1878. India and Cyprus.
The Indian Army Annexes the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus.
Digitally restored and colourised photographs of Cyprus taken by John Thomson in 1878 who appears to have accompanied the British Indian Force.
Thomson was a pioneering Scottish photographer famed for his photographs of India.
Indian Mutiny veteran Sir Garnet Wolseley wasn't impressed with Larnaca which he describes as, "a pesthouse of dirt and fever. I never saw a filthier spot."
In 1878, as a result of the Cyprus Convention, the United Kingdom received as a protectorate the island of Cyprus from the Ottoman Empire in exchange for United Kingdom's military support to the Ottoman Empire should Russia attempt to take possession of territories of the Ottomans in Asia.
While the Cypriots at first welcomed British rule hoping that they would gradually achieve prosperity, democracy and national liberation, they became disillusioned.
The British imposed heavy taxes to cover the compensation which they were paying to the Sultan for having conceded Cyprus to them. Moreover, the people were not given the right to participate in the administration of the island, since all powers were reserved to the High Commissioner and to London.
Cyprus achieved Independence from Great Britain on 16 August 1960.
Digitally restored and colourised images (Deep AI Image Colorization API/Photoshop. East India Company and Raj Research Group collection
@history of world by mushi
