Turkish Cypriots

Turkish Cypriots (Turkish: Kıbrıs Türkleri or Kıbrıslı Türkler Greek: Τουρκοκύπριοι) are ethnic Turks living in, or originating from, Cyprus. Following the Ottoman conquest of the island in 1571, about 30,000 Turkish soldiers were given land once they settled in Cyprus, Additionally, many of the islanders converted to Islam during the early years of Ottoman rule. Nonetheless, the influx of mainly Muslim settlers to Cyprus continued intermittently until the end of the Ottoman period. The fact that Turkish was the main language spoken by the Muslims of the island is a significant indicator that the majority of them were either Turkish speaking Anatolians or otherwise from a Turkic background which bequeathed a significant Turkish community, today's Turkish Cypriots.