| Ledra | |
| Native Name: | Λήδρα |
| Map Type: | Cyprus |
| Map Size: | 250 |
| Coordinates: | 35.1625°N 33.3625°W |
Ledra (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Λήδρα), also spelt Ledrae,[1] was an ancient city-kingdom located in the centre of Cyprus where the capital city of Nicosia is today.
Ledra was established in 1050 BC. It became a city-kingdom by the seventh century BC.[2] At times, it had been subject to Assyrian rule.[3] Ledra was one of ten Cypriot kingdoms listed on the prism (many-sided tablet) of the Assyrian king Esarhaddon (680–669 BC). The only known king of Ledra is Onasagoras, mentioned in this tablet for paying tribute to Esarhaddon.[4]
By Hellenistic times (330 BC) it had dwindled to a small village. An account suggested that it lost its city-kingdom status because it consolidated with other such kingdoms to form stronger territorial units.[5] In 280 BC, Ledra became Leukotheon while the Byzantines started referring to it as Lefkon or "poplar grove".[6] During the fourth century AD, it became a bishopric and was renamed Lefkosia. It eventually became the capital of Nicosia under this name during the 10th century.
Ledra Street in Nicosia is named after Ledra.[7]