Rhodes is a Greek island in the eastern Mediterranean that has a rich and turbulent history. It was the home of the Knights Hospitaller, a religious and military order that defended Christian interests in the region. The Knights Hospitaller occupied Rhodes from 1309 to 1523 and transformed the city into a fortified stronghold. They faced two major sieges by the Ottoman Empire, which sought to expand its dominion over the eastern Mediterranean. The first siege in 1480 was unsuccessful, but the second siege in 1522 resulted in the surrender of the Knights and the end of their rule in Rhodes. This blog post will explore how Rhodes hosted one of the largest medieval sieges in history and what was the outcome.
The First Siege of Rhodes (1480)
The first siege of Rhodes took place in 1480, when the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, who had conquered Constantinople in 1453, sent a large fleet and army to capture the island. The Ottoman force consisted of about 100,000 men and 160 ships, while the Knights Hospitaller had about 600 knights and 4,500 soldiers, as well as some local allies. The siege lasted from May to August and involved several fierce assaults on the walls and towers of the city, as well as naval battles in the harbor. The Knights Hospitaller resisted bravely and inflicted heavy casualties on the Ottomans, who also suffered from disease and lack of supplies. The siege was lifted when a relief force from Europe arrived and threatened the Ottoman rear. The Ottomans withdrew with a loss of about 50,000 men and 70 ships, while the Knights Hospitaller lost about 2,000 men.
The Second Siege of Rhodes (1522)
The second siege of Rhodes took place in 1522, when the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, who had succeeded his father Selim I in 1520, launched a new campaign to conquer Rhodes. Suleiman had already conquered most of the Middle East and North Africa and wanted to secure his control of the eastern Mediterranean. He assembled a huge force of about 200,000 men and 300 ships and besieged Rhodes in June 1522. The Knights Hospitaller had about 600 knights and 7,000 soldiers, as well as some local allies. The siege lasted for six months and involved constant bombardment by cannons and mines, as well as repeated assaults on the walls and towers of the city. The Knights Hospitaller defended valiantly and repelled many attacks, but they also suffered from starvation, disease and exhaustion. The city was gradually reduced to rubble and many sections were breached by the Ottomans. In December 1522, after negotiations with Suleiman, the Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller Philippe Villiers de L’Isle-Adam agreed to surrender on honorable terms. Suleiman allowed the Knights Hospitaller and their followers to leave safely with their weapons and banners and transported them to Crete on his ships. He also spared the civilian population and granted them religious freedom. The Ottomans took over Rhodes with a loss of about 75,000 men, while the Knights Hospitaller lost about 3,000 men.
The Outcome
The outcome of the second siege of Rhodes was a significant victory for the Ottoman Empire, which gained control of a strategic island that dominated the eastern Mediterranean. The Ottomans also eliminated a formidable enemy that had challenged their expansion for centuries. The Ottomans converted many churches into mosques and built new Islamic monuments in Rhodes, such as baths, fountains and palaces. They also encouraged immigration from Anatolia and other parts of their empire to populate the island. Rhodes remained under Ottoman rule until 1912, when it was occupied by Italy during the Italo-Turkish War.
The outcome of the second siege of Rhodes was also a major setback for the Knights Hospitaller, who lost their main base and stronghold in the region. However, they did not give up their mission and continued to fight against the Ottomans in other places. In 1530, they were granted Malta by Emperor Charles V as their new headquarters. They fortified Malta and successfully defended it against another Ottoman siege in 1565. They also established colonies and outposts in other parts of Europe and Africa. They became known as the Knights of Malta or the Order of Malta and still exist today as a sovereign military order with humanitarian activities.
Conclusion
Rhodes hosted one of the largest medieval sieges in history when it was besieged twice by the Ottoman Empire in 1480 and 1522. The first siege was unsuccessful, but the second siege resulted in the surrender of the Knights Hospitaller, who had ruled Rhodes for over two centuries. The outcome of the second siege was a significant victory for the Ottoman Empire, which gained control of a strategic island and eliminated a formidable enemy. The outcome of the second siege was also a major setback for the Knights Hospitaller, who lost their main base and stronghold, but they did not give up their mission and continued to fight against the Ottomans in other places. Rhodes and the Knights Hospitaller are both examples of the rich and turbulent history of the eastern Mediterranean.
