Ancient Ledra, in the Ptolemaic period was also named Lefkothea. In the first years of Christianity in Cyprus, around 348 AD, it was known as Lefkousia or Ledri and was a small town. Its first bishop was Trifillios, who was declared a Saint in 448 AD.

After the Arab raids in the 6 th century AD and the pillage that ensued in the coastal cities, people moved to the center of the island in the Mesaoria plain and the mountainous areas.

Nicosia had probably become the center of administration and the island's capital in either the 9 th or the 10 th century, had acquired a castle and was the seat of the Byzantine governor of Cyprus.

The last Byzantine governor of the Island was Isaac Komnenos who declared himself emperor of the island and ruled the island from 1183 –1191.