Louroujina

Louroujina
Louroujina

Location of Louroujina in Cyprus

Coordinates: 35°00′33″N 33°27′53″E / 35.00917°N 33.46472°E / 35.00917; 33.46472Coordinates: 35°00′33″N 33°27′53″E / 35.00917°N 33.46472°E / 35.00917; 33.46472
Country  Cyprus
 • District Nicosia District
Country (controlled by)  Northern Cyprus
 • District Lefkoşa District
Government
 • Mayor Hasan Barbaros
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 390
Website Turkish Cypriot municipality

Louroujina (Greek: Λουρουτζίνα [locally [luɾuˈt͡ʃina]]; Turkish: Akıncılar, previously Lurucina or Luricina) is a village in Cyprus, located within the salient that marks the southernmost extent of Northern Cyprus. It was one of the largest Turkish Cypriot villages in Cyprus before the Turkish invasion. In 1974, Louroujina was secured so as to be placed within a contiguous Turkish Cypriot zone, which later became Northern Cyprus. The United Nations Buffer Zone separates the Louroujina salient from the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. The only road into Louroujina is through the Turkish military camp in Pyroi.[2]

Prior to 1960, Louroujina was inhabited both by Turkish and Greek Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriots constituted a majority. The Greek Cypriots, who numbered about 100, fled the village during the Emergency years. By 1973, 1,963 Turkish Cypriots were living in Louroujina. After the Turkish invasion, the majority were relocated in nearby villages; however, about 300 opted to stay, in contravention of the authorities' demand that they vacate the village.[2] As of 2011, Louroujina had a population of 390.[1]

According to legend, Louroujina is so named because it was founded by a woman named "Lorenziya".[3] In 1958, it was renamed Akıncılar in Turkish, meaning "Ottoman raiders".[2] The new name is said to have been inspired by an inter-communal clash between Greek Cypriots and Louroujina Turkish Cypriots, who outnumbered the former, at Pyroi. In their flight, the Greek Cypriots shouted, "the Turkish Cypriots from Louroujina are flooding in" (in Turkish: Luricina'lılar akın akın geliyor).[3]

Sports

Turkish Cypriot Akıncılar Sports Club was founded in 1942. As of 2015, it competes in Cyprus Turkish Football Association (CTFA) K-PET 1st League.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "KKTC 2011 Nüfus ve Konut Sayımı" [TRNC 2011 Population and Housing Census] (PDF) (in Turkish). TRNC State Planning Organization. 6 August 2013. p. 17.
  2. 1 2 3 "LOUROUJINA". Internal Displacement in Cyprus. PRIO Cyprus Centre. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Akıncılar Hakkında". Akıncılar Belediyesi (in Turkish). Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Northern Cyprus Association of Football Clubs


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