Siege of Rhodes (1480)

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This article is about the siege by the Ottomans in 1480. For other uses, see Siege of Rhodes (disambiguation).
Siege of Rhodes
Part of the Ottoman wars in Europe

The 1480 Siege of Rhodes. Ships of the Hospitallers in the forefront, and Turkish camp in the background.
Date 1480
Location Rhodes
Result Successful defense
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire Knights Hospitaller
Commanders
Gedik Ahmed Pasha Pierre d'Aubusson
Antoine d'Aubusson
Strength
70,000 men[1]
50 ships		 500+ knights
2,000+ soldiers
Casualties and losses
9,000[citation needed] Unknown

In 1480 the Knights Hospitaller garrison of Rhodes withstood an attack of the seemingly unstoppable Ottoman Empire.

Contents

[edit] Preparation

In 1470, the island of Tilos (located between Rhodes and another island, Kos) was evacuated to Rhodes because they were susceptible to attacks from the Ottoman Empire. In 1475, the island of Chalki (6km west of Rhodes, smallest inhabited island of the Dodecanese) was also evacuated to Rhodes for the same reason.

[edit] Attack

In May 1480 a large Ottoman fleet of 50 ships appeared before Rhodes, along with an army of some 70,000 men under the command of Gedik Ahmed Pasha or Mesih Pasha.[1] The Knights Hospitaller garrison was led by Grand Master Pierre d'Aubusson.

The Knights were reinforced from France by 500 knights and 2,000 soldiers under d'Aubusson's brother Antoine. The siege lasted until August. The Ottomans made three unsuccessful attacks on the city which cost them 9,000 men.[citation needed]

On July 28, 1480, the Ottoman fleet gave up their attempt to capture Rhodes and sailed to try and capture Otranto. However, in 1522 Rhodes was captured by the Ottoman empire.


[edit] Gallery

Bombard-Mortar of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, Rhodes, 1480-1500. This is the largest known bombard in history. Founded at the request of Pierre d'Aubusson, the bombard was used for close defense of the walls (100-200 meters). It fired 260 kg granite balls. The bombard weighs 3,325 kg. Musée de l'Armée.
Bombard-Mortar of the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, Rhodes, 1480-1500. This is the largest known bombard in history. Founded at the request of Pierre d'Aubusson, the bombard was used for close defense of the walls (100-200 meters). It fired 260 kg granite balls. The bombard weighs 3,325 kg. Musée de l'Armée.
A view of Rhodes 10 years later.
A view of Rhodes 10 years later.


[edit] Bibliography

[edit] External links

[edit] Citations

  1. ^ a b L. Kinross, The Ottoman Centuries: The Rise and Fall of the Turkish Empire, 137

[edit] References

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