THE ARMENIANS OF CYPRUS 10 Ottoman Era: During the Ottoman conquest of the island (1570-1571), about 40.000 Ottoman-Armenian craftsmen were recruited. Many of those who survived the conquest settled mainly in Nicosia, where the Armenian Prelature was recognised as an Ethnarchy, via the millet institution. However, the Bishopric in Famagusta was abolished, as the entire walled city became forbidden for non-Muslims. Gifted with the acumen of industry, Armenians practised lucrative professions and in the beginning of the 17th century Persian-Armenians settled in Cyprus as silk traders, as did some affluent Ottoman-Armenian families in the 18th and the 19th centuries. However, with the new order of things, the number of Armenians and other Christians dramatically declined due to the onerous taxation and the harshness of the Ottoman administration, compelling many Christians to become Linobambaki (Crypto-Christians) or to embrace Islam, which explains why former Armenian villages (Armenokhori, Artemi, Ayios Iakovos, Ayios Khariton, Kornokipos, Melounda, Platani and Spathariko) were inhabited by Turkish-Cypriots at the end of the 19th century. Gradually, after the bloody July 1821 events, some improvements were observed during the Tanzimat period (period of fundamental reform of the Ottoman Empire, 1839-1876), resulting in the parti- cipation of the Armenian Bishop in the Administrative Council (Μejlis Ιdare) and the employment of some Armenians in the civil service. Additionally, the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 benefited the Armenian and other merchants of the island. British Era: With the arrival of the British in July 1878 and their progressive administration, the already prosperous yet small Armenian community of the island was particularly strengthened. Known for their linguistic skills, several Armenians arrived in Cyprus to work as interpreters and public servants at the consulates and the British administration. The l Engraving showing the mansion of interpreter Mikael Assadourian in Kythrea, which was visited by the first High Commissioner, Sir Garnet Wolseley (1878).