Of relics and kings: Cyprus in Franciscan apocrypha of the Trecento

Andronikou, A. (2024) Of relics and kings: Cyprus in Franciscan apocrypha of the Trecento. Journal of Medieval History, 50(1), pp. 69-91. (doi: 10.1080/03044181.2023.2292655)

Abstract

What sacred objects did the Lusignan kings of Cyprus treasure in their collection of holy items? Certainly, they had fragments of the Holy Cross and saints’ skulls, but what about Passion relics such as the titulus placed above the crucified Christ, or the white rock to which the cross was affixed? This study explores overlooked fourteenth-century Franciscan apocryphal stories about the life of Christ and didactic narratives which, among other things, cite Passion relics and their respective proprietors. In the following essay, I will turn attention to relics which, according to these texts, were in the safe-keeping of the kings of Cyprus. In addition to evaluating the reliability of such evidence, I will discuss the nature of the relics, identify the mysterious relic-hoarder king, and seek to uncover a representation of such a relic in the ‘Royal Chapel’ at Pyrga, Larnaca.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Andronikou, Dr Anthi
• Authors: Andronikou, A.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts > History of Art
• Journal Name: Journal of Medieval History
• Publisher: Routledge (Taylor & Francis)
• ISSN: 0304-4181
• ISSN (Online): 1873-1279
• Published Online: 29 December 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Author(s)
• First Published: First published in Journal of Medieval History 50(1):69-91
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license