (1192-1489) has been added.

With this publication (albeit only in Bulgarian translation and without the Greek text), the Bulgarian scientific and cultural community will have the opportunity to become acquainted with one of the most important sources on the medieval history of Cyprus in the 15th century.