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by Jonathan Davies.
Softcover (7.2×9.7 inches). 246 pages. 2024.
Subtitle: From Retinue to Regiment No. 26
After the Muslim armies kicked the Hospitallers out of the Middle East, they conquered Rhodes and consolidated power. Situated just seven miles off the Turkish coast, their raiding in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea proved annoying enough that the Ottomans sieged the island twice in the 1400s and once in 1522.
The first siege, hastily arranged and carried out, resulted in an Ottoman retreat. This book offers an overview.
The second siege, in 1480, proved far more extensive in preparations and prosecution, but also resulted in an Ottoman retreat. This book extensively covers the siege, especially the failed amphibious attack on the Tower of St. Nicolas and the slightly more successful breach against the wall around the Tower of Italy. The former never fell and the latter was defeated thanks to a desperate knight
counter-attack. The siege techniques, forces involved, and the impact of leadership are well explained.
The third siege, under the personal supervision of the Sultan, ended up a draw even as it was continued into the winter season. This time, the Ottomans ignored the St. Nicolas tower and concentrated on the wall. However, in the intervening years between 1480 and 1522, the Hospitallers carried out extensive improvements to the fortifications to mitigate the effects of Ottoman cannon fire. Again, the siege techniques and events receive excellent coverage and explanation.
A treaty allowed the Hospitallers to leave and they eventually ended up in Malta … and another siege by the Ottomans. But that’s another book.
Factoid: A well-handled ship of the time could sail 100 to 150 miles per day. The Hospitallers often had a ship slip through the Ottoman blockade to bring fresh supplies. It wasn’t enough to bring much, but served as a morale boost.
One typo: “in1500” (p81) needs a space. Also, the same black and white photo appears twice (p99 and p178).
The book contains 72 black and white photos, 60 black and white illustrations, eight black and white maps, six color photos, nine color illustrations, 16 color illustrations of flags, and five color illustrations of knight coats of arms.
These twin sieges of Rhodes are well-written, well-told, and well-illustrated. It’s another marvelous volume in the From Retinue to Regiment series. Well done, indeed.
Enjoyed it.
— Reviewed by Russ Lockwood
