Karamanzade (; ; ) is a quarter (mahalle) of Nicosia, Cyprus.6th edition of the publication "Statistical Codes of Municipalities, Communities and Quarters of Cyprus" (publ. Statistical Service of Republic of Cyprus, 2010)Coexistence in the Disappeared Mixed Neighbourhoods of Nicosia by Ahmet An (Paper read at the conference: Nicosia: The Last Divided Capital in Europe, organized by the London Metropolitan University on 20 June 2011) It is named after Karamanzade, one of the generals in the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus in 1570. He was known as Karaman-zade meaning the son of an inhabitant of Karamania."A Description of the Historic Monuments of Cyprus" by George Jeffery, Architect. Publ. Government Printing Office, Nicosia, 1918; pp.33, 48 & 50–55

Location Karamanzade is in western Nicosia within the walls, next to Paphos Gate, straddling the Green Line.Nicosia showing the area within the walls on www.openstreetmap.org retrieved May 2025

It is bordered on the north by the Arab Ahmet quarter, to the east by Iplik Bazar–Korkut Effendi, and to the south by Nebethane and Ayios Andreas."Quarters of Nicosia" Prepared and published by the Dept. of Lands and Surveys, Cyprus, 1985, Revised 1997. Series DLS30. Scale 1:7500

Population Population according to the yearly censuses in which where the quarter was reported separately.Η Πρώτη Οθωμανική Απογραφή της Κύπρου 1572 (The First Ottoman Census of Cyprus 1572), by Ioannis P. Theocharides, publ. Nicosia 2021 ; p. 21Οι Απογραφές του Κεφαλικόυ Φόρου της Κύπρου των ετών 1612/1613 κai 1672/1673 (The Censuses of the Poll Tax of Cyprus of 1612/1613 and 1672/1673), by Ioannis P. Theocharides, publ. Nicosia 2024, ; pp. 7, 191–195Osmanlı idaresinde Kıbrıs: Nüfusu-arazi dağılımı ve Türk vakıfları(Cyprus under Ottoman rule: Population - land distribution and Turkish foundations), ed. Haci Osman Yildirim, and Vahdettin Atik, published. by Rep.Turkey Ottoman Archives Department, Ankara, Publication No. 43. Date 2000. Census of Cyprus, printed by Eyre and Spottiswoode, London, 1884Census of Cyprus 1891, printed by Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, 1893Census of Cyprus 1901, publ. Government printing office, Nicosia, Cyprus, 1901Report and General Abstracts of the Census of Cyprus 1911, publ. Waterlow and Sons Ltd, London, 1912Report and General Abstracts of the Census of Cyprus 1921, publ. Waterlow and Sons Ltd, London, 1922.Report of the Census of Cyprus 1931, publ. Government printing office, Nicosia, Cyprus, 1932Census of Cyprus, published by Government Printing Office, Nicosia, 1949"The Population of Cyprus from 1881 to 1946", by D A. Percival, 1947; Census Office, Nicosia, 1947. - quoted in "A History of Cyprus", Vol. 4, by George Hill, 1952, ; p. xxi and "Social and Spatial Dimensions of Ethnic Conflict", by J. F. Oswald (dissertation for University of Texas), 2013 - repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstreams/2a1cde91-f78e-4d99-8a6a-e7296e9bf6a1/download (retrieved June 2025); p.578Turkish Cypriot census retrieved October 2013

DateHousesTurkish CypriotGreek CypriotOther ◊ Total157218 161223 167214 1831 42 114156188147 23418918380 33441419016753 33939219116835 29833319217938 4955331931*9465 7087731946188611244125972006 429 4292011 351 351 ◊ Principally Armenian and non-Muslims

* The 1831 Ottoman census only included males

History Karamanzade is one of the 24 historic quarters within the walls of Nicosia. During the Ottoman period it was counted as an Armenian quarter.

Leontios Machairas (1369–1458) and Georgios Boustronios (1430–1501) record that the Armenian Quarter of Nicosia was located near the gate of St. Dominic (now Paphos Gate) in the 15th century, during the Lusignan Kingdom of Cyprus.Article entitled "Εκκλησία Παρθένου Μαρίας" in the "Great Cypriot Encyclopedia". Greek article on the (Armenian) Church of the Virgin Mary - www.polignosi.com - retrieved July 2025 After the Ottoman conquest of Nicosia in 1570, an Ottoman decree issued on 15 May 1571, gave what is now the Armenian church to the Armenian community."The Armenian Church and Monastery Restoration Project", by Paolo Vitti, 2014 - www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/migration/cy/ACM-Book-PRINT-FINAL.pdf retrieved June 2025 -pp.5,11 During Ottoman rule, starting with the 1572 census, there was a quarter recorded as "Ermeniyan Mahalle" (in Turkish), i.e. Armenian Quarter, alongside Karamanzade and the 1831 census it is recorded that one was 100% Armenian and the other 100% Muslim. Nicosia was divided into Mahalles or quarters, each of which was concentrated around the population's place of worship. The Armenians had their own quarter, which was in the western-most part of the city, adjacent to Paphos Gate. Armenians and Turks lived together in Karamanzade - the area next to Paphos gate, each belonging to their own administrative quarter, but inhabiting the same part of the city."Historic Nicosia",Demetrios Michaelides (Ed.), publ. Rimal Publications, Nicosia 2012; ; pp. 238, 299, 300 This geographical area was in 1831 around 70% Armenian. This is also reflected in the later British census figures for Karamanzade.

After the Cyprus crisis of 1963–1964 the Armenian community (most of the population) was expelled from the area.

Landmarks

Armenian Church The Armenian Church dates from the 14th century. Originally part of a Benedictine monastery, then a salt store, it was allocated to the Armenians after the Ottoman conquest. Conservation work on the church began in 2007 as part of the Nicosia Master Plan.Department of Lands and Surveys Sheet 21 - Plan 46.2.15 - available in print and from: plans.dls.moi.gov.cy/Cadastral_Plans/lefkosia/500/21460215.pdf (retrieved June 2025).

Dukkanlar Onou Mosque The Dükkanlar Önü Mosque was the mosque of the Karamanzade quarter. Originally a Venetian secular building, after the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus, the building was converted to a mosque. The building was renovated by Said Mehmed Agha in 18th century. It had an outsized minaret, which was demolished in 1952 as it was in a dangerous condition. From 2011, the Evkaf Administration of Cyprus, began restoration of the mosque and a new shorter minaret has been built.

Church of the Holy Cross The original Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Cross was built in 1642 but was replaced in April 1900, partly funded by the Spanish royal family and opened again in 1902. The western side of the chapel of 1642 remains, but the east end was removed to enable the construction of the larger building in 1900.

The Church of the Holy Cross was not abandoned during the Cyprus crisis of 1963–1964 and the Turkish invasion of 1974. However part of the access was blocked towards Victoria Street.

Paphos Gate opening The original Paphos Gate was closed by the British when they made the new opening at the side through the ramparts in 1879. This forms the entrance to the quarter from outside the walled city. The north side of the street is in Karamanzade and the south side in Ayios Andreas.

References