Well yes, Richard the First of England may have been thinking of things other than sunbathing when he conquered Cyprus in 1191, but who can doubt that he enjoyed the wonderful climate, especially compared with his home land.

Perhaps it was the English weather that persuaded Richard, who was the son of Eleanor of Aquitaine and therefore had Southern European blood, to spend all but six months of his reign adventuring on foreign soil. His Cyprus adventure began when he went on the Third Crusade with Philip the Second of France. (Richard is known in France as Richard Coeur de Lion.)

On his way to the Holy Land, he heard the news that his fiancée, the Spanish noblewoman Berengaria of Navarre, and his sister, had been shipwrecked near Limassol, just off the coast of the exotic island of Cyprus.

Richard might have been happy for them, if he hadn’t also discovered that the self-styled ruler at the time, Isaac Comnenus, had mistreated the women. In a rage, Richard diverted his forces to the island, defeating Comnenus in a great battle. He immediately swept his bride off her feet and married her on the site of the present day Kolossi Castle in Limassol making her the Queen of England.

Having solved his marriage problem, and had one of his habitual battles, Richard then decided to make some money. He sold the island of Cyprus to the Knights Templar, ushering an extended period when the Knights had influence in extensive holdings on Cyprus.