During the century that elapsed between the conquest of Cyprus in 1191 and the loss of the last strongholds in Latin Syria in 1291 it was common for Cypriot resources to be deployed in the defence of the remaining Christian possessions on the mainland. The kings of Cyprus allowed their island's material wealth and military capacity to be used in efforts to regain the Holy Places and safeguard the territory under Christian rule. It was in their own interest to ward off Muslim encroachments, especially as for long periods they themselves were recognized as having political authority in whatever was left of the kingdom of Jerusalem. Indeed, in the thirteenth century the politics of Cyprus and Jerusalem became so closely intertwined that it is impossible for the historian to treat either kingdom in isolation.

For crusaders, pilgrims or merchants travelling by sea to the Holy Land, Cyprus was a natural stopping place, and the island was soon recognized as a suitable port-of-call for crusaders to take on supplies, regroup, refit and even consult with the leaders of Latin Syria about strategy for their forthcoming campaign. In practice, however, less use was made of Cyprus in the course of the crusading expeditions to the East than might be expected. Pope Honorius III wanted the participants in the Fifth Crusade to assemble there in 1217, and in 1237 a group of prominent people in the East were advising Thibaut of Navarre to go no further than Limassol where they would meet him to discuss plans for the crusade he was leading.