Hugh IV of Cyprus

Hugh IV
coat-of-arms of Lusignan of Cyprus and Jerusaelm
King of Cyprus
Reign	31 March 1324 – 24 November 1358
Predecessor	Henry II
Successor	Peter I
Born	c. 1295
Died	10 October 1359
Spouse	Marie of Ibelin Alix of Ibelin
Issue	Guy Eschiva Peter I of Cyprus John, regent of Cyprus James I of Cyprus
House	Lusignan
Father	Guy constable of Cyprus
Mother	Eschive d'Ibelin

Hugh IV (1293×96 – 10 October 1359) was King of Cyprus from 31 March 1324 to his abdication, on 24 November 1358 and, nominally, King of Jerusalem, as Hugh II, until his death. The son of Guy constable of Cyprus (son of Hugh III of Cyprus and wife Isabella of Ibelin), and Eschiva of Ibelin, Hugh succeeded his father as Constable of Cyprus in 1318, and later succeeded to the throne of Cyprus on the death of his uncle Henry II, since Henry II had no son. He was a member of the House of Lusignan.

Hugh appears to have been content to rule Cyprus, as he prevented his son, Peter I, from going to Western Europe to recruit support for a new crusade to recover their Kingdom of Jerusalem. In 1344, he joined a league with Venice and the Knights Hospitaller which burnt a Turkish fleet in Smyrna and captured the city. In 1345 the allies defeated the Turks at Imbros by land and sea, but Hugh could see little benefit for his kingdom in these endeavors and withdrew from the league.

He was crowned as King of Cyprus at Saint Sophia Cathedral, Nicosia, on 15 April or 25 April 1324. In the same year, on 13 May, he was crowned at Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Famagusta as Titular King of Jerusalem. As a leader, King Hugh signed an agreement with Venice, which had to do with the activities of the Venician merchants who were settling in Cyprus. That caused problems with the Republic of Genoa who were rivals of the Venetians; however he negotiated with them and had agreement in 1329. The Genoese demanded that Hugh pay the debit of his uncle Henry II. He died in Nicosia.