James I of Cyprus

James I
coat-of-arms of Lusignan of Cyprus, Jerusalem and Lesser Armenia
King of Cyprus
Reign	13 October 1382 - 9 September 1398
Predecessor	Peter II
Successor	Janus
Born	1334
Died	9 September 1398(1398-09-09) Nicosia
Spouse	Helvis of Brunswick-Grubenhagen
Issue	Janus of Cyprus Henry Odo Mary Isabella
House	Lusignan
Father	Hugh IV
Mother	Alix of Ibelin

James I of Cyprus (or Jacques I de Lusignan) (1334 – September 9, 1398) was Regent of Cyprus for his infant nephew Peter from 1369. When Peter died in 1382, James became King of Cyprus that year. James was also titular King of Armenia and titular King of Jerusalem 1382–1398.

James was the third son of Hugh IV of Cyprus and Alix of Ibelin, and became king upon the death of his nephew Peter II. Before becoming a king, he had other offices and was known for his resistance against the Genoese invasion against Cyprus.

After the death of his father Hugh IV, James' half-brother Guy, titular Prince of Galilee was already dead and his eldest brother Peter I, who reigned for 10 years, was then murdered. The latter's son, Peter II, who was a minor, began his reign when he came of age. Meanwhile, Peter I's wife Eleanor of Aragon to revenge her husband's death, invited the Genoese to invade Cyprus.

Since the Genoese had commercial and financial interests in Cyprus, they invaded the island in April 1373. After achieving the takeover of the well-fortified city of Famagusta, they arrested and held captive Peter II and his mother Eleanor who had invited them. After they killed the nobles who had murdered Peter I, they wanted to take control of the island. After the end of the war, Eleanor succeeded the murder of John, which she claimed she was responsible for her husband's murder.

James married his kinswoman Helvis of Brunswick-Grubenhagen (1353 – January 15/25, 1421) (daughter of Philip of Brunswick, Constable of Jerusalem and Helisia of Dampierre) in 1365. Her brother John of Brunswick-Grubenhagen (d. June 11, 1414 unmarried and without issue) was an Admiral of Cyprus and their father Philip of Brunswick-Grubenhagen (ca. 1332 – August 4, 1369/1370) was a Constable of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.