Siege of Rhodes
City of Rhodes, Rhodes island, Greece
What happened
The Ottoman army and fleet of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent besieged the Knights Hospitaller under Grand Master Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam. The Knights Hospitaller, a Christian religious order of knights, had ruled Rhodes since 1310. In 1522 Suleiman's army surrounded the city, bombarded its walls and dug tunnels underneath to break them. After six months, with the walls badly damaged, Suleiman offered peace terms, and the knights accepted.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The siege ended with an agreement instead of a final assault: the knights were allowed to leave with their weapons and belongings. Rhodes became a base for Ottoman control of the eastern Mediterranean.
What came next
The knights sailed away on 1 January 1523, and in 1530 they were given the island of Malta. There, in 1565, they held off a great Ottoman siege.
Did you know?
The knights left Rhodes with banners flying and drums beating, as the peace terms allowed.
Timeline
- 1310The Knights Hospitaller take Rhodes.
- 26 June 1522The Ottoman siege begins.
- 22 December 1522The knights accept Suleiman's terms.
- 1 January 1523The knights leave Rhodes.
- 1530The knights are given Malta.